Fix Hebrew or Arabic Text Disappearing in Acrobat Fill and Sign
Question details
The user is attempting to input right-to-left (RTL) text, such as Hebrew or Arabic, into a PDF using the Fill and Sign tool, but the text disappears or renders as squares upon exiting the text field.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Multiple (Android, iOS, Web, Desktop)
- Scenario
- Filling out forms or signing PDF documents using right-to-left languages.
- Observed behavior
- Right-to-left text vanishes when the user taps outside the text field. On Desktop, letters may turn into square boxes. On Android, undoing the action can cause the application to crash.
Verify that your current PDF document is not corrupted and ensure that your device has the appropriate language packs installed for Hebrew or Arabic.
Update Acrobat to the Latest Release
Since this is a known rendering bug affecting specific platform versions, updating to the newest release may patch the issue.
Software developers frequently release patches for known text rendering and right-to-left language compatibility issues. Running an outdated version of the app might be the root cause of the disappearing text.
Open Acrobat on your computer, click on the 'Help' menu at the top, and select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the prompts to install any available patches.
Open the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS), search for 'Adobe Acrobat', and tap 'Update' if a newer version is available.
Use the Legacy Fill & Sign App or Desktop Version
Using an older, stable version of the Fill & Sign application or switching to a desktop environment can bypass mobile rendering bugs.
Recover Hidden Text Objects on Mobile
If you are using the iOS mobile app and the text disappears, you can temporarily recover it to edit or copy your input.
Edit and Fill PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If your current PDF software struggles to properly display right-to-left languages like Hebrew or Arabic, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, lightweight PDF editor alongside complete office suite capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Hebrew or Arabic letters turn into square boxes in my PDF?
This happens when the font assigned to the Fill and Sign text field does not support the required right-to-left character sets. The text is preserved, but the characters cannot be drawn correctly by the application.
Is the disappearing text permanently deleted?
Not necessarily. On some mobile versions like iOS, the text object still exists but fails to render. Tapping the area where you typed can make the text reappear for editing.
Why does the app crash when I try to undo typing on Android?
This is a known bug in certain versions of the Android app related to right-to-left text handling. When the text fails to render and you attempt to undo the action, the app encounters a fatal error and crashes.
