Fix Acrobat Reader Mobile Showing Only Delete on Scanned PDFs
Question details
The user is attempting to edit a scanned PDF document in Acrobat Reader Mobile but finds that only a 'Delete' option is available instead of standard text editing tools.
- Product
- Acrobat Reader Mobile
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to modify or correct text within a PDF that consists of scanned pages or image-based content on a mobile device.
- Observed behavior
- The editing menu only provides a 'Delete' option because the application recognizes the scanned document as a flat image file rather than a document with editable text layers.
Verify whether your PDF document contains selectable text or if it is entirely image-based by attempting to long-press and highlight a single word on the page.
Use Adobe Scan for Image-based PDF Markups
Since standard PDF viewers treat scanned pages as flat pictures, you can use a scanning app to apply markups, redact information, or clean up the image.
Acrobat Reader Mobile does not natively convert image files into editable text on the fly. To make visual modifications to a scanned document, you must rely on tools designed for image cleanup.
Download and install the Adobe Scan application (or a similar scanner app) from your device's app store.
Open the scanner app and import the image-based PDF file that you were previously trying to edit.
Use the application's markup, crop, and cleanup tools to cover up unwanted information or add new visual annotations over the scanned image.
Apply Optical Character Recognition (OCR) First
Convert the scanned image into a fully editable text document using an OCR tool before attempting to edit it in your mobile PDF app.
Edit Scanned PDFs Effortlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office offers a powerful built-in OCR (Optical Character Recognition) feature that instantly extracts text from scanned PDFs and images, allowing you to edit the content directly on your mobile device or PC without needing multiple apps.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and launch the WPS Office application on your mobile device.
- 2. Open the Scanned PDF: Locate and open your scanned PDF document using the WPS PDF viewer.
- 3. Activate the OCR Feature: Tap on the 'Tools' menu at the bottom and select the 'OCR' option to scan the image and extract the text.
- 4. Edit the Recognized Text: Once the text is extracted and converted, use the standard PDF text editing tools to modify, delete, or format the text directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF only show an option to delete when I try to edit it?
This happens when your PDF is a scanned image or a flat file without active text layers. Because standard PDF viewers treat the page as a single picture, the only editing action available is to delete or replace the entire image block.
Can I make a scanned PDF editable on my phone?
Yes, you can make a scanned PDF editable by using an application that includes OCR (Optical Character Recognition) capabilities. OCR scans the image, identifies the characters, and converts them into selectable, modifiable text layers.
How do I know if my PDF is an image or contains real text?
The easiest way to check is to try selecting a single word. If you can long-press to highlight individual letters or words, it contains real text. If tapping selects the entire page with a bounding box, it is an image-based PDF.
Does WPS Office support editing scanned PDFs?
Yes, WPS Office includes a premium OCR feature that can extract text from scanned documents and images. Once extracted, you can edit, format, and copy the text easily within the same application.
