Fix Acrobat Pro 2020 Freezing When Saving Signed PDF on macOS
Question details
The user experiences freezing or crashing issues when attempting to save a PDF document after adding a signature in Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 on macOS.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Saving a PDF document after applying an electronic signature.
- Observed behavior
- The application freezes or crashes completely, particularly when trying to overwrite the original PDF file.
Ensure your macOS is fully updated and verify that the PDF file is not locked or stored in a restricted folder before attempting to sign it.
Use the 'Save As' Function Instead of Overwriting
Prevent the application from freezing by saving the signed document as a completely new file.
When saving a PDF after applying a signature, the software attempts to overwrite the original file. On macOS, particularly Big Sur, permission conflicts or software bugs can cause the program to hang during this overwrite process.
Apply your electronic signature to the PDF document as you normally would in Acrobat Pro 2020.
Instead of using the standard Save command, navigate to the 'File' menu at the top of the screen and click 'Save As'.
Enter a new filename (e.g., append '-signed' to the end) or choose a completely different destination folder, then click Save.
Repair or Update Adobe Acrobat Installation
Fix corrupted application files or known bugs that may be causing the freezing issue during the save process.
Use WPS Office to Sign and Save PDFs Without Freezing
WPS Office provides a stable, lightweight, and efficient PDF editing environment. You can easily add electronic signatures to your PDF documents on macOS and save them instantly without experiencing the freezing issues found in other software.
- 1. Open the PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the PDF document you need to sign.
- 2. Insert Your Signature: Navigate to the 'Fill & Sign' or 'Protect' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Sign', and create or insert your electronic signature.
- 3. Save the Document: Click the 'Save' icon or use the 'Cmd + S' keyboard shortcut. WPS Office will instantly save your signed PDF document without freezing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat Pro 2020 freeze when saving on macOS Big Sur?
This is a known issue where Acrobat Pro 2020 conflicts with macOS file system permissions when trying to overwrite an existing file after applying an electronic signature. Using the 'Save As' function to create a new file typically bypasses this bug.
Do I need the subscription version of Adobe Acrobat to sign PDFs?
While Adobe support sometimes suggests upgrading to the subscription-based Acrobat DC for advanced electronic signatures, standard digital signatures are supported in the perpetual Acrobat Pro 2020. If the perpetual version continues to fail, alternative free software like WPS Office can securely handle PDF signatures.
How can I check if my PDF file is locked on Mac?
Right-click the PDF file in Finder, select 'Get Info', and look at the 'General' section. Ensure the 'Locked' checkbox is unchecked and verify that your user account has 'Read & Write' privileges under the 'Sharing & Permissions' section.
