PDF Editing Issues

Fix Cannot Scroll While Adding Comments in Adobe Acrobat on iPad

Khadija Khan Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are unable to scroll through a PDF document while actively typing or editing a comment in Adobe Acrobat on iPadOS.

How to Fix Cannot Scroll While Adding Comments in Adobe Acrobat on iPadOS

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: iPadOS 17
Scenario: Reviewing a PDF document and attempting to navigate to different sections while an annotation or comment box is actively open.
Observed behavior: The PDF document becomes locked in place when a comment is started. Scrolling is disabled and only becomes available again after the user saves the comment and dismisses the keyboard.

Before you start

Verify that your iPad is running the latest version of iPadOS and check the App Store to ensure your Adobe Acrobat app is fully updated to rule out any resolved bugs.

Solution 1Recommended

Save Comment and Dismiss Keyboard to Scroll

Since Adobe Acrobat locks the document view to the active text field on touch devices, you must systematically save your progress before navigating to another page.

This behavior is part of the application's interface design to prevent accidental screen shifts while the on-screen keyboard is taking up display space. Bypassing it requires adjusting your reviewing workflow.

Finish typing

Complete your current thought in the active comment box without attempting to drag the background document.

Save the comment

Tap the 'Save' or 'Post' button located near the active text box to finalize the annotation.

Dismiss the keyboard

Tap the keyboard down icon in the bottom right corner of the iPad screen to hide the on-screen keyboard.

Navigate the document

Swipe up or down to scroll to the next desired location in the PDF, then tap to initiate a new comment.

Save Comment and Dismiss Keyboard to Scroll

External Keyboard Users: If you are using an external Apple Magic Keyboard, you may be able to use the arrow keys to nudge the document slightly, but full touch-scrolling will remain locked until the comment is posted.

Solution 2

Report the Limitation to Adobe Support

If this UI limitation heavily impacts your document review process, escalating the issue to Adobe's development team can help prioritize future usability fixes.

Seamless PDF Commenting on iPad

Annotate and Scroll Freely with WPS Office PDF Editor

If Adobe Acrobat's scrolling lock interrupts your workflow, WPS Office offers a powerful, built-in PDF editor for iPadOS. It allows you to seamlessly add comments, highlight text, and navigate through large documents without arbitrary screen locks, maximizing your productivity.

1. Install WPS Office: Download and open the WPS Office app from the Apple App Store on your iPad.
2. Open your PDF: Tap 'Open' from the home screen and select the PDF document you need to review.
3. Access PDF tools: Select the 'Annotation' or 'Comment' tab from the top navigation toolbar to reveal the reviewing tools.
4. Add comments freely: Tap anywhere on the document to insert a text box or note, and use standard touch gestures to easily scroll through the pages as you type.

Seamless touch scrolling while reviewing and annotating PDF pagesFully compatible with standard PDF formats and third-party annotationsLightweight application highly optimized for iPadOS and Apple PencilAll-in-one suite to edit PDFs, Word documents, Excel sheets, and Presentations

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Adobe Acrobat lock the screen when commenting on iPad?

This is an intentional UI behavior in the current iPadOS version of Adobe Acrobat designed to prevent accidental screen shifting and layout breaking while the on-screen keyboard is active.

Will reinstalling the Adobe Acrobat app fix the scrolling issue?

No. Because this is a core app behavior rather than a software glitch, reinstalling the app or signing out of your Adobe account will not change the scroll-locking feature.

Are my PDF comments saved if I force close the app while typing?

While Acrobat has auto-save capabilities, an active, unposted comment may be lost if the app is force-closed. Always tap 'Save' or 'Post' on your comment before closing the document.

Can I edit PDF comments created in Acrobat using WPS Office?

Yes, WPS Office fully supports standard PDF annotations. Comments created in Adobe Acrobat can be viewed, edited, and replied to using the WPS Office PDF editor on your iPad.

PDF Troubleshooting