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How to Change Annotation Color and Thickness in Adobe Acrobat on iPad

Huda Qurayshi Oct 18, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to customize the default color and stroke thickness of PDF annotations, as the default red and thick stroke does not meet their needs.

How to Change Annotation Color and Thickness in Adobe Acrobat on iPad

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Reviewing and marking up a PDF document on a mobile device where customized drawing styles are required for better readability.
Observed behavior: The default annotation tool applies a thick red stroke, and the user needs to know the exact menu or interaction to modify these visual properties.

Before you start

Ensure you are using the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat app on your iPad and that the PDF document is not restricted from being edited or annotated by its author.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify Annotation Properties via the Context Menu

You can change the color, thickness, and opacity of any existing annotation by selecting it and adjusting its properties directly on your screen.

Adobe Acrobat for iPad allows you to retroactively change the appearance of markups. Instead of configuring the pen before drawing, you adjust the properties of a drawn element.

Select the existing annotation

Using the selection tool, tap directly on the annotation, drawing, or comment you have already created on the PDF page.

Access the properties menu

A popup context menu will appear immediately above the selected annotation. Tap on 'Properties' or the color palette icon within this menu.

Adjust color and thickness

Choose your preferred color from the provided palette and drag the thickness slider to adjust the stroke weight. Tap anywhere outside the menu to apply your changes.

Modify Annotation Properties via the Context Menu

Tip for Future Markups: Once you change the properties of an annotation, you can often set those characteristics as the default for the next time you use the same tool.

Seamless PDF Editing

Easily Annotate and Customize PDFs with WPS Office

WPS Office provides a comprehensive and intuitive PDF reader and editor for mobile devices. You can effortlessly highlight, draw, and customize annotation colors and line thickness on your iPad or tablet, making document review a breeze without expensive subscriptions.

1. Open your PDF in WPS Office: Launch the free WPS Office app on your iPad and open the target PDF document from your local storage or cloud drive.
2. Access the Annotation Tools: Tap the 'Edit' or 'Annotate' tab in the bottom navigation menu to reveal the drawing, highlighting, and markup tools.
3. Customize your pen properties: Select the Pen tool, then tap it a second time to open the customization menu. Choose your desired ink color and adjust the thickness slider.
4. Draw and save: Apply your custom annotations directly to the document page. Tap the floppy disk icon at the top to save your annotated PDF.

Fully compatible with standard Adobe PDF files and Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).Intuitive toolbars to instantly change pen color, stroke thickness, and opacity before or after drawing.Lightweight, all-in-one app that seamlessly combines document editing and PDF markup on mobile devices.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the default annotation color in Adobe Acrobat?

To set a new default color, create an annotation and change its color to your preference. Then, long-press the annotation, choose 'Properties', and select the option to 'Make Properties Default'.

Why can't I edit or select the annotations on my PDF?

If the PDF is secured with restricted editing permissions, or if the annotations have been flattened into the base document layers, you will not be able to select or modify them.

Can I change the font style and size of text comments in Acrobat for iPad?

Yes. When you create a text box or a text comment, tap the typed text to bring up the text formatting toolbar. From there, you can easily adjust the font type, size, and text color.

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