Adobe Acrobat Reader: Edit PDF Reviews

by GRIFFINSTE1N

...it’s terrible. It was extremely user friendly, from its organization (folders first, then separate files - this made so much sense, why would you change it?! I don’t want to have to put a number before my folders so they display before files) to its editable features (highlighting...the new colors and transparency options are terrible, seriously). If I tapped the screen while on a document, the superfluous information would go away until the screen was tapped again. Brilliant. Now, every time you scroll that information is displayed, what if I just want to read the raw document!? And seriously, it’s a PDF reader, why are you trying to fit some new mold with the design? And for the life of me, how can I delete the STUPID “Welcome” document out of my files? And why will this update not “find” text when I search through documents that the previous version would? Please revert this “improved update” to the way it was when it was useful and simple. Will definitely be switching apps if this isn’t changed.

by Dvd587

I loved the old user interface, everything was where it needed to be and within reach. This new UI is horrible, clunky and annoying. I especially hate being asked constantly to sign in/up for something just to use a PDF viewer. That’s all I need AdobeAcrobatReader to do, look at PDFs. Not link it to social media so I can share things in the cloud with people who don’t need to see what I’m looking at. Why did you need to move the bookmarks button behind a menu at the top of the screen? It was perfect at the bottom right corner. Why do you feel the need to have me fill and sign every PDF? In case you didn’t know a manual for something doesn’t need to be filled out. Finding the right chapter in a manual or using the search function is more important than filling out non-existent fields. I especially dislike when I go to send someone something over airdrop it brings up a blank screen and reminds me I should log in for no reason, and then hit another greyed out button to bring up the native iOS transfer menu. Guess I’ll go find a new PDF viewer.

by SuperShoeDiva

For an app that one would think is just dying to be optimized for mobile AdobeAcrobatReader is not! Liquid mode is a nightmare if you have anything with columns! Do not use liquid mode if you are reading music or any kind of charts. There is absolutely no way to set a default font so anytime you want to edit or add text to something you have to reset the font, its style and size. Speaking of text if you want to copy and paste text from one text block to another you have to reset the font again! How long is Adobe going ignore this basic feature?! This is basic stuff people! Musicians use other applications because this is so bad and it should not be. Renaming a file is a nightmare because the rename modal’s buttons are too close the the file name field. How irritating that while typing or editing a file name I hit the cancel button!!!
Search is worthless, because it doesn’t let me specify if I am searching for the name of a file or text in a file so I get every frigging file with a word in it when I am real looking for a file name. Sort in Windows is abominable because it always gives you folders first! You will be scrolling for days and may just give up in frustration looking for documents. Power users beware!

by Jior Design

As a subscriber of the Adobe creative cloud I am very displeased to see the industry standard for PDF software become practically unusable! In fact Adobe Acrobat no longer works on my iPhone XS! When I choose to download or simply view a pdf file, Adobe Acrobat nor the Adobe Creative Cloud app appear in the list of apps to choose from in the iOS share to/open menu! I tried a workaround by saving the PDF file to "files" both locally and via iCloud drive then attempted to open the saved PDF file via Adobe Acrobat which incredibly failed to open with a message stating "File type unsupported"... This is unacceptable! Can't open the very file format Adobe Acrobat is meant to not only open but create and manage! Wow just wow! Not sure what is going on but Adobe is slacking with other apps as well! I'm contemplating canceling my CC subscription since $50 a month is a price only worth paying for the best and I am literally seeing more and more apps that offer more! The mobile apps are terrible besides a select few! Out of all, I never thought Acrobat would ever lose the crown but here I am having to find an alternative in order to save the PDF I need! Verbal apologies won't change the fact that I'm dishing out money for software that isn't working properly!

by Hooker Pilot

I paid $10 for AdobeAcrobatReader probably 6 years ago or more. I remember when the newest $10 version came out a few years back and I didn’t have access to it, that was a pretty big kick in the junk but I kept using it because I liked some of its features and it’s what I had been using for years. The most annoying part about using AdobeAcrobatReader was that when I changed IPads, I had to find some creative way to transfer all of the documents that I used in AdobeAcrobatReader to the newest device because they aren’t saved in the cloud anywhere. Well, I knew I should have changed after that but I didn’t because it’s what I had been using and I have a hard time changing. The worst case scenario just happened and I changed my iPad passcode after years of using the same one (again, don’t like change) and I forgot that passcode. I had to restore my iPad from my iCloud backup today and the worst thing happened. All my most important documents were lost, many of them for good. It will be very difficult, in some cases impossible, to get those again. Don’t use AdobeAcrobatReader if you want your important documents to be secure and safe unless you’re manually backing them up every time you bring a new one in.

by Necessarynickname?

