PDF Editing Issues

Fix Apple Pencil Double-Tap Eraser Not Working in Acrobat Reader Mobile

Phi Hung Vo Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to use the Apple Pencil double-tap gesture to activate the eraser while annotating.

How to Fix Apple Pencil Double-Tap Eraser Not Working in Acrobat Reader Mobile

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader Mobile
Device & OS: iOS / iPadOS
Scenario: Switching between different PDF documents and attempting to resume annotation using the Apple Pencil double-tap gesture.
Observed behavior: The double-tap gesture stops activating the eraser tool upon reopening the original document.

Before you start

Ensure your iPadOS and the Acrobat Reader Mobile app are updated to their latest versions, and verify that the double-tap action is correctly assigned to the eraser in your iPad's Apple Pencil settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Access Eraser via Edit PDF Mode

Manually trigger the annotation toolset in the latest version of Acrobat Reader to reset the gesture recognition.

Open your PDF

Launch Acrobat Reader Mobile and open the PDF document you want to annotate.

Select Edit PDF

Tap on the 'Edit PDF' option from the main toolbar to reveal the full suite of annotation tools.

Manually select the eraser

Tap the eraser tool icon manually once to re-initialize the toolstate, which often restores the double-tap functionality.

Solution 2

Restart the Application

Force close the app to clear the temporary tool state glitch caused by switching document tabs.

Advanced PDF Editor

Annotate PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office

If you are tired of annotation glitches, try WPS Office. It provides a robust PDF editing experience with flawless Apple Pencil integration, allowing you to write, highlight, and erase without interruptions.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and launch WPS Office on your iPad from the App Store.
2. Open your PDF: Import or open your existing PDF document directly within the app.
3. Access Annotation Tools: Tap on the 'Annotation' tab to bring up the pen, highlighter, and eraser tools.
4. Use Apple Pencil: Start writing naturally and simply double-tap your Apple Pencil to instantly switch to the eraser.

Flawless Apple Pencil gesture integration for smooth handwriting and erasingFully compatible with standard PDF and Microsoft Office formatsLightweight design that handles multiple documents without freezingRich set of free PDF reading and markup tools

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Apple Pencil double-tap stop working after switching PDF files?

This often happens because the app loses track of the active tool state when moving between document tabs. Manually reselecting the tool or restarting the app usually resets this state.

How do I check my Apple Pencil double-tap settings?

Open your iPad Settings, scroll down to 'Apple Pencil', and check the 'Double-Tap' section. Ensure it is set to 'Switch between current tool and eraser'.

Is the Edit PDF feature free in Acrobat Reader Mobile?

Basic annotation tools are often free, but advanced editing features in Acrobat Reader Mobile may require an active Adobe Acrobat Pro subscription. If you need a free alternative for robust annotations, consider WPS Office.

PDF Troubleshooting