How do I disable the comments bar from opening up automatically?

[peterw97009707]

How do I disable the comments bar from opening up automatically everytime I open a pdf file?

[Justin3857978618bf]

Having this issue in Acrobat Pro and Reader across multiple systems running Window 10 and 11. Both new and old UI, the checkbox to keep the comments pannel from opening is always checked. No matter how many times I disable it, the comment pane opens. This wouldn't be a problem except that the second this panel opens, larger PDF files begin to lag to the point Acrobat is unusable. Is there any word on a fix yet? It's clearly a common issue. 

[John38489717cjos]

None of these solutions worked for me but I discovered this:

Right click on one of the icons on the navigation pane:

Click on the comment icon. This will toggle the comment pane to visible/hidden. (note: the check mark remains regardless if visible or hidden)

This should now keep the "Show Comments Pane" in preferences unselected:

Close the document then reopen. The comments pane should remain hidden.

[Denis Bowden]

I wasted a lot of time trying all the options and finally found the solution that worked for me.

If a pdf has comments than I always want the comments pane to show when it opens. So I left a tick in the preference to "Show comments pane when a pdf with comments is open". Then I right clicked on the top button shown in the pervious comment posted by John and selected the item "reset side panels".

Now if I open a pdf that does not have any comments the comment pane will not automatically open.

NOTE: This is one off the "new fuunctions" that Adobe has incorporated to show you how to use some features, but doesn't explain how to disable their guided-tour when you want the software to function properly.

NOTE 2: While tring to work out how to fix this problem I tried opening several documents that had the initial view document-property to shows the bookmaks panel when it opens. But this did not work andd the commentas pane kept showing until I found the fix.

NOTE 3: Considering how much Adobe charge, and the fact that we are forced into subscription, it is really annoying that they introduce new bugs, don't fix old bugs, and force users to do the troubleshooting and testing of their product. I am a professional engineer and if I sent a defective product to a customer, expected my customer to do testing to see if it actually worked, then I would loose all my customers immediately. Especially if I didn't discuss it with my customers first.

[Denis Bowden]

My fix is not 100%.

1. I just opened a pdf that does not have any comments and had the same problem occur (the comments pane opened, even though there were no document-properties or Adobe Options selected that would make this  happen). I kept that file open and opened another pdf. The 2nd one does not have comments and was fine (i.e. the comments pane did not show).
2. I still had the 1st pdf open and did the steps that I mentioned above and closed Adobe.
3. I then re-opened the 1st pdf and it was fine.
4. I tried a 3rd pdf and that was fine.
5. I opened a pdf with comments and the comments pane automatically opened. So that still works the way I need it to.

So the problem may still randomly occur.

P.S. Apologies for a couple of typos in my previous popst. I was trying to get some productive work done for customers at the same time as cursing and didn't realize that this system does not automatically spell check.

[DeidreJ]

THANK YOU!!!!! Finally - this solution worked for me... 

[DeidreJ]

THANK YOU!  This solution finally worked for me... Much appreciated.

[DeidreJ]

None of the suggestions below work for me.  I uncheck the box in preferences but when I go back in, it's rechecked.  Tried restarting.  And I don't have the option to turn off New Acrobat.  Please fix this - 

[Amy351929597ngz]

josh@joshthomas.com

Community Beginner , 

Jan 30, 2024

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I had this same problem and what seems like a workaround for me is to first 

uncheck Preferences > Documents > I also have "Restore last view settings when opening documents" 

Save preferences

Then uncheck Preferences > Commenting > "Show comments pane..."

Save preferences

Then  go back and re-check Preferences > Documents > "Restore last view settings" 

Save preferences

Quit and reopen to verify.

[Kelly23827126lct6]

Thank you for this.  This is a working solution and I can verify the settings stick though a relaunch of acrobat. You have made myr entire orginazation much happier.  This is a winner as of 09/2024.

[alia_9124]

To disable the comments bar from opening automatically, go to Acrobat's preferences, navigate to "Commenting," and uncheck the option to "Show Comments Pane When a PDF with Comments Is Opened." This should prevent it from appearing each time you open a PDF.

If you're looking for other helpful tips, or even vapemart, you can find plenty of resources online.

[Denis Bowden]

Thankyou for your post, but the instructions you provided don't address the actual problem we have been experiencing. We do want the comments bar to open when there are comments. But a recent update of Adobe made the comments bar keep appearing automatically whether there were comments or not. And it would also happen if the settings were done as you describe. This problem occured because when Adobe releases an update to the software the programme automatically shows you new features and tips. The problem is that Adobe does not detect that you have seen this tip, so it kept displaying it (the coments toolbar) again and again.

The fix I posted on 14-Aug (to hit the button that allows you to reset the side panes) stopped the problem occuing for me.

[EvilL33]

It's 2024 and this problem still persists. 

I've tried all of the "solutions" posted so far and elsewhere on the web yet none of them stick.

Currently using Acrobat Pro 2024.003.20112 64-bit

[mehdi_5925]

I suspect the blue "trial button" down there could be the culprit. No matter what you set the preference for the comment bar, "show the trial button" will be called later, and it opens the comment column. 

[rayne_2783]

Finally found a solution to this on my computer. Tried everything everyone suggested, nothing was working. I noticed "Enable text selection for Highlight, Stirkethrough and Underline was enabled; once I disabled that, the "Show comments pane when a PDF with comments is opened" stayed unchecked, and opened up the document now comments does not open. Hope this helps anyone else whos having issues.