How to Fix "Illegal Characters in Name" Error in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user is experiencing a recurring "Illegal characters in name" error message when attempting to scroll through or view specific PDF documents in Adobe Acrobat.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Scrolling through or viewing certain PDF documents.
- Observed behavior
- An error message stating "Illegal characters in name" pops up repeatedly, indicating a damaged or invalid element within the PDF's internal structure.
Before troubleshooting, verify if the error occurs with only a specific PDF file or multiple files, as this usually indicates file-specific corruption rather than an application issue.
Recreate or Request a Clean PDF Copy
Since this error usually points to a structural corruption within the PDF file itself, generating a fresh copy is the most reliable solution.
The "name" in the error refers to a structural element inside the PDF code. When a PDF is poorly exported or corrupted during transfer, these elements can become unreadable to strict parsers like Adobe Acrobat.
Determine if you generated the PDF yourself or received it from someone else.
If you created the PDF, go back to the original source file (e.g., Word, Excel, or InDesign) and export it to PDF again using a standard and reliable PDF converter.
If the file was sent to you, contact the original author or distributor and ask them to generate and send a new, uncorrupted copy of the document.
Update Adobe Acrobat to the Latest Version
Updating the software can resolve structural compatibility issues and software bugs causing the error.
View and Edit PDFs Without Errors Using WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to show the 'Illegal characters in name' error, trying a different, highly compatible PDF reader can bypass the issue. WPS Office includes a robust PDF tool that can often open and repair structurally damaged PDFs seamlessly.
- 1. Download and install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and complete the installation.
- 2. Launch WPS PDF: Open WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab from the main dashboard.
- 3. Open the problematic file: Click 'Open', browse for the PDF file displaying the illegal characters error, and open it. WPS's robust parsing engine will load the document.
- 4. Save as a new PDF: To fix the internal structure permanently, go to 'Menu' > 'Save As' and save a fresh copy of the PDF. This rewrite can repair the corrupted name elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Illegal characters in name" mean in a PDF?
In a PDF structure, a "name" refers to an internal object identifier. The error means that the PDF's underlying code contains characters that violate PDF specifications, usually due to file corruption or a poorly built third-party PDF generator.
Can I fix the corrupted PDF without recreating it?
Sometimes. Opening the PDF in a different PDF reader (like WPS PDF or a web browser) and using the "Print to PDF" or "Save As" function can rewrite the internal structure and resolve the illegal character error.
Does updating Acrobat always fix this error?
Not always. While an update ensures you have the latest compatibility patches, if the PDF file itself has structural damage from its creation source, you will still need a fresh copy of the document.