Zero stars if that were possible. I’ve never written a review before for any app, but this update is so awful that I had to comment. I have an iPad Air 2, which is not old enough to be the problem (I think). A handful of user comments after the last update are positive, but I echo the vast majority—AdobeAcrobatReader freezes at the home page and I can’t access any files. At least I can open AdobeAcrobatReader to see a home page with a recent files list; apparently some folks just see a spinning circle with the opening icon and never get to the home page. At first I thought my files had been deleted, as some folks complained, but since I can still see some recent file names listed on the home page, I can’t tell whether some or all files have actually been deleted. Either way, I can’t even sign in or sign up because that link on the home page doesn’t work either. Bottom line, fix it or I’m done (as are many others probably), obviously, because I can’t even access my files. Now I’m glad that I saved at least some files in other formats/apps.

by Dtnel72

This is only a basic reader and not much more. I find that it lacks the ability to select multiple PDF files that you may have stored in your cloud account and then transfer them simultaneously to the device.

A good example would be I have about 35 files I want to transfer to my device from my iCloud account and I have to go through and manually transfer each one of them one at a time. I have Google searched trying to find a way to batch move files but I cannot seem to find that I know the option used to be there before and be very easy. If it’s something that I have to pay for and I will continue using my dropbox account in the same manner it just will only take one extra step and stead of 35 extra steps. To sum it up basically you get a basic reader with Adobe acrobat reader and that’s about all you’re going to get. You can Open, read and share files but in my opinion I don’t see a whole lot more unless they’re not really advertising their products.

by Boxipip

I have subscribed using various emails; since changing to another phone, I have not been able to use the Premium features on my first, and preferred, account. The trouble is- I now am paying for the Adobe Scan , the PDF converter, and the first account, with my best files, though free, I can’t use to the full, lest I also add another PAID subscription to it. I’m already paying for 2 of the aforementioned services under emails I had used subsequent to my first account. I’m up to about 30 dollars per month, with scattered files. I can’t just go away and come back like I was wanting to( the device I.D. has to be forgotten for 120 days( or something to that effect), I have no personal assistance that I know if except all the reading material. So now I’m trapped. With the past single premium subscription, I had full functionality. Now I just feel not in control and just bewildered about what to do.

by Camscannerfanatic

I use AdobeAcrobatReader primarily for work purposes. I save all my service receipts to AdobeAcrobatReader and also fill out and submit safety and order forms daily. The recent update changed alot of things. First of all, the new design I don't like. That I can get used to but it's made it more difficult to use in my opinion. Some of the buttons are not labeled now, they only have icons so I have to guess what they do until I press them and find out if I'm right or wrong. More importantly, there are functions/operations that changed. For example, sharing a file through email no longer takes the file name and automatically makes it the subject line of the email. Also, when you sort by name,files with letters now follow files with numbers. I have to scroll through a hundred files (which have dates) to get to my template (which starts with letters). So I had to through a random zero at the beginning so it's at the top. There is more I could write but I think you get my point. I realize it may sound like nitpicking but when you use AdobeAcrobatReader as much as I do it becomes very annoying. I am disappointed you made such a big change and it doesn't seem to be for the better. Let's get some of this fixed so I can change this back to 5 stars.

by 👍's Up

Coming from desktop I was expecting to be able to create PDF’s out of multiple images. This doesn’t seem to be the case. After attempting to create the file it gives an error and crashes. It can’t access the photos app but can access the files app. Some images it will let you select while others are arbitrarily greyed out despite being the exact same file type.

I then learned that this is a simple process in the files app. As a result AdobeAcrobatReader serves little purpose for my workflow on iPad OS. On PC it gets the job done. Not being able to create PDF’s with multiple file types is a huge let down. Not to mention the process of combining a large number of files is slow as there doesn’t seem to be a way to mass select.

Overall, AdobeAcrobatReader isn’t trash, but it doesn’t do the things I need it to do that it’s PC counterpart can do faster and with ease. Hopefully these issues are remedied in a future update.

by PsychicSoul

I have used Acrobat, on my desktop computer, for many, many years, both professionally as an employee and personally, as a published writer. PCs have forced most users to update their Adobe Acrobat program to the “DC” version, but I don’t like the DC version so I’m still using Acrobat X.

