Fix Adobe Acrobat Cannot Open PDF in Finder from Document Tab
Question details
The user needs to restore the missing option to reveal a document's folder location in macOS Finder when right-clicking a PDF tab in Adobe Acrobat Pro 2019.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2019
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to quickly locate the directory of a currently open PDF file directly from the application's document tab.
- Observed behavior
- The option to open the document location in Finder does not appear in the right-click context menu on the document tab.
Please save all your open documents and verify that your macOS system is fully updated before creating new user accounts for troubleshooting.
Test Acrobat in a New Mac User Profile
Creating a new administrator profile helps determine if the missing Finder option is caused by corrupted user permissions or preferences in your current account.
Software glitches related to the macOS context menu often stem from user-specific permission issues. By testing the application in a fresh profile with full administrator rights, you can isolate the problem.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings (or System Preferences).
Navigate to 'Users & Groups' and click the 'Add Account' button. You may need to enter your Mac password to unlock this setting.
Choose 'Administrator' from the New Account dropdown menu, fill in the required account details, and click 'Create User'.
Log out of your current account, log into the newly created Administrator account, open Adobe Acrobat, and right-click a document tab to see if the 'Reveal in Finder' option appears.
Enable and Test Using the macOS Root Account
If a standard admin account doesn't work, testing via the root account can bypass deep system permission restrictions that might block Acrobat from communicating with Finder.
Collect and Share Acrobat Log Files
If testing in different user profiles fails to resolve the issue, collecting system logs will help Adobe Support identify the underlying bug.
Easily Locate and Manage PDFs with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat is causing UI glitches on your Mac, try WPS Office. It features a robust built-in PDF reader that lets you quickly view file properties, open document locations, and manage multiple PDFs without missing context menus.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the PDF document you wish to view.
- 2. Right-click the document tab: Hover over the active document tab at the top of the interface and right-click it.
- 3. Open File Location: Select 'Open File Directory' from the context menu to instantly reveal your PDF file inside Finder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'Open in Finder' option missing in Acrobat Pro?
This can happen due to restricted user permissions, a corrupted macOS user profile, or a specific software bug in Acrobat Pro 2019 that fails to render the context menu properly.
How else can I find an open PDF's location on a Mac?
You can use Mac's Spotlight search (Cmd + Space) to type the name of the PDF, then highlight the file in the results and hold the Command key to reveal its location path at the bottom, or press Cmd + Enter to open its folder.
Can I view the file path from within Adobe Acrobat without using the tab?
Yes. While the PDF is open, click 'File' in the top menu, then select 'Properties'. Under the 'Description' tab, look for the 'Location' field which displays the full hard drive path to your document.
