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Why is my Ipad Adobe Reader kept saying that my doc is read only version

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hello everyone,

I use my Ipad to read and edit documents. Recently, I updated the software to the latest version IOS version.

The problem is that ever time I use the reader, the app will prompt me by saying that the document was a “read only“ version and requires me to create a local copy. What’s worse is that after creating a local copy, the same problem arises after awhile

All these problems doesn’t exist before the update and I am Sure that the documents are not “read only version”. Appreciate any help here!

iOS

M

MobileDeveloperCKCorrect answer

Legend

Hi jasondash, domenb73821963, trieste2, cayleyc66155824, bronsonc49638062,

We just released Acrobat Reader 18.01.22 to the App Store.

This is the latest official release as of January 23. Some of you have already installed the pre-release version that is identical to the one in the App Store.

Please give it a try and let us know if it works for you.

Thank you!

B

Brave_nature76f0

Participant

Nope. Still says red only no matter what I do. Using iPad Pro with premium adobe acrobat.

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Amal Jaiswal

Community Manager

Hi @Brave_nature76f0 ,

Thanks for the update. Since this thread has covered several different causes for "read-only" over the years, it would help to know a few specifics about your case rather than assume which of those applies:

Is this happening with one specific PDF, or every PDF you open? Where does the file come from: an email attachment, a cloud storage service, or a website download? Is the file password-protected or was it sent to you as a secured/restricted document? And when you try to create a local copy as prompted, does that actually work and then still show as read-only afterward, or does the option itself fail?

Also, which version of Acrobat are you running (check in Settings or on the About screen in the app)?

If it turns out this is a password-protected or permission-restricted PDF, that's actually an acknowledged limitation rather than a bug; editing restricted/secured files isn't supported on mobile. If it's happening with unrestricted PDFs too, that's a different, more concerning issue worth tracking down.

Let us know those details, especially whether it's one file or all files, and whether the file is password-protected, which will tell us which direction to go.

Hope this will help.

Regards,
Amal

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Brave_nature76f0

Participant

So every government document or “secured” type from my financial institution says read only or password protected. When contacted they tell me there is no password. I use Adobe premium on my iPad Pro. Either from website d/l or email attachment then opened in adobe or iPad preview the ability to fill out the documents won’t work. It says read only or password. I did end up using a free PDF site only to fill out my most recent government document but… I shouldn’t have to do that. I’m paying for premium FFS.

so frustrated. No I do not have a laptop or desktop anymore.

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mrmigraine

Participant

Hello, My wife (a paralegal) was having the same problem with court forms. text fields and check boxes work on computer but do not work on iOS.
FIX: take the original pdf, open in Mac Preview, Export as pdf with default settings. the new file retains its "form" qualities, and is editable. the Bonus is it also strips away all the security settings. Enjoy.

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Sherry35509060nukr

Participant

They seem to have gotten rid of EXPORT to PDF ... obviously quick to block us from stripping out bogus security but not so quick to provide a solution to the BUGS. So frustrating, hours wasted just trying to edit a file on my iPad that's editable on the MAC (but traveling and don't have that with me).

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Souvik Sadhu

Legend

Hi @Sherry35509060nukr,

From the looks of it, it seems you are trying to use a Governent form or an XFA-architecture dynamic form.

Would you mind sharing a sample file with us to test in house and get to a faster fix?

Look forward to hearing from you.

-Souvik

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Sonny29485858899a

Participant

I just encountered the same problem in 2023

Can anyone help?

I'm logged in on both my MacBook pro and iPad Pro trying ot access a password secured PDF from my accountant.

When I attempt to Digitally Sign the authorization document the error states the following on the iPad Pro.

However I am able to digitally sign it on the MacBook Pro.

Why is it not allowing me to digitally sign it on the iPad Pro?

Help!

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Souvik Sadhu

Legend

Hi @Sonny29485858899a,

Hope you are doing well. Sorry for your experience with Acrobat Reader Mobile.

The above error is a limitation of the mobile version of the application when working with secured or read-only files.