On my iOS devices, however, I LOVE the Adobe Acrobat app, and because the fee for the Premium subscription is worth every penny, I upgraded to the additional level of functionality. It has several more options, mostly the ability to edit, organize, format and share with other document-editing apps for iOS 15+.

Worth mentioning is its built-in user guide, AND availability on all my devices (please note: a premium version for OS platforms must be purchased separately.). I highly recommend AdobeAcrobatReader with premium subscription for anyone who values a well written document, formatted for easy reading.

by DrOverbuild

AdobeAcrobatReader has been great when it comes to storing, reading, and annotating documents. I’ve been using it with the Apple Pencil and I’ve noticed the drawing features are lacking support for the pencil in one key area: it takes the touch of the palm of my hand or my fingers as drawing touches. I must have the option to ignore all drawing events with my hand and just accept them from the Apple Pencil, with the exception of scrolling. I want to be able to use two of my fingers to navigate the document and the Apple Pencil strictly for drawing. Because I don’t have the option for this extended Apple Pencil support it’s difficult for tasks such as writing notes over presentation slide PDFs during the presentation. I can’t rest the palm of my hand on my iPad and write normally because it listens to finger touch events.

EDIT: I have learned a day later that once you start using Apple Pencil in drawing mode, it ignores other touches, but you have to start with the pencil. Still, it would be nice to be able to scroll without leaving draw mode.

by BonnieSK

I really like using Acrobat Reader in order to save pages from the internet to be able to read or reference later and to save copies of online orders and refunds and files so that they are always available to me and I can keep them conveniently with me on my iPhone and/or iPad wherever I go without having to carry a bulky, (and extremely heavy,) amount of paperwork, and can use it to quickly access the document cloud and add attachments in pdf form to emails or messages, or open it in notes to reference it quickly on my iPhone while I’m reading something on my iPad.
The only issue I had was that I hadn’t kept up with technological advances and hadn’t used the internet or pretty much anything as far as newer technology for years and so it took me some time to figure out how to use Acrobat Reader and am still figuring some things on it. I have to say that it has been fairly easy to figure it out though even without having used adobe acrobat or early version of Reader in so long.
Over all I rate the basic online version that I use, without any upgrades so it’s free, as 9 out of 10, but that’s because of my lack really and I didn’t check to see if there is tutorial though either. Keep it up everyone at Adobe!! Awesome products👍👍
a Happy consumer,
Bonnie K.,
Oregon City, Oregon

by VictoriaSilvis

I don’t do lengthy reviews and only do when I enjoy a good app, or software. After using Adobe acrobat reader actually I wanna get all three Adobe apps, and including this. The only con is why $52 for individuals per month? I know it’s fair but why per month? I won’t complain. I think other companies alike Adobe needs to rely on yearly subscriptions at lower prices. Because I’ve been hearing complaints from people on the media using Adobe apps, so what you could improve is include more colors in Adobe reader, and make the monthly payments for individuals maybe like $25 per year. That’s just my feedback and I ain’t gonna complain, and people just don’t like when people feels their money is robbed, and I’ve notice the prices are getting better. The one for individuals per month probably alright for people who has enough money, and were able to pay per month. It would been helpful if you made an affordable yearly subscription for individuals.

by G.G.Lórien

Update: delete and reinstall app fixed the launch issue; back to 4 stars.

Update: from 4 to 1 star. 2-2-20 app update results in app crashing on my iPad while it’s working on launching, then it just sits in the background stuck on th3 splash screen before I flick it closed. Utterly useless to me right now...

Unlike Office and Google, this will not save changes as your filling in forms or annotating; will save changes only when you back out of the document to the larger document list. I have a fillable PDF I type into during a group study, and lost 1 1/2 hrs worth of work when AdobeAcrobatReader crashed. I lost all that work because the info in the lecture was coming fast and furious and I didn’t have time to back out to the documents list so this particular group study PDF could save. Thought about giving it three stars because of this issue, but other than that I like AdobeAcrobatReader .

by Tomshz

I had tried a few different PDF files and Acrobat is the best so far . It has all the features and functionalities in helping me creating , editing PDF files ; it has very simple interface and tools in guiding me to finish my works. with the Scan file app , it add more useful functions in creating PDF files ; the Acrobat cloud allows me to access my files from everywhere ; and upload to cloud to store my files securely . and Sharing the files easily to anyone .

