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1

Select tool not working properly for text selection

New Here ,
Nov 08, 2022 Nov 08, 2022

The select tool does not work properly, even though the document properties security settings include no limitations.  

 

This applies to text scanned documents (documents where Adobe has identified text). 

 

The cursor looks like a crosshair and when you try to select text you only get a rectangular shaped box of the content as a picture, not the actual scanned text.

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Comment markup and annotate
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correct answers 1 Correct answer

New Here , Nov 14, 2022 Nov 14, 2022

Thanks for your input! 

 Acrobat>Edit>Preferences>General>UNCHECK "Make hand tool select images before text" did the trick for me!

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Adobe Employee ,
Nov 08, 2022 Nov 08, 2022

Hi @Olof27022209oaku 

 

Hope you're doing well.

 

The cursor looks like a crosshair and when you try to select text you only get a rectangular shaped box of the content as a picture, not the actual scanned text.

 

As mentioned above, the text selection tool looks like a rectangular-shaped box, and this generally happens when you've a scanned document with an image in it, not the actual content. 

Also, navigate to Acrobat>Edit>Preferences>General>check "Make hand tool select images before text"

Try with a different file that has text in it, not just a scanned file. 

 

Thanks,

Akanchha 

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New Here ,
Nov 14, 2022 Nov 14, 2022

Thanks for your input! 

 Acrobat>Edit>Preferences>General>UNCHECK "Make hand tool select images before text" did the trick for me!

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New Here ,
Jun 24, 2025 Jun 24, 2025

My select tool outright just dissapeared. I can only use the "hand tool" now. I have forever since swore off Adobe products because of this.

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Adobe Employee ,
Jun 26, 2025 Jun 26, 2025
LATEST

Hi there 

 

Hope you are doing well and thanks for reaching out. 

 

As described the Select tool have disappeared, Have you started experiencing this issue recently or earlier as well? What is the version of the Application you are using? Go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure its updated to the latest version 25.01.205XX Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

 

If it still doesn't work, please remove the application using the Acrobat cleaner tool https://adobe.ly/44gcTfw, reboot the computer and reinstall the application using the direct link https://get.adobe.com/reader/enterprise/

 

Let us know how it goes.

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New Here ,
Oct 30, 2024 Oct 30, 2024

I have a problem when printing to pdf my document is not copy and pastable.

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