Our team is working on it, and we have the enhancement in the pipeline for the upcoming releases.

While I understand this can be frustrating, I request your kind understanding while the feature is rolled out.

Please share your feedback here: https://acrobat.uservoice.com/

-Souvik

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Sonny29485858899a

Participant

Thank you for the update.

I hope this issue is resolved sooner than later since secure digital document and digital signatures are vital in bisiness and transactions.

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Liwen28697519cagd

Participant

Hello, I'm having the same issue with trying to fill this fillable Govt form. It is editable on my Mac but when I transfer it to my iPad, it becomes Read-Only. The document is the Canadian Revenue T2200 form at https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/forms/t2200.html with the filename of t2200-fill-22e.pdf

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Souvik Sadhu

Legend

Hi @Liwen28697519cagd,

I checked with the file and the reason was because of the architecture of the file.

Would you mind trying to fill the file on the web portal: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/home/

Let us know if the file does not work there and I would forward it to the team for further investigation.

Look forward to hearing from you.

-Souvik.

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Liwen28697519cagd

Participant

hello Soouvik,

This is a confidential tax form and I'm not going to fill it on a public web portal. I need to download the file to my iPad, fill it there, sign it and send it to the Canadian Revenue Agency. Why is the form not fillable after downloading to an iPad?

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jenniferl20391402

Known Participant

Hi, I am also having this problem. My form is not fillable on mobile because I have SOME restrictions set upon export (mainly just so the users don't edit the words of the form, which has happened). This function has worked fine in previous forms, so can you please fix this issue in Acrobat mobile?

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Heather27473656txk6

Participant

I Noticed the app has updated and I'm not able to make notes on my attachments with my Apple Pencil. I went ahead and paid for a premium thinking that would fix the issues. I need this feature so that I'm able to work accurately. Can we please get this feature back on the comments tab.

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Souvik Sadhu

Legend

Hi @Heather27473656txk6,

Thank you for writing in! Would you mind sharing a screen recording of the workflow you are referring to so we can understand the issue and assist you better?

Regards,

Souvik.

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wobeliwobeli

Participant

I still struggle with the same problem in 2022... Can anyone help? I am logged in on my macbook as well as on my ipad. The password secured PDF I want to edit synchs from Macbook alle comments to my ipad but doesn't allow any changes from my ipad.

Cheers, Lena

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Ivan24648967xaki

Participant

I am also having the issue on my iPad - all PDFs are 'read-only' and there are no options in settings to remedy this that I can find??

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Souvik Sadhu

Legend

Hi there! I'm having the same issue with some fillable forms our company uses. They're fine on computers, but not on the iPads our company uses. How can I get around this issue?

Hi @Aron263400113een,

I checked the details of the file and checked that the file is secured with limited permissions allowed to make changes.

There are limitations between the desktop and mobile versions of the application. If the document has been protected, you won't be able to make changes to the mobile version.

Hope this clarifies your situation.

-Souvik.

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M

MobileDeveloperCKCorrect answer

Legend

Hi jasondash, domenb73821963, trieste2, cayleyc66155824, bronsonc49638062,

We just released Acrobat Reader 18.01.22 to the App Store.

This is the latest official release as of January 23. Some of you have already installed the pre-release version that is identical to the one in the App Store.

Please give it a try and let us know if it works for you.

Thank you!

Translate

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erirocks

Participant

This issue is now happening to me. I have been using this feature without issue for a long time and need to be able to edit these files. Please help.

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Harsh Vardhan Pareek

Participating Frequently

Hi @erirocks

Sorry for the delayed response. If you are still facing the issue, could you please share a few more details to understand it better?

1. Is it with a particular PDF or with all PDFs?

2. If possible, could you share the files with us?

3. Make sure the file is not having any editing restrictions on it.

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Thanks,

Harsh

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bcillusionist

Participant

Same problem. I will be in the middle of editing with the app for legal proceedings and my drawings and text boxes will vanish. I have to be able to toggle between iPad apps as I go without stopping.

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