Fix Acrobat DC Command-Click PDF Title Not Opening Finder Folder on Mac
Question details
Users need to restore the ability to open a PDF's folder location in Finder by Command-clicking the document title.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina
- Scenario
- Attempting to locate an open PDF document's source folder directly from the application's title bar.
- Observed behavior
- Command-clicking the PDF title has no effect and fails to open Finder due to an OS compatibility bug.
Ensure your Adobe Acrobat DC is updated to the latest version before applying system-level configuration changes.
Update Adobe Acrobat DC to the Latest Version
Adobe regularly releases patches for macOS Catalina compatibility. Updating natively resolves many background feature limitations.
Launch Adobe Acrobat DC on your Mac.
Navigate to the top menu bar, click on 'Help', and select 'Check for Updates'.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install any available updates, then restart your Mac.
Apply the FeatureState.plist Directory Workaround
Use this manual directory configuration workaround to forcefully re-enable the Finder location feature by bypassing OS limitations.
Easily Open PDF File Locations with WPS Office
Avoid system compatibility bugs and easily locate your files. WPS PDF offers a built-in, highly reliable method to jump straight to your PDF's directory on any macOS version.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open your target PDF document.
- 2. Right-Click the Document Tab: Locate the document tab at the top of the interface and right-click on it.
- 3. Select Open File Directory: Choose 'Open File Directory' (or 'Open File Location') from the context menu.
- 4. View in Finder: A Finder window will instantly open with your PDF file securely highlighted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Command-Click work on macOS Catalina?
macOS Catalina introduced stricter security and directory handling protocols that temporarily broke Acrobat DC's ability to trigger Finder from the title bar. It is categorized as a known compatibility limitation.
Where can I find the com.adobe.acrobat.FeatureState.plist file?
The specific plist file is typically provided by Adobe support on their official Catalina compatibility help page, or it can be manually generated by creating a standard property list file with the required feature flags enabled.
Is it safe to force quit cfprefsd in Activity Monitor?
Yes, `cfprefsd` is merely a background preference-caching process. Quitting it safely forces macOS to restart the process and reload updated application preference files, including the new Acrobat plist.
What if the workaround doesn't fix the PDF title issue?
If the plist workaround fails, ensure you placed it in the root `/Library` and not the user `~/Library`. If it continues to fail, report the bug directly via Adobe's Wishform.
