Fix Missing Highlights and Notes in PDF Reading Mode
Question details
The user is unable to view highlights and notes when displaying a PDF document in reading mode, despite them being visible in full-screen view.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing an annotated PDF document using reading mode to minimize interface distractions.
- Observed behavior
- Highlights and notes appear correctly in full-screen view but completely disappear from the document when switched to reading mode.
Verify that you are opening the most recently synced version of your PDF document, especially if the highlights and notes were added from a different device.
Switch to Standard View and Enable Annotation Visibility
Exiting reading mode and configuring the comments panel settings helps restore the visibility of all document markups.
Reading mode is designed to hide certain interface elements and sometimes suppresses annotations to provide a cleaner reading experience. Switching back to the standard view allows you to manage comment visibility settings directly.
Press the 'Esc' key on your keyboard or click the view control icons on your screen to exit reading mode and return to the standard document view.
Navigate to the right-hand toolbar and click on the 'Comments' or 'Annotations' icon to expand the list of all highlights and notes in the document.
Click the options menu (often represented by three dots or a filter icon) within the Comments pane and ensure that the 'Show All Comments' setting is toggled on.
Save the PDF file. If the annotations still do not appear correctly, close the document and reopen it to refresh the rendering engine.
Manage PDF Annotations Flawlessly with WPS Office
If you frequently experience issues with disappearing highlights and notes in other PDF readers, try the WPS Office built-in PDF editor. It offers a stable, distraction-free reading mode that perfectly retains your annotations without compromising visibility.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download WPS Office for free, and install it on your computer or mobile device.
- 2. Open the PDF: Launch WPS Office and drag your PDF file into the workspace, or use the 'Open' button to locate your document.
- 3. Access the Comment Tools: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon to view all existing highlights, sticky notes, and annotations easily.
- 4. Use Read Mode: Click the 'Read Mode' icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen. Your highlights and notes will remain fully visible while the surrounding toolbars are hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my PDF highlights disappear when I print the document?
This usually happens if your print settings are configured to print only the document text. To include your annotations, open the print dialog box and change the 'Comments & Forms' setting from 'Document' to 'Document and Markups'.
Are highlights and notes compatible across different PDF readers?
Yes, standard PDF annotations like text highlights and sticky notes are embedded in the file metadata and are widely compatible across major PDF readers, including Adobe Acrobat and WPS Office.
How can I export only the highlighted text and notes from my PDF?
In most advanced PDF editors, you can open the Comments panel, click on the options menu, and select 'Create Comment Summary' or 'Export Selected' to generate a separate file containing just your annotations.
Can a locked or secured PDF prevent me from seeing notes?
A secured PDF typically prevents you from adding new notes or highlights, but existing annotations should still be visible unless the author specifically used security settings to hide or flatten them.
