This tutorial explains how to edit PDFs with the comment and markup tools in Adobe Acrobat. First, we’ll look at how to access the tools. Then, we’ll look at how to use all thirteen markup tools, including sticky notes, strikethroughs, and text insertions. The bonus tips at the end show how to change the color of markups, add comments to markups, and delete comments and markups.
Table of Contents
- How to Access the Comment and Markup Tools
- How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools
- Bonus Tips: Changing Colors, Adding Comments to Markups, and Deleting Comments and Markups
Important Note: Acrobat’s comment and markup tools can’t change a PDF like Microsoft Word’s Track Changes tools can change a Word file. Instead, Acrobat’s comment and markup tools function like handwritten editing marks on paper—the tools can be used to mark what should be changed, but you must make those changes manually in the PDF.
This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.
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The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. These steps will also work in Adobe Acrobat Standard DC, Adobe Acrobat 2020, and Adobe Acrobat 2017.
Attention Acrobat Reader Users
These tools are also available in Acrobat Reader when commenting is allowed in the PDF.
To find out if commenting is allowed in your PDF, select File > Properties > Security. Then, see if the Commenting option is listed as Allowed.
Unfortunately, you cannot change this option if the creator of the PDF has set Commenting to Not Allowed.
- Open your PDF.
- Select the Tools tab.
- Select the Comment button in the Tools Center.
The Comment toolbar will appear directly above the PDF, and the Comment pane will appear on the right side of your screen.
How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools in Adobe Acrobat
Now, let’s look at the thirteen tools in the Comment toolbar.
| 1. Sticky Note | 8. Text Box |
| 2. Highlight | 9. Pencil |
| 3. Underline | 10. Erase Drawing |
| 4. Strikethrough | 11. Stamp |
| 5. Note to Replace Text | 12. Attachment |
| 6. Insert Text at Cursor | 13. Drawing Tools (Shapes) |
| 7. Text Comment |
1. Sticky Note
The sticky note tool lets you “stick” a comment anywhere on the page.
To use the sticky note tool, select it in the toolbar, and then click the spot where you want the note to appear. Your cursor will move to the Comment pane where you can type your comment. After typing your comment, select the Post button.
2. Highlight
The highlight tool lets you add a background color to draw attention to specific text.
To use the highlight tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text that you want to highlight.
3. Underline
The Underline tool lets you place a line under the text. This underline is meant to draw attention to specific text for editing purposes. If you want to add an underline that will become part of the PDF, use the underline tool in the Edit toolbar, instead.
To use the Underline tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text to be underlined.
4. Strikethrough
The strikethrough tool lets you place a line through text that you want to mark for deletion.
To use the strikethrough tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text that should be deleted.
5. Note to Replace Text
The Note to Replace Text tool lets you mark text for deletion and create a note showing the replacement text.
To use this tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text that should be replaced. Your cursor will move to the Comment pane where you can type the replacement text. After typing the replacement text, select the Post button.
6. Insert Text at Cursor
The Insert Text at Cursor tool lets you indicate where new text should be inserted.
To use the tool, select it in the toolbar, and then click the location where the new text should be inserted. Your cursor will move to the Comment pane where you can type the new text. After typing the new text, select the Post button.
7. Text Comment
The Text Comment tool lets you type a comment directly onto the PDF. This tool should only be used for creating comments. If you want to add new text to your PDF, use the Add Text tool in the Edit toolbar, instead.
To use the Text Comment tool, select it in the toolbar, click the location where you want to add the text comment, and then type your comment.
8. Text Box
Like the Text Comment tool, the Text Box tool lets you type a comment directly onto the PDF. However, this tool encloses the comment in a text box.
To use the Text Box tool, select it in the toolbar, click the location where you want to add the text comment, and then type your comment.
9. Pencil
The Pencil tool lets you draw a comment directly onto the PDF.
To use the Pencil tool, select it in the toolbar, and then use the pencil icon to draw your comment.
10. Erase Drawing
The Erase Drawing tool erases the drawing created with the Pencil tool explained above.
To use the Erase Drawing tool, select it in the toolbar, and then click and drag your cursor over the drawing until you have erased the portion you want to remove.
11. Stamp
The Stamp tool lets you add stamps such as Approved, Confidential, and Sign Here.
