Missing the the "Auto detect pen hardware to enable markup" setting - Surface Pro 6 and Surface pen

[by9811]

There has to be an answer somewhere for this issue.

In settings->Commenting there is supposed to be the Auto detect pen hardware setting, but on my surface it is missing.  How do I get it back.

I know its missing because its there on two other Surface Pro 6 computers and a lenovo mix, all running the same versions of windows 10 and all running the same version of Acrobat including the patch level.

On this surface using the pen in Acrobat is quite horrible.  No issues using the pen in word and other apps though.

Please somebody help.

Bruce

[Test Screen Name]

Are you running Acrobat (paid for product)? Or just the free Acrobat Reader? What exact version do you run (not "latest" please)?

[by9811]

Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 - Version 2017.011.30150

[by9811]

I replied with the specific details.  I provided additional data and no response.

[by9811]

Further analysis. 

1. Created a new user of the Surface Pro
2. Opened Adobe Acrobat
3. Opened settings and the missing checkbox is there
4. go back to existing user, still missing.

So its a "user setting" somewhere.  Any thoughts?

[by9811]

using pen for comments works really well here too.

[ericn68818701]

I am having same problem.  What is the check box you seem to missing? 

[by9811]

"Auto detect pen hardware"

at the bottom in settings -> commenting.

[defaultikkmp27qsdrp]

Did you find a solution to this?  I am having the same problem.

[dlkd23335634p0cr]

Honestly this is the most aggravating issue with Adobe.

The second I find any app that works better I'll cancel my Adobe account

I can not tell you how unbelieveably frustrating this issue is

[dlkd23335634p0cr]

Id say it works less than 50% of the time.

Autodetect pen hardware box is selected and I pay for the full version. No excuses for this in this day and age

[klynbech · Accepted solution]

I got a new Surface Go 4 and the setting was missing. I searched and tried different things, but what in the worked was to set the pen settings to "use pen as mouse" and "ignore touch input" (I have a Danish version, so I am not sure how it is frased in English). I then uninstalled Acrobat entirely and then reinstalled it, and then the setting was there.

It seems that the Acrobat installation is sensitive to the pen settings when installed, so the pen settings need to be in place before installing Acrobat.

[S. S]

Hi @klynbech,

Hope you are doing well.

Thanks for writing about what worked for you.

Marking this as a correct answer for future users to use as reference.

-Souvik

[defaultawihq97ql04b]

Whilst I understand your point, this reference is to a workaround and not a solution to getting the settings restored.

So I would not classify this as a correct answer. Helpful, yes, but not the answer.

[defaultawihq97ql04b]

Tried to annotate the response you had marked as the answer and it wouldn't add to it. Sounds like the same problem, even though I know it can't be 🙂

[defaultawihq97ql04b]

This workaround may be sufficient for some to go forward. It still remains that there is an issue where Adobe Acrobat in some way determines at some point the pen is no longer there and makes this setting unavailable. But as I identified a second user on the same PC has the setting. I am yet to find what I consider the solution to this problem.
But I also accept that for others this may meet their needs. So if it is good enough for you enjoy.

[defaultawihq97ql04b]

This workaround may be sufficient for some to go forward. It still remains that there is an issue where Adobe Acrobat in some way determines at some point the pen is no longer there and makes this setting unavailable. But as I identified a second user on the same PC has the setting. I am yet to find what I consider the solution to this problem.
But I also accept that for others this may meet their needs. So if it is good enough for you enjoy.

[Albert_Einstein0516]

There has to be an answer somewhere for this issue.

In settings -> Commenting, there is supposed to be the Auto detect pen hardware setting, but on my Surface, it’s missing. How do I get it back? I know it's missing because it's present on two other Surface Pro 6 computers and a Lenovo Mix, all running the same version of Windows 10 and Acrobat, including the patch level.

On this Surface, using the pen in Acrobat is quite horrible, though there are no issues using the pen in Word and other apps. Please, somebody help.

[Albert_Einstein0516]

There has to be an answer somewhere for this issue. The Auto detect pen hardware setting is missing on my Surface, but it's there on other devices. By the way, if you’re looking for a tasty meal, check out the panini wawa!