On the other hand , I find AdobeAcrobatReader a bit of confusing in some area . the default language is English (UK) ; AdobeAcrobatReader i was downloaded for my iphone , I can not use AdobeAcrobatReader to edit or fill the files . and it require Window or Mac Version of AdobeAcrobatReader to edit or fill my files. Why can AdobeAcrobatReader tell me before I purchase it ? lastly , I cannt download the finished the files to my iphone or my icloud

by Memko35

I like Adobe and use it for most of my readings and note taking needs.
However, lately I came across an issue. I have a document which I could read and make changes in the beginning. However, Adobe is losing the pages of my document. The pages get blank and receive an error message that “some of the properties of document is not supported this version of Adobe acrobat”. Reuploading the same document fixes the issue; however, after taking some notes and highlighting lines, the same error pops up and my pages disappear. This issue does not happen on all the documents. So, it’s document specific issue. However, if there is an unsupported thing on the document, AdobeAcrobatReader should not show everything perfect. After you work on it getting and error message is something undesirable.

by Evil Stewy

I have been a user of Adobe Acrobat Reader and their family of products for literally decades. Several Adobe products have become the de-facto standard in many areas. Such as (***.PDF) being a common identifier for documents that crossed platforms and allowed people to share documents. Just as Xerox became the commonplace word embraced for all by a copy machine. Adobe has been the word for documents or attachments and such.

Adobe Acrobat Reader used to be a free product! The Adobe family of products is now so vast that much or their applications are by subscription service only. Some Adobe applications will offer you a free install but all of the desirable features are only available through a subscription. It is like being given free addicting drugs then once hooked, and unable or undesirable to change, they start selling you a product that once was free.

Don’t get me wrong, I like their products but I am questioning if maybe another providers product may be more suitable going forward.

by TheMacDuffs

Love AdobeAcrobatReader... works wonders on an iPhone and makes so much more so much easier and obtainable via your iPhone vs having to use the computer. Can access most everything right on our phones now and even upload and forward or send most all needed documents. Can’t begin to count how many times AdobeAcrobatReader have been a complete life saver! Thank you adobe! No complaints here, do wish more features where available throughout each app instead of having to open multiple apps and somewhat bounce back and forth between them, however despite that small inconvenience you have still absolutely completely saved our butts hugely several times! We’d be up s*~! Creek with out you so once again thank you for all the simplicity and conveniences you’ve brought to and made available on iPhone.

by Jilimac77

This is a paid subscription however it has paid for itself several times over. It’s every important document saver with adobe cloud. It’s a must for anyone that is a multi tasker from a busy Mom to an executive. The best app that is also a must have is Adobe Scan app. That is the most convenient app I’ve ever downloaded. It can save business cards to your favorite pictures your kids have made and can print and edit better than any program. So yes I pay every month for the apps but it comes with a lot of Adobes Apps. Would most definitely recommend you won’t be disappointed. If I had one ding I wish they would put down the monthly payment. Maybe they will read this and make the change!!

by YinghaoS

AdobeAcrobatReader is very fast, clear and smooth. But there are still some features missing:
1. Bookmarks can't be created
2. It's better to have a webpage like top bank to switch between opened books quickly
3. Can't show the list of past comments made

Also an annoying little bug: when you switch to other app and back (even after you go to the home screen), the zoom in disappeared and the file return to its original size. So I need to zoom in again to kill the white margins. (the zoom in will stay if you zoomed in 120% or above though)

(A comment: although it's been 2 years, those features are still missing. But I'm still stick to it because it's elegant, and robust to things it promised to do.)

===============

After the update, which is a radical new design, a lot of things changed. First of all it can’t open, after many tries it finally opened. Then it can finally show past comments which is good, and do global search. That is the only two things pleasing. All else feels bad.
AdobeAcrobatReader is slower to scroll documents,
it’s harder to make comment or edit file, you need to click more buttons,
it’s very annoying that when you scroll up, the file title will show up, it’s not a web browser!
It’s harder to view bookmarks, again you need do more clicking.

