Fix Adobe Acrobat Text Box Tool Creating a Rectangle Instead
Question details
The user is unable to type text because the Adobe Acrobat text box tool acts like a shape tool, creating a rectangle instead of a functional text box.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Adobe Reader DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to insert a text box to type text into a PDF document after a software update.
- Observed behavior
- The first text box created behaves entirely like a rectangle shape, blocking any text entry from the user.
Before attempting to repair the software, open a different PDF file and test the text box tool to see if the problem is specific to a single corrupted document or affects the entire application.
Update and Repair the Adobe Acrobat Installation
Updating to the latest version and running the built-in repair tool resolves most software bugs and corrupted program files affecting PDF tools.
Software updates often include patches for known bugs like the text box shape glitch. Running a quick installation repair on Windows can fix missing or corrupted background files causing this behavior.
Open Adobe Acrobat and navigate to Help > Check for Updates. If a newer version is found, follow the prompts to install the latest patch.
Click on Help on the top menu bar, select Repair Installation, and wait for the automated repair process to finish.
Close Adobe Acrobat completely and relaunch the program to ensure the changes are applied to the text box tool.
Clean and Reinstall Adobe Acrobat
If repairing the installation doesn't work, completely removing and reinstalling the software will fix deeply rooted update glitches.
Add Text Boxes to PDFs Easily with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat's text tool continues to glitch, you can use the built-in WPS PDF Editor to seamlessly insert text boxes, annotate, and modify your PDF documents without paying for expensive subscriptions.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Open' to import the PDF file you wish to modify.
- 2. Navigate to the Insert tab: Click on the 'Insert' or 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon to reveal the PDF annotation tools.
- 3. Add a Text Box: Click the 'Text Box' icon, click anywhere on your PDF page, and begin typing your text seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my text box turn into a rectangle in Adobe Acrobat?
This is typically caused by an internal software bug or a corrupted recent update, causing Adobe Acrobat to misinterpret the text box tool command as a generic shape tool. Updating or repairing the application usually resolves this.
How do I change the properties of a text box in a PDF?
Right-click the outline of the text box and select 'Properties'. From the properties menu, you can customize the border color, fill color, line thickness, and text formatting.
Can I edit PDF text directly instead of adding a text box?
Yes. Instead of drawing a text box, you can use the 'Edit PDF' or 'Edit Text & Images' tool to click on existing paragraphs in the document and type directly into them.
How do I repair Adobe Acrobat on a Mac?
The built-in 'Repair Installation' menu option is exclusive to the Windows version of Acrobat. To resolve similar software issues on macOS, you must uninstall the application entirely and download a fresh installer from Adobe's website.