To use the Stamp tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select a category from the drop-down menu: Dynamic, Sign Here, or Standard Business. Then, choose a stamp from the submenu and click on the PDF where you want to place the stamp.
12. Attachment
The Attachment tool lets you attach a file or an audio recording as a comment. Note that attachments added with this tool are considered comments and do not become part of the PDF like attachments added through the Edit toolbar or the Attachments pane.
To use the Attachment tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select Attach File or Record Audio from the drop-down menu. Then, click the PDF where you want to place the attachment. Depending on your choice, you can then select a file to attach from the Add Attachment dialog box or record a comment in the Sound Recorder dialog box.
13. Drawing Tools (Shapes)
The Drawing Tools option provides a variety of premade shapes, such as rectangles, arrows, and ovals.
To use the Drawing Tools, select it in the toolbar, and then select a shape from the drop-down menu. Then, click and drag the shape onto the PDF.
When you’re finished using the comment and markup tools, select the Close button in the Comment toolbar.
Here are three bonus tips to help you make the most of your comments and markups.
How to Change the Color of Markups
You can change the color of a markup by selecting it and then selecting a new color from the Color menu.
How to Add Comments to Markups
You can add a comment to any existing markup by double-clicking it in the Comment pane to open a comment text box. After typing your comment, select the Post button (see figures 5, 9, and 10).
How to Delete Comments and Markups
If you want to delete a comment or markup, right-click it, and then select Delete from the shortcut menu.
You can also delete a comment or markup by right-clicking it in the Comment pane, and then selecting Delete from the shortcut menu.
The Comment shortcut menu also allows you to set the status as Accepted, Cancelled, Completed, or Rejected.
Related Resources
How to Reply to Comments and Markups in Adobe Acrobat
How to Change Your Name for Existing Comments and Markups in Adobe Acrobat
How to Change Your Name for New Comments and Markups in Adobe Acrobat
Three Ways to Print PDFs with Comments and Markups in Adobe Acrobat
Updated June 11, 2022
FAQs
How do I use comments and markup tools in Adobe Acrobat? ›
- Choose Tools > Comment. ...
- Draw in the PDF: ...
- To edit or resize the markup, select it and drag one of the handles to make your adjustments.
- To add a pop-up note to the markup, select the Hand tool, and double-click the markup.
- (Optional) Click the close button in the pop-up note.
Choose Tools > Comment to open the Comment toolbar. The comments that you add to the document are displayed in the right pane. Note: To see the labels along with the tool icons, right-click on the Comment toolbar and select Show All Labels.
How do I markup a document in Adobe Acrobat? ›- Open a PDF in Acrobat and select the Comment tool.
- Add PDF annotations to your file. You can add text boxes and sticky notes, underline text, strikethrough content, highlight text, and more.
- Save your file.
To display the Comment & Markup toolbar, click View, Toolbars, then click on Comment & Markup. This document will explain several of the Markup tools but not all of them. This is the most commonly used markup tool for Adobe.
How do I use comments in a PDF? ›- Click the options menu (...), and choose Add Comments.
- Select a file you want to comment, and click Add Comments in the right pane.
Choose Tools > Edit PDF > Edit . The dotted outlines identify the text and images you can edit. Select the text you want to change. In the right-side Format panel, select a font, font size, or other formatting options.
How do I show comment tools in PDF? ›In all versions, hovering the mouse pointer over the icon will show a sort description. Click on Comments in the top toolbar and choose Show Comment & Markup Toolbar. This can be positioned anywhere on the screen or can be fixed with the other toolbars. Callout and Pencil will be most useful.
How do I enable markups in Adobe Reader? ›- Launch Acrobat and select File > Open to bring up your PDF.
- From the menu bar on the right, select Comment.
- Select the marker icon in the Comment toolbar to activate the Draw Free Form tool.
- Draw on the PDF. ...
- Once you're finished, save your PDF.
Use Show Markup
Select Review > Display for Review. Select the option you want: Simple Markup points out where changes are made with a red line in the margin. All Markup shows all edits with different colors of text and lines.
On the web version, right-click on the markup in question and select "Details". You then have the option to edit various elements of the markup, including the color or line thickness. You can also view details about who made the markup and when it was made.
Can you edit a PDF in markup? ›
Marking Up a PDF Document on a Personal Computer
Assuming the author of the document has not secured the document to prevent such markups, you can edit, markup, and add your comments to a PDF document by opening the document and clicking Comments to open the Comment Pane, as shown in Figure 1.
