PDF Editing Issues

Fix Cannot Select, Highlight, or Copy Text in Adobe Acrobat on iPhone or iPad

Steve K Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users are unable to select, highlight, or copy text using the standard touch-and-hold gesture in Adobe Acrobat Reader on iOS devices.

How to Fix Cannot Select, Highlight, or Copy Text in Adobe Acrobat Reader on iPhone or iPad

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader Mobile
Device & OS: iPhone or iPad (iOS/iPadOS)
Scenario: Attempting to select or highlight text in a PDF document after a recent Adobe Acrobat Reader app update.
Observed behavior: The standard touch-and-hold gesture fails to select text, forcing users to rely on the Comments option, which reduces available screen space and slows down the workflow.

Before you start

Ensure that the PDF document you are viewing is a text-based PDF and not a scanned image, as scanned PDFs require Optical Character Recognition (OCR) before text can be selected.

Solution 1Recommended

Extend the Touch-and-Hold Duration

Adjusting the timing of your touch gesture can temporarily bypass the unresponsiveness caused by recent app updates.

In certain versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader Mobile, the sensitivity for text selection has been altered. A quick tap or a standard long-press might not register as a text selection command.

Open the PDF document

Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader on your iPhone or iPad and open the PDF file you wish to edit or read.

Apply a longer touch-and-hold gesture

Press and hold your finger on the specific word you want to select for approximately 2 to 3 seconds until the selection handles appear.

Select the desired action

Once the text is selected, choose 'Copy' or 'Highlight' from the context menu that pops up on the screen.

Quick Workaround: This method often works without needing to uninstall or alter any app settings, providing an immediate fix for your current reading session.

Solution 2

Update Adobe Acrobat Reader to Version 22.10.00 or Later

Installing the latest app patch resolves the known bug affecting text selection and highlighting on iOS devices.

Read and Edit PDFs Seamlessly

Use WPS Office to Select, Highlight, and Copy PDF Text on iOS

Avoid app-specific bugs and enjoy a highly responsive PDF reading experience with WPS Office. You can easily select, highlight, copy, and annotate text in your PDF documents on any iPhone or iPad.

1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free from the Apple App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Open your PDF file: Launch WPS Office, navigate to your files, and tap the PDF document to open it in the built-in PDF viewer.
3. Select your text: Press and hold on any word to instantly select it, then drag the blue anchor points to expand your selection.
4. Highlight or copy: Tap 'Copy' to copy the text to your clipboard, or tap 'Highlight' from the floating menu to mark the text.

Smooth and responsive touch-and-hold text selectionFully compatible with all standard PDF files and Adobe formatsComprehensive annotation tools including highlights, underlines, and notesLightweight app with a built-in Office suite for all your document needs

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I select text in some PDFs even after updating the app?

If you cannot select text in a specific PDF regardless of the app version, the document is likely a scanned image rather than a text-based PDF. Scanned documents require Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to convert images into selectable text.

How do I highlight text if the long-press gesture is completely unresponsive?

As a temporary alternative, you can activate the 'Comment' or 'Annotate' tool from the bottom menu menu of your PDF reader, select the Highlight icon, and then drag your finger over the area you wish to highlight.

Is the version 22.10.00 update available for both iPhone and iPad?

Yes, the Adobe Acrobat Reader update that patches the text selection bug is universally available for both iOS (iPhone) and iPadOS (iPad) devices via the Apple App Store.

Does WPS Office on iOS support PDF highlighting and copying?

Absolutely. WPS Office for iOS features a robust PDF reader that supports seamless text selection, copying, highlighting, and annotating, serving as an excellent alternative if you experience bugs in other applications.

PDF Troubleshooting