Fix Acrobat Edit Using Paint Image Not Found Error
Question details
The user encounters a 'file not found' error in Adobe Acrobat Standard DC when attempting to edit PDF images using Microsoft Paint.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Standard DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to edit an embedded PDF image using Microsoft Paint via the 'Edit Using' or 'Open With' feature in Adobe Acrobat.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat displays a 'file not found' error message instead of opening the image in MS Paint, even though other applications successfully open images.
Ensure that your Adobe Acrobat Standard DC is updated to the latest version and verify if the issue occurs with all PDFs or just a specific document.
Verify PDF Content Extraction Permissions
Check if the PDF's security settings restrict content extraction, which prevents Acrobat from extracting and sending the image to Paint.
PDF creators can apply security restrictions that prevent users from copying or extracting content. If content extraction is disallowed, Acrobat cannot create the temporary image file required to pass to Microsoft Paint.
Open the problematic PDF in Adobe Acrobat, right-click anywhere on the document page, and select 'Document Properties' from the context menu.
Navigate to the 'Security' tab at the top of the Document Properties dialog box.
Look at the 'Document Restrictions Summary' and confirm whether 'Content Copying' or 'Content Copying for Accessibility' is set to 'Allowed'.
Save the PDF Document Locally
Opening PDFs from email attachments, network drives, or temporary folders can cause file path errors when passing images to external editors.
Check Paint Association and Acrobat Updates
A broken file association with Microsoft Paint or a bug in a specific Acrobat build might cause this file-not-found error.
Edit PDF Images Directly with WPS Office
Avoid external application integration errors completely by using WPS Office. Its built-in PDF editor allows you to directly crop, resize, and edit images within your PDF files without relying on third-party tools like Microsoft Paint.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Access Edit Mode: Navigate to the 'Edit' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Edit Content'.
- 3. Select the Image: Click directly on the image you want to modify to reveal the image editing toolbar on the right panel.
- 4. Apply Edits Natively: Crop, rotate, replace, or extract the image directly within the application without generating external file path errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat say the image file was not found when opening in Paint?
This usually happens if the PDF has restricted security settings that prevent content extraction. It can also occur if the PDF is opened from a temporary or cloud location where the temporary file path cannot be properly passed to MS Paint.
How do I change the default image editor in Adobe Acrobat?
To change the default editor, go to Acrobat Preferences (Ctrl+K), select 'Touch Up' from the left-hand categories, and choose your preferred image editor program under the 'Choose Image Editor' setting.
Can I edit an image in a PDF without using MS Paint?
Yes. You can use advanced PDF editors like WPS Office or Adobe Acrobat Pro, which feature built-in image editing tools. These allow you to crop, flip, or replace images directly on the PDF page without launching external software.
