Can't add image to PDF

[jluros]

Lately, I've been having trouble adding images using Edit PDF>Add Image. I'm using Acrobat Pro DC on Mac OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan), but it happened in 10.11.5 as well.

When I open the PDF, if I try to add a PNG, it will show the PNG under the cursor, but I cannot left click and have the PNG "appear" in the PDF (as it used to). The cursor just moves around with the image under it, but will not respond to any mouse clicks. However, if I add a JPG (which works), and replace it with the PNG using right click-Replace Image from the context sensitive menu, this works fine (usually).

What's happening? How can I fix this? It's intermittent but frequent, which makes it really confusing.

[onkesh · Accepted solution]

Hi Jason,

Thanks for the report. We are sorry that you are facing this issue. This has been reported and is being currently looked at.

For the time being, here is a workaround.

• If you go into an unresponsive mode, press 'Esc' key.
  • You'll come out of the unresponsive state.
• If you want to add images to the document,
  • Use Right click to invoke the context menu on the canvas area.
  • Use 'Add Image...' option from the menu.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Onkesh

[pointoflife]

I really don't believe these words anymore when I hear them. Prove it!

[OzPreston]

AnandSri -- It is January 2021 ... and the 'Can NOT Add Image' Issue remains a huge issue in the current version of Acrobat Pro DC.

[IrisHR]

Hi to all, I also have this issue for quite some time now, I tried to read all the messages here, tried even to follow some of the suggested solutions, but it doesn't work.

A big big problem, for me personally it started sometime in mid of 2020 just like that and it is still an issue.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi IrisHR,

Thank you for reaching out and sorry for the trouble.

As you are not able to add images in the PDF, could you please confirm if the issue occurs with some particular PDFs or with all?

We did try to add images on PDFs at our end and it is working fine. Could you please confirm the Acrobat and OS version currently used on the machine?

It would be helpful if you can share a video recording of the issue occurring at your end for a better understanding. 

Let us know if you need any help.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

[Megan5C2C]

Been paying to use Acrobat Pro for many months now, main work is to replace images in a brochure in pdf format.... never works! Make old versions available if you can't fix the issue!!! it's that simple but yet here we are.

If this issue is not fixed any time soon ill ask for money back

I have the latest update and using windows 10. No Acrobat Reader Installed. have read and tried every solution but they don't work. The only time I am able to replace any image is right after the system restart and that's for the first 1 minute.

FIX IT OR BRING BACK THE OLD VERSIONS

[jerrewfender]

I'm having this problem today...same thing...what's up with getting it fixed?

[ls_rbls]

In which operating system did this happened to you?

And what Acrobat product amd version are you using?

[OzPreston]

is_rbis -- Does Adobe even bother to train you so-called Adobe Professionals?   Try offering solutions instead of asking perpetual questions.  But you are probably clueless ... and offered the best you can do. 

[ls_rbls]

Not really that clueles, but more like in the blind.

While the original poster addressed this issue to the community back in  2016 that triggered in a MacOS system using Acrobat, in more recent years other users with MS Windows versions are reporting the same or similar. 

I really don't get the problem described in the original post on a MS Windows 10 machine for example.

If I 'm not in front of the said computer(s) that are having the problem I can't do much  but ask some basic questions. But maybe if you share some mini-dumps I can assist. Any information that the Event Viewer collects when the issue manifests is helpful too.

You suggested, and personally addressed to me, to try offering a solution.  Share some logs and I'll take a look.

[OzPreston]

Is-rbis -- Fair enough reply.  It is very difficult -- if not impossible -- to diagnosis an issue with complex application software, like Acro Pro DC, without sitting before the PC or having very detailed info to work with.  I definitely grant you that point as accurate info.  🙂  

YES, this ADD IMAGE Issue has been ongoing since 2016.  First with Apples, now with W10 PCs.  If you really would like to jump in and try to solve this intractable issue, please go to this link:  https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/is-acrobat-pro-xi-compatible-with-windows-10-ver-20h2/m-p/117...

