Fix Numbers and Symbols Moving to the Wrong Side in Acrobat
Question details
Users experience numbers and symbols reversing positions or moving to the wrong side when typing or editing text in a PDF document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Editing PDF text, filling out forms, or entering numbers in an online PDF viewer.
- Observed behavior
- Numbers and symbols are typed but immediately appear on the wrong side or reverse their order, indicating an unexpected right-to-left text direction or input conflict.
Ensure your Windows keyboard layout is set to your primary language (e.g., English) and check whether the issue happens across all PDF files or just one specific document.
Adjust Acrobat Language and Text Direction Settings
Correcting the default text direction settings in Adobe Acrobat usually resolves unexpected left-to-right typing behavior.
Acrobat sometimes inherits language formatting from the original document or system settings, occasionally defaulting to right-to-left configurations used in languages like Arabic or Hebrew.
Launch Adobe Acrobat DC and navigate to 'Edit' > 'Preferences' on the top menu bar, or simply press Ctrl+K.
In the Preferences window, select 'Language' from the left-hand Categories pane.
Locate the 'Right-to-Left' language options. Ensure that the default text direction is set to 'Left to Right'.
Click 'OK' to save your changes. Restart Adobe Acrobat and attempt to type the numbers and symbols again.
Verify Windows Keyboard and Regional Settings
Operating system keyboard configurations can sometimes override application settings, causing right-to-left input.
Edit PDF Text and Numbers Flawlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to reverse your text and numbers, switch to WPS Office. The built-in WPS PDF tool offers a highly stable and intuitive PDF editing experience, ensuring your formatting and text direction stay exactly as you intend.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
- 2. Open the PDF File: Launch the application and open your problematic PDF document using WPS PDF.
- 3. Start Editing: Navigate to the 'Edit' tab and click on the 'Edit Text' tool.
- 4. Type Without Errors: Click on the text box where you need to input data. Type your numbers and symbols normally; WPS PDF automatically maintains the correct left-to-right alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my numbers typing backwards in PDF forms?
This typically occurs when the PDF form's fields or the viewer application itself is configured for a Right-to-Left language setting. Correcting the application's language preferences to Left-to-Right usually resolves this.
Does updating Adobe Acrobat fix the text reversal issue?
Sometimes. Software bugs can cause formatting glitches, and Adobe frequently releases patches for Acrobat DC. Go to 'Help' > 'Check for Updates' to ensure you have the latest bug fixes installed.
Can a specific font cause symbols to jump to the wrong side?
Yes, certain custom fonts may contain embedded metrics that default to different directional behaviors. Highlighting the reversed text and changing the font to a standard system font like Arial or Times New Roman can often fix the issue.
