Fill & Sign - 'The operation failed because Adobe Acrobat encountered an unknown error.'

[lazybum131]

When I try to save the PDF with initials and signatures it throws up the error, 'The operation failed because Adobe Acrobat encountered an unknown error' and then gets rid of the signature attempt.

Anyone else encountering this issue trying to add initials and signatures in Adobe Reader DC on Windows 10? Getting the same error on two PCs, fresh installs of Adobe Reader.

[Zeedtech]

I realize this thread is a couple of years old, but I also noticed that only 1 time did an Adobe employee come in to help. And it was crappy help at that. Better instructions and considerations to carry out those instructions would have been helpful. Thanks for nothing Adobe...it's 3 years later, and you still haven't got it right yet! 

[rhudson66067@yahoo.com]

I ran into this same problem working from home and trying to add signatures to drawings.  The workaround I found that was successful was by clicking on the "Protect" tool in Adobe Acrobat Pro DC and then "Remove Hidden Information".  Click on the "Remove" button that shows up on the left side of the screen and you can watch as it removes "Metadata, Bookmarks, Comments and markups and Overlapping objects".  Once this hidden info is removed click on "Close". 

At this point I was able to click on the "Fill & Sign" button and add my signature.  Not the best approach but it allowed me to keep working.

[Jmielcarz]

Holy every living hell ... can I just tell you that I actually took the time to sign up for an account here just to thank you. I love when a random person can address the problem that has been talked about for over two years when an actual employee of the company that we all pay money to cannot or will not.

Thank you very much. Now I can get my absentee ballot.  So many facepalms ... have a great day and thank you again! 

-Jeff

[mguarent]

Wow - yes this works. Thank you for the detailed explanation!

[default5k4k671m2isi]

This DOES work. I would add thought that after you close, you have to save before it will accept the fill/sign info.

[defaultvs8fg8tlu1us]

Worked for me as well.  Thank you for taking the time to share this workaround.  You're a genius!

[everettp79882833]

For window 10 users, use Mircosoft to PDF, to recreate the PDF vs adobe and that should work.

[Rando503]

Found this to be the most helpful resource for getting access to signatures on pdfs again.

https://www.foxit.com/pdf-reader/

[defaultjup1q3lbb2d0]

Yes all an uncredentialled idiot wanted to do was take over my computer 

[Hayden21764779bvbv]

I have mutliple users in my organization get this error message while trying to fill and sign a PDF in Adobe Reader that I added form fields to. Why are they getting these errors?

[Spectraflame]

Issue started today with a specific file.  Attempted to remove all protection but still did not allow the inserting of text or a signature.  Had to print to new PDF version and save it.  I was then able to add the signature.  I do not understand what would be causing this.  Any chance getting comments from somone within Adobe to chime in?