"One or more pages are in use and could not be deleted" - AGAIN.

[Dirk van Boxtel]

1. Open a PDF file.
2. Save it under a different name
3. Try to delete a page

You'll get this error:

"One or more pages are in use and could not be deleted"

I've had this billions of times now and the only solution that works 100% of the time is closing and re-opening the file. This leads me to believe it's something with "locking" the file while saving, but not unlocking it after done saving.

GET THIS FIXED PLEASE because it's annoying LOADS and LOADS of people.

As evident by the 7000+ search results for the exact phrase "One or more pages are in use and could not be deleted".

And that's just the part of the userbase that actually reports the problem.

There are several topics about this issue, some marked as "solved" erroneously.

Note, I'm a paying customer, use Photoshop/Illustrator/Dreamweaver/Fireworks and Bridge during my daily work, and have had this issue for months and months across several different computers (two different workplaces, and at home) and have ran into this time and again, when all I want to do is cut a PDF into several smaller PDFs.

Closing and re-opening your program because you're unable to fix this issue is NOT ACCEPTABLE. It's THE WORST kind of user experience, as this issue is the ONLY reason I use Acrobat at all, and it can't even do that.

Cheers,

- Dirk

Ps.: Sorry, I'm very frustrated running into this time and again, and then having to wade through thick mud (your site is a UX nightmare) to report this issue, which has been report oodles of times on this board before.

[Jeff32180366hckg]

Hey signed for a cretet card

[Emil34559095udiz]

I have an old Mac with older software.
Updating this is out of the question.
Suddenly this problem comes, I try the tips mentioned by the rest of you, but nothing works.
It works to extract the pages I want and combine them again into a new PDF.
Say I have a 30 page document, I want page 10 removed.
Extract pages 1-9, and 11-30, into 2 new documents, then I merge them into the PDF I want...

[jackb94425909]

It is so ridiculous that you have to do this. My impression is that Adobe doesn't really give a damn about it. Just keep paying that monthly fee.

[Abambo]

I have an old Mac with older software.
Updating this is out of the question.
Suddenly this problem comes, I try the tips mentioned by the rest of you, but nothing works.

By @Emil34559095udiz

Older Mac with older software and no updates means no troubles due to software changes. Any trouble that may arise can only happen, because the user changes someting to the system (knowingly or unknowingly) or the outside world moves on (like connecting to the internet and technology needs a more robust security mechanism). All is unrelated to the software manufacturer.

[robin_7478]

I am still facing the same issue in 2024

[sebastian_6700]

You are right 1000%. I have pretty much the same feeling. Looks like these old-fashioned or classic software-manufacturers (the same story with Autodesk for example) - they are much more obsessed with inventing new subscriptions (as usual inconvinient for users), than enhancing software they produce... Such bugs go from one edition to another, nobody wants fix it, but... Historical expirience of generations tells us that such approach can't last too long. For example, Autodesk's 3D-modelling/rendering software now is almost 100% possibly to replace with free or reasonably priced apps - as well as Blender, Plasticity, UE and so on... Adobe, please, wake up finally, fix this bug!

[Blackasthesky]

I obviously do not have a solution because technically there is none, but I was to chime in to say that this is 

STILL A ******G ISSUE

over 10 years later?!

Wth, adobe!?

[Neal29496317rs13]

13 years later, can confirm this exact same problem still exists!

[Tariq Ahmad]

Thank you all for sharing your experiences and frustrations. We understand how disruptive this issue can be, especially when managing large PDFs.

This error — “One or more pages are in use and could not be deleted” — often occurs due to internal locking or accessibility processes. While we continue to investigate the root cause, here are some workarounds that have helped many users:

Possible Solutions

1. Update Acrobat
Ensure you’re on the latest version via Help > Check for Updates.

2. Disable Assistive Technology Support
Go to Edit > Preferences > Accessibility and uncheck Enable assistive technology support.

3. Try Alternative Delete Methods

• Navigate to a different page, then use Edit > Delete Pages and enter the page number manually.
• Use Replace Pages instead of Delete if the error persists.

4. Close Preview Panes and External Locks
If the file is open elsewhere (including Explorer preview or Citrix sessions), close those windows before deleting.

5. Save As New Copy
Sometimes saving the file under a new name clears the lock and allows deletion.

We acknowledge this has been a long-standing pain point for some workflows, and your feedback is critical in helping us prioritise in triaging this issue.

To help us diagnose further, could you please share:

• Acrobat diagnostic logs (via Help > Adobe Acrobat > Collect Logs)
  • If you can't see the option, launch Acrobat > Help > Preferences 
  • Mac > Acrobat Preference.
  • General > Enable Troubleshooting, Click Ok. 
  • Try again.
• A short video showing the steps leading to the error

Also include:

• Acrobat version and OS details
• Whether the problem occurs on all files or specific ones
• Any security or accessibility settings enabled

We’re committed to improving this experience and will keep the community updated on progress.

Best regards,
Tariq | Adobe Community Team

[tlmurray23]

Here is an idea.

     It must be a prima facie statement that Adobe's corporate office has floors and floors of Acrobat users.  An engineer could stand in a corner and shout (through a bullhorn), "Everyone, listen up! Please find a PDF of a few pages. Save it off somewhere so you can mess with it cuz we're going to ask you to break something. [Give them a minute or two.] Now, everyone, please delete one page or a few — it doesn't really matter how many, just delete some pages — from that document. After you delete a page, save right over the old. Not a new name, just a plain save. [Wait a minute or two.] Okay, everyone who had a situation where Acrobat could not save the file for any reason, raise your hand."

     My point is that you have had a test bed right next to you for more than a decade and you can walk to the third cubicle on the right and examine the workstation; there is no need for us to keep reporting the same thing and to hear the same vapid solutions. Yeah, some solutions work, but more importantly, Acrobat should not be having the problem.

     Being a problem for more than 13 years is not just a problem; it's an embarrassment. It should not have been around for 13 days.