I opened a new thread there on the Add Image Issue and some other Acro Pro DC bugs.  Your insights would be very welcome.

[ls_rbls]

Ok , will do.

[fiedler]

Same problem here lately. build 20035

Workaround is to open the pdf in Photoshop and add the image there.

[Jozgurl]

I have tonnes of pdf documents to insert a gif signature, I cant be opening in PS all the time, right? Its been 4 yrs and the problem is yet to be solved.

[OzPreston]

I think the TRUE WORKAROUND is to install standalone version Acrobat Pro XI.   All features work fine in XI.   After 4 years of the NON-Add Image Issue in Acrobat Pro DC, I think I will go back in time.   I hope XI works in the current build of Windows 10.

[jasonv85027485]

I'm getting this error on Windows 10. The right click -> add image work around doesn't work for me. 

Does anyone know where the Acrobat logs are stored?  

[ls_rbls]

I don't have or never get these issues that users report in the forums.

All these strange software behaviors that breaks a system... I honestly honestly, NEVER, get these issues.  SHOULD I???

What am I doing wrong?

Why does my Adobe Acrobat never breaks?

This must be related to some sort of misconfiguration.

If the product was working before, and then it manifested problems, what happens when you try any of the following:

• Click HELP, "Repair Installation"
• What happens if you reset Adobe Acrobat preferences to default:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-default/td-p/4792... 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/how-to-reset-preference-settings-in-acrobat/td-p/6499709?page... 

Basic Tools

• Use Single Key Accelerators To Access Tools. See keyboard shortcuts here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/keyboard-shortcuts.html#keys_for_selecting_tools 

• Make Hand Tool Select Text & Images
  
• Make Select Tool Select Images Before Text
• Show Quick actions on text selection: Display a quick action toolbar on text or image selection
• Use Fixed Resolution For Snapshot Tool Images

See Restore (Re-create) Preferences section in link below:

 https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/workspace-classic.html 

•  Manually forcing an update of the mouse drivers, not from the operating system's automatic updates
• Using the Adobe Acrobat Cleanup & Repair Tool to uninstall current installation and remove old traces of software, specifically if you had older version of Acrobat in the same computer where you're running the most recent version
• Disabling the CC Desktop App completely... What happens if you get rid of it?  
• What happens if you create a new user profile in that computer? Would the same behavior manifest for a new user account?
• Have you checked the Enterprise Toolkit Preferences Reference and verify if a lockable preference that was screwed up by an update could be resolve by editing registry keys or Plists?

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/PrefRef/Windows/index.html 

[OzPreston]

Is_rbis -- I would like to be kind and respectful.   But again, a non-support person like you should not offer answers that are utterly worthless.   You are upsetting Abode customers who need Acrobat to earn a living.  I think you should find a new occupation that you can perform successfully, like waiting on tables at a restaurant. 

[ls_rbls]

You're absolutely right. I apologize for the unnecessary sarcasm.

Thank you for addressing that, but what is wrong  with voluntary contributions?

As far as I'm concerned this is not a paid-for tech support forum, is a user-to-user support forum and not everyone that comes here to these forums  need Acrobat to earn a living.

Adobe do have  a Customer Support Service for those customers that you're addressing here:

• Reach Us by Phone 

Or using the online Chat Support app here:

• https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

 Have you spend some time in just reading what those customers that are included in your generalisation have to say about Customer Support? 

[OzPreston]

Is_rbis -- OK, I see.  You are an unpaid volunteer rather than an Adobe employee or 'outsourced' technician.  Well, I do highly commend you for volunteering your time and attempting to help others.  That is truly noble. 

HOWEVER, your info was more frustrating than useful.  ON THE OTHER HAND, you are definitely more helpful than the Level 1 Adobe 'technicians' that one reaches when using the Help contact info stated in your reply.  Those people define the word 'worthless'.   It has been over a decade since Adobe offered genuine professional technical support to its customers. 

