Fix Cannot Select Text in EPUB-to-PDF Files on iPad Acrobat
Question details
Users are unable to select, copy, or highlight text in PDF files converted from EPUB format on an iPad, despite the text being selectable on desktop versions.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- iPadOS
- Scenario
- Reading, annotating, and highlighting PDFs converted from EPUB files on an iPad tablet.
- Observed behavior
- Text selection and highlighting features fail to register touch gestures properly after an app update, even when the document is not locked or encrypted.
Ensure your iPad is connected to Wi-Fi to check for pending app updates, and verify that the PDF file is not encrypted or restricted from copying by testing it on a desktop computer first.
Use the Updated Text Selection Gesture in Commenting Mode
Adobe Acrobat Reader introduced a modified gesture for highlighting text. If standard tap-and-drag selection fails, using the dedicated commenting tool often bypasses the gesture glitch.
Following recent updates, the touch recognition behavior for selecting text in complex PDFs (like those converted from EPUBs) was altered. Accessing the specific Highlight tool forces the app to prioritize text-layer recognition over page scrolling.
Open your EPUB-to-PDF file in Acrobat Reader on your iPad. Tap the blue pencil 'Edit' or 'Comment' icon at the bottom right corner to open the annotation toolbar.
Tap the 'Highlight' icon (usually a marker symbol) from the toolbar at the bottom or top of your screen.
Instead of immediately dragging, tap and long-press on the first word of the text you wish to select until the circular magnifying glass appears on the screen.
Once the magnifying glass is visible, drag your finger or Apple Pencil across the text to apply the highlight or access the copy prompt.
Update Acrobat Reader to the Latest Version
Software bugs preventing text selection are often resolved in newer patches. Ensuring your application is fully updated is a critical troubleshooting step.
Seamlessly Read and Highlight PDFs with WPS Office on iPad
If your current PDF reader is experiencing gesture glitches with EPUB-converted files, WPS Office offers a highly responsive and intuitive PDF reading experience on iPad. You can easily select, copy, and highlight text in any standard PDF document without gesture delays.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office from the Apple App Store on your iPad.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch the app and import your EPUB-to-PDF document from your files or cloud storage.
- 3. Access Annotation Tools: Tap the 'Tools' menu at the bottom and select the 'Annotation' tab to reveal editing options.
- 4. Highlight Seamlessly: Select the Highlight tool and simply drag over your text to select and mark it instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I select text in this PDF on my desktop but not on my iPad?
Desktop and mobile PDF readers use entirely different rendering engines and interface controls. A file might contain minor formatting quirks from the EPUB conversion process that a robust desktop software can bypass, but which interfere with the touch-based selection layers on a mobile operating system.
How do I check if my PDF is locked against copying or highlighting?
You can verify document restrictions by opening the PDF on a desktop computer. Go to File > Properties > Security. If features like 'Content Copying' or 'Commenting' are marked as 'Not Allowed', the document has permission passwords applied, which will prevent text selection on an iPad as well.
Does converting an EPUB to PDF turn the text into an image?
Usually, no. Standard EPUB-to-PDF converters preserve the text layer, making it fully selectable. However, if you used an online converter that rasterized the pages or essentially 'printed' them as images, the text becomes flat graphics and cannot be selected without OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software.
