Making the selection tool default in Adobe Reader DC

[petrarca]

Even though I click the selection tool, every time I open Adobe Reader DC, it reverts back to the hand tool. When I am viewing pdfs in Firefox and I switch to a different tab from the one that has the pdf, the cursor becomes a flashing hand tool. I was once able to get around this issue and make the selection tool default, but I no longer remember how I did it. Does someone have a solution for this issue? If I make the hand tool selection text and images, it still makes the cursor become a flashing hand tool when I am in Firefox and on a different tab from the one containing the pdf. I am using Win 10. This is very annoying because I often use the cursor to highlight and copy text and use the arrow keys to scroll, making the hand tool largely redundant. If there is a solution to this issue, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi donaldc44485744

Please uncheck the box for "Make hand tool read articles" under Edit menu>Preferences> General.

Click OK to save settings and relaunch the application.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[petrarca]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have already tried that as well as unclicking all the "Make Hand tool..." options. I have also tried clicking the "Always display the keyboard selection cursor" under "Accessibility" and none of these worked.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi donaldc44485744

Please also mark the box for "Restore last view settings when reopening documents" under Edit menu> Preferences>Documents.

Could you please let us know if you experience this issue only when you open the PDF on Firefox.

Please share the dot version of Adobe Reader application you are using on your system.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[petrarca]

I had the "restore last view settings..." feature selected.

This happens when I open pdfs within and outside of Firefox.

I am using Version 2015.016.20045.

[petrarca]

I should also specify that restoring last view settings does not address this issue. It restores the pdfs to where I last view them but does not retain any of select tool setting.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi donaldc44485744,

Do you experience the issue when you directly open PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC application?

If not, then it does not seems to be application issue.

Try to update the application to the latest patch released and check if resolves the issue.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[petrarca]

Hi Meenakshi,

This issue occurs when I directly open a pdf in Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. I noticed it first occur when I switched from Windows 7 to Windows 10.

Thanks.

[Meenakshi Negi · Accepted solution]

Hi donaldc44485744

Please try to use the cleaner tool  Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs  and then restart your system.

Then try to install the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC from here: Adobe - Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Distribution 

Let us know if you still experience the issue.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[petrarca]

That solved the problem. Thank you!

[AdamRMonteith]

To meenakshin83966505:

Dear Meenakshi,

Your advice appears to have worked for Donald, but it hasn't worked for me.  I've tried everything you've suggested in this thread and the hand tool still appears by default.  Do you have any more suggestions I might try?

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer,

Adam

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi Adam,

Sorry for the delay in response.

Please try once to reset the preferences of the application.

You may refer the steps provided here How to reset Acrobat Preference settings to default. to reset the preferences.

Check if that helps.

If you still experience the issue, please let us know the dot version of the Adobe application and the OS you are working on.

Since when you experienced that the hand tool appears by default. Did you make any changes to the application?

Also check, if you get the same tool for each PDF. Try to open different PDFs and check.

Let us know how it goes.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[AdamRMonteith]

Meenakshi,

Thank you for your reply.  I reset the preferences according to the instructions and checked with multiple PDFs.  Still no success.

Technical info:

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

2017 Release Version 2017.012.20098

Version File Version: 17.012.20098.44270

AGM Version 4.030.00071

CoolType Version 5.014.00023

Core Version 17.3072

JP2K Version 1.002.00002.38798

OS:

Windows 10 Pro

Version 1703

OS Build 15063.674

Hardware:

Lenovo Thinkpad T530

64-bit OS, x64-based processor

Sincerely,

Adam

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi AdamRMonteith,

Please try to uncheck the box for "Restore last view settings when reopening documents" under Edit menu > Preferences > Documents.

Click OK at the bottom to make the changes.

Then try to change the Hand tool to the Selection tool.

Check if that works.

If that works, you can then check the box again for "Restore last view settings when reopening documents".

It will remember the last tool selected in the document.

Let us know how it goes.

We will be waiting for your response.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[brianteed]

I am having the same problem.  Your most recent suggestion of unchecking the "restore last view settings when reopening docs" did not work.

[EmronW]

What worked for me is:

1. EDIT
2. PREFERENCES
3. ACCESSIBILITY > UNCHECK ALWAYS DISPLAY THE KEYBOARD SELECTION CURSOR

Give it a shot?

brianteed​

[TerryPMac]

Thank you!!  That has worked for me as well.  I've been following this thread and trying everything.  This fixed the problem.  Thanks again.

[Domingo2488069447tr]

I don't know if this a joke, the whole thing of having the select tool to be default is a hassle. A HASSLE, beause it continues to default to the to the select. whatever the answer here is needs to be cleansded up.  THERE IS NO VIABLE SOLUTION to this problem that was created for no giod reason. this is the answer I was linked to as the solution. THERE IS nO SOLUTION. FIX THIS.

[unclekirkie]

Thank you so much, Meenakshi! That got my arrow keys working like they always used to work in the previous versions of Reader.

Kirk from California

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi Kirk,

You are welcome.

Glad to know it helped.

Regards,

Meenakshi

[Guiping]

I followed the instruction. The default to hand remains but starting MSWord generates an 0X0000142 error. Going through MS Office repair now. 

[Ryan22078246evez]

I am having same issue at donaldc44485744but mine is the selection tool is the default, and it doesnt matter what i select in the preferences.The cleaner program link below is not valid either. I recently upgraded to the 64 bit version, not sure if it is related to the problem. 

[Alex23931361tk4q]

Yes, the Hand tool is annoying.. and to use the "Selection tool" as default - please follow the below steps:

1) Look under Preferences --> Acessibility
2) Check "Always display the keyboard selection"
3) Now Goto Preferences --> General and Uncheck all the 3 options that starts with "Make Hand tool...."
4) Close the program and restart it again
5) The Selection tool will now be default

Hope this helps !!

Thanks,

Alex

[John24717953yrzy]

That doesn't work.

Using Acrobat DC Pro Version 2022.001.20117

No matter what I do, hand tool is default.  Up until I got a new laptop a week ago, selction tool was always default and the change is super annoying.

[Louis_Chan1888]

i follow the solution that provided with Alex

There is one more option need to set. General > Touch Mode change to Never. problem solved for me.