Anyway, thank you for your good intentions.  Best wishes and Happy New Year.

[5EDF]

This is STILL an issue. I am running Acrobat DC 2020.012.20043 (the absolute current version as of this posting) on a MacBook Pro 2014 running OSX 10.15.3.

I just successfully added PNG images to 7 PDF files in a row. When I opened the 8th file, I was no longer able to insert a PNG image using the exact same method as the previous 7. Nothing changed in between. I didn't restart, I didn't install any software, I didn't update anything, Creative Cloud was not in the middle of any updates. I simply went to open the next file in line and now all of a sudden I cannot insert PNG images. I go to Edit PDF > Add Image > Select my image then there is a system chime and the image appears under the cursor. I click to add the image in the PDF and the image disappears and NOTHING HAPPENS. This is the most frustrating thing in the entire world.

I tested out JPG images also and those don't work either.

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hello,

Thank you for reaching out.

As per your description, you are not able to add an image to a PDF after adding it on 7 PDFs. I see that you are using the latest version of the application.

Just to confirm, did you experience this behavior only when adding an image to multiple PDFs? Did you try to add an image to any other PDF once it doesn't add to one PDF? Would it be possible to share the PDF on which you were not able to add the image? If yes, please upload the PDF on Document Cloud (https://documentcloud.adobe.com) and generate a link using the Share option. The share the link with us here.

It would be helpful if you can share the video recording of the issue occurring on your end. It will help us to understand it better.

Let us know if you have any questions or need any help.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

[5EDF]

I have discovered something. In the Mac OS file properties (Get Info) for each of my PDF files, I have figured out that any PDF that was created using "Encoding Software: macOS Version x" does not allow you to add images. I have tested it on PDFs created with the following Encoding Software versions:

These do not work for adding images:

Encoding Software: macOS Version 10.14.5 (Build 18F132) Quartz PDFContext

Encoding Software: macOS Version 10.15.3 (Build 19D76) Quartz PDFContext

Encoding Software: macOS Versions 10.15.4 (Build 19E287) Quartz PDFContext

Encoding Software: macOS Version 10.15.5 (Build 19F101) Quartz PDFContext

Encoding Software: macOS Version 10.15.6 (Build 19G73) Quartz PDFContext

These workfor adding images:

Microsoft PowerPoint for Office 365

Canva

Google

Microsoft Print to PDF

See this screenshot which shows the properties I'm talking about:

[5EDF]

I have made a few more discoveries.

When the "Content Creator" field is blank in the file info, you cannot add images in Acrobat. When the "Content Creator" field is populated, it seems to work. For example, I have a file with:

Content Creator: Preview

Encoding software: macOS Version 10.15.5 (Build 19F101) Quartz PDFContext, AppendMode 1.1

That does work, despite the same exact encoding software not working on another file using the 10.15.5 encoding software (which had no entry for "Content Creator"). I don't know how the original PDF files were generated, they were submissions by users.

I would think though, that Adobe Acrobat should be able to handle any PDF file with any properties.

[OzPreston · Accepted solution]

THE SOLUTION that fixed all issues with my Acrobat Pro DC, including the Add Image Issue, was provided by Dov Isaacs with my deepest appreciation.

I had installed Adobe Reader DC along with Acrobat Pro DC.   That was the problem.  Reader DC broke Acrobat Pro DC.

After uninstalling Reader DC with AcroCleaner tool and doing a repair installation of Acro Pro DC, Acro Pro DC now works exactly as it should.  Removing Reader DC cleared up all issues.

The key is to use the AcroCleaner tool (for DC versions) to uninstall Reader DC in order to thoroughly remove all traces of it from Windows 10.  The 'normal' uninstallation method using Windows Add & Remove Programs was insufficient.

[twilly910]

I'm having this same problem. I have always been able to go to Edit, add picture. BUt when I do it now, the watchcomes up, then it just goes away. I tried your workaroudn above, and it does the same thing, when I right-click, add image, the watch comes up, then it just disappears. Any suggestions?