Click the Print icon or choose File > Print to open the Print dialog box. In the Print dialog box, select Document And Markups from the Comments And Forms drop-down list. Your pop-up comments are visible in the Preview pane.
Why are my comments not showing up on PDF? ›Ensure you have the latest version of Adobe Reader (available here) Check your internet connection and firewall settings. Contact the PDF owner for a different version of the file (Word document, plain text, etc.)
How do I fix comments on a PDF? ›For PDFs shared using Adobe Document Cloud
Select the comment in the Comments list and right-click. Alternatively, you can click the Options menu ( ) for the selected comment and perform the following actions: To mark the comment as resolved, choose Resolve.
- Open a file in Acrobat.
- Click on the “Edit PDF” tool in the right pane.
- Use Acrobat editing tools: Add new text, edit text, or update fonts using selections from the Format list. ...
- Save your edited PDF: Name your file and click the “Save” button.
While reading your PDF file online, you can add notes to yourself using the add comments tool. You can add text, sticky notes, underline text, strikethrough text, highlight text, and add markups using the drawing tool.
How do I extract comments in Adobe Acrobat? ›Export selected comments
In the comments list, select the comments you want to export. Note: To open the comments list, choose Tools > Comments. From the options menu in the comments list, choose Export Selected To Data File.
- In the sidebar, click the Comments tab to toggle visibility of the Comments pane.
- You can close the comments pane by clicking the Comments tab or the x button in the top right corner of the Comments pane.
The free Markup Tool lets you quickly send changes, requests and edits to your team by recording your screen with a voice note. Download your recordings or upload and share large recordings on Google Drive with just a click.
What is a PDF markup? ›Also, PDF markup allows us to click through the edits one after the other, so that we don't miss event the tiniest of edits such as inserting a comma. • TEAM EDITING: Multiple people can comment and edit one PDF before it comes back to us to make the changes.
How do I add text to markup? ›
- Launch the Photos app. Tap the Photos app icon to open it. ...
- Select the photo you want. Found the image you want? ...
- Tap the Edit button. ...
- Tap the Plus button and select Text. ...
- Type your text. ...
- Customize. ...
- Double tap Done.
Markup is the difference between a product's selling price and cost as a percentage of the cost. For example, if a product sells for $125 and costs $100, the additional price increase is ($125 – $100) / $100) x 100 = 25%.
What is markup in track changes? ›In the "Review" tab, next to "Track Changes," there's a drop-down menu with four options that show different levels of changes made to the document. "All Markup" will show all changes and comments that have been made since Track Changes was turned on.
How do you unlock markups? ›...
To lock or unlock a markup, select it (either in the workspace or on the Markups list) and do any of the following:
- In the General section of the Properties tab, select Lock.
- Right-click select Lock.
- Press CTRL+SHIFT+L.
In the File > Print page, if the first dropdown below the Settings heading has "Print Markup" checked, then it will print all markup (both comments and tracked changes) regardless of the markup setting on the Review tab. If "Print Markup" is not checked, it won't print any markup, including the comment icons.
How do you Print with a markup? ›Select File > Print. Under Settings, select Print Markup. Select Print. Your document will print with comments.
How do I Print a document with comments? ›If you want to read comments in a printed version of your Word document, be sure to turn on the comments before you print. In the Comments group, click Review, then Show Comments before sending the document to your printer.
How do I enable Markup tools in Adobe Reader? ›- Choose Tools > Comment. ...
- Draw in the PDF: ...
- To edit or resize the markup, select it and drag one of the handles to make your adjustments.
- To add a pop-up note to the markup, select the Hand tool, and double-click the markup.
- (Optional) Click the close button in the pop-up note.
Click the Print icon or choose File > Print to open the Print dialog box. In the Print dialog box, select Document And Markups from the Comments And Forms drop-down list. Your pop-up comments are visible in the Preview pane.
How do I change my markup settings? ›Change the way that markup is displayed
On the Review tab, click Markup Options > Preferences. In the Track Changes dialog box, you can control how you want markup to appear in your document.
How do I unlock comments in PDF? ›
Click anywhere in the document. Right-click and select Lock/Unlock. All existing comments in the document will be locked and cannot be moved or edited in any way. Right-clicking any of these comment images or text will display a tick beside Lock/Unlock in the right-click menu.