A comment said who design the new version should be fired, lol, I am also surprised since it’s Adobe who made it.

by Brains1959

This is the worst downgrade of a five star program ever. Sure programs have changed and no longer worked for certain devices or operating systems. But this no longer is not good for anyone. If you do not use it - do not download. Very very difficult to edit. Now I struggle to edit forms or to fill in forms. Used to be tap and add writing, drawing, or text. Now I must click and click and click to stumble into adding text. Also I must email a copy to myself to save unsigned version. Before I easily would make a duplicate of a file then have customer sign the duplicate. Now you do not have duplicate function. It is harder to email a copy to customer it tries to get them to view or share a cloud version. I can’t imagine how it appears to a customer. New version is also uglier on screen with less color than old version. They are also trying to force us to use their cloud service.

Please fire the idiot who did this - the CEO if need be. Then bring back a version similar to the old one.

by Kalon Williamson

I’m not sure what to rate it because I know that nobody’s perfect and updates often times have bugs that need to be worked out. I’m not sure how many others are experiencing the same issue I’m having with sharing pdf’s, but whenever I fill-in some information on a pdf. and while I’m in the process of sharing that file........whatever information I fill-in the pdf with will normally look extremely out of place as far as where I originally placed it.

Aside from that, there’s no way of knowing if I’m sharing a “flattened copy” or one that can be edited like the options we had prior to the update. I love using Adobe for what it’s previously been able to for various things. Thank you for AdobeAcrobatReader but if at all possible, can someone check into this matter as soon as possible please? Thank you in advance.
🕎 Shalom

by Mr.Culbertson

For users annotating PDFs the pen tool’s thickness has been scaled up with no smaller option, making it impossible to write small annotations in margins with Apple pencil. Further, comments and drawings are not saved automatically. Previously users could go between local copies of their documents and have all annotations saved. Now we have no choice but to save in the cloud to retain changes, and see two copies show up in our library? Lastly, tools have an added step and have been miniaturized and placed on the top pane, after tapping the blue pen icon in the bottom right. This update totally baffles me; why make an update that reduces functionality save the addition of cloud improvements? If this isn’t fixed I’ll be using a third party app. I had loved Adobe Reader for its clean UI and superior aesthetic when annotating documents. Why this update?

by Kwlman2345

AdobeAcrobatReader itself is good for iPad user but still need a few major improvements. I am a student and I frequently use it to mark up my PDF using Apple Pencil. AdobeAcrobatReader doesn’t have palm rejection that is seen in OneNote, which is definitely a bummer. Also, what what really makes a difference b/w a good and a great app for student is being able to scroll with finger and write/highlight with Apple Pencil. I find myself being slowed down my task whenever I want to switch b/w scroll and write/highlight. OneNote somehow has this feature figured out. Lastly, whenever you try to add a text in your PDF, we can’t type directly onto the PDF since we are brought to another window. It will be way more convenient if we can do that. Thank you again! Keep working at it :)

by Adobeappuser

I was surprised today to find that the Adobe app on my iPad had been “upgraded”. From what I can to determine thus far, it appears that Adobe created This “upgraded” app to encourage the use of “the cloud”. That is all well and good. BUT Adobe might have considered its users who sometimes have reason to use the Adobe app off line before it shoved this “upgrade” down users’ throats.
Prior to the Adobe “upgrade”, I had organized all my Adobe files into folders based on categories. I had several dozen files organized that way. But the “upgraded“ Adobe app wiped out all my folders. I cannot find a function in the “upgraded“ version of the Adobe app that allows me to create folders. Therefore, It will now require hours of my time to figure out how to re-organize my files in a way that Allows me to find the file I want when I want it.

Very bad adobe.

by Too Much Travel

I have loved using the Adobe Acrobat app for many years. It has improved over time and has many wonderful features that the desktop edition has. Using AdobeAcrobatReader has been easy, almost instinctive, until now. Nothing is easy to do anymore. The typeface is light and difficult to read for those of us who no longer have 20/20 vision. I’m still trying to figure out how to move a group of files (used to be really easy). I know that the performance is supposed to be improved but scrolling through lists of files and folders seems slower. May be I’ll update this review after using the new update for a while.

by Souporstarv

Adobe invented the PDF format so that a file looked the same on a PC or Macintosh or even a Unix system. Ofcourse you must have the correct fonts and the correct font sizes installed, which anyone with enough experience involving PDF files has run into from time to time, which when absent can occasionally make hip modern art out of an instruction manual or other document.

But it’s usually pretty easy to find missing fonts online, taking a matter of minutes for Adobe to locate thee correct fonts, and nine times out of ten you have all the necessary fonts already installed, especially if you’re a regular user of AdobeAcrobatReader !