Fix Mac Users Cannot Access Comments in Acrobat Shared PDF Reviews
Question details
Mac users are unable to view existing review comments or connect to an Acrobat shared review server when attempting to access a network-shared PDF.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- A user opens a network-shared PDF that has been pre-populated with review comments, but the comments do not appear for Mac reviewers.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF opens, but all review comments are absent. The user is also unable to successfully connect to the Acrobat shared review server if a Finder connection to the server is already active.
Ensure you have the exact network path or URL to the shared review server and verify that your PDF application is updated to the latest version.
Disconnect the Server in Mac Finder Before Opening the PDF
Close existing Mac Finder connections to the review server so Adobe Acrobat can establish its own dedicated review session without conflict.
This issue occurs because macOS Finder and Adobe Acrobat attempt to establish competing connections to the same network server. If Finder is actively connected to the shared review server, Acrobat fails to initialize the shared review session properly, causing the comments to remain hidden.
Fully exit Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader on your Mac to ensure no background sessions are active.
Click the Finder icon in your Mac Dock to open a new Finder window.
Look under the 'Locations' or 'Network' section in the left sidebar of the Finder window to find the shared review server.
Click the 'Eject' icon next to the server name to disconnect from it completely.
Open the shared PDF document directly. When prompted by the PDF application, enter your credentials to allow the software to connect directly to the review server.
Easily View and Share PDF Comments with WPS Office
Avoid complex network server configurations. WPS Office provides a streamlined, lightweight PDF reader and editor that makes adding, viewing, and sharing comments hassle-free across all devices, including Mac.
- 1. Open the PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the PDF document containing the shared comments.
- 2. Access the Comment Tools: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon to view all available markup and annotation tools.
- 3. View Existing Comments: Click the 'Comment Pane' icon on the left or right sidebar to display a list of all existing comments, highlights, and annotations.
- 4. Share the Document: Use the 'Share' button to easily send the document with all embedded comments to your colleagues via a secure link or email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do comments disappear when I open a shared PDF on Mac?
This typically happens due to a network connection conflict. If your Mac's Finder is already connected to the server hosting the PDF, Adobe Acrobat may fail to establish its own review session, causing the embedded comments to remain hidden.
Does this issue affect Windows users accessing the shared review?
Generally, this specific connection conflict is unique to macOS and how Finder handles network drives compared to Windows Explorer. Windows users usually connect to the shared review server without this overlapping connection issue.
How can I verify if my comments were saved to the shared review?
To check if your comments synced properly, check the 'Tracker' feature in Adobe Acrobat (View > Tracker) to see the status of your published comments, or open the PDF on a device that is not currently experiencing the server conflict.
