Fix PDF Error 110: Highlights and Annotations Disappear After Saving
Question details
Highlights and annotations fail to save in a PDF document and disappear completely after the file is closed or the computer shuts down.
- Product
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Adding highlights and annotations to a long study PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF does not retain highlighted changes upon saving, often associated with Error 110, resulting in the loss of all annotations once the file is reopened.
Ensure you have downloaded the PDF document directly to your local computer, as editing files directly from email attachments or synced cloud folders can cause saving and synchronization errors.
Save a New Local Copy and Check Security Permissions
Resolves saving failures caused by read-only attributes or strict document security settings that restrict commenting.
PDF files distributed for study or work often come with restricted permissions or are downloaded in a read-only state. Creating a fresh, locally saved copy ensures you have full write access to the file.
Right-click the downloaded PDF file in your computer's file explorer, select 'Properties', and ensure the 'Read-only' attribute box at the bottom is unchecked.
Open the PDF in your PDF reader (such as Acrobat). Go to 'File' > 'Properties' > 'Security' tab, and verify that both 'Commenting' and 'Document Changes' are set to 'Allowed'.
Click 'File' > 'Save As' and create a new copy of the document with a slightly different file name. Save it to a standard local folder like your Desktop or Documents.
Open the newly named PDF, apply a few test highlights, save the document, and close the application. Reopen it to confirm the highlights are retained.
Update or Repair Your PDF Application
Fixes underlying software bugs or corrupted installation files that trigger Error 110 when attempting to save document data.
Annotate and Highlight PDFs Reliably with WPS Office
If your current PDF reader struggles to save highlights or frequently throws saving errors, switch to WPS Office. Its built-in PDF editor makes highlighting, annotating, and saving large study documents fast and reliable without permission glitches.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open', and browse to select your study PDF document.
- 2. Access annotation tools: Click on the 'Comment' tab located in the top navigation ribbon to reveal markup options.
- 3. Highlight text: Select the 'Highlight' tool, pick your preferred color from the palette, and drag your cursor over the text you wish to emphasize.
- 4. Save your progress: Click the 'Save' icon in the top left corner or press Ctrl+S to securely save your annotations directly to the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does PDF Error 110 occur when saving?
Error 110 typically occurs due to file corruption, missing embedded fonts, or conflicting document metadata when trying to save a modified PDF. It prevents the software from writing new data, like annotations, back to the file.
Can I recover highlights that disappeared after closing the PDF?
Unfortunately, if the highlights were not successfully written to the local file due to read-only restrictions or a software error, they are permanently lost. You will need to resolve the saving issue and re-annotate the document.
Does editing a PDF from a cloud drive cause saving issues?
Yes, opening and editing a PDF directly from an email attachment or a continuously syncing cloud folder (like OneDrive or Google Drive) can cause synchronization conflicts. This often leads to failed saves. Always download the file to a local offline folder first.
How do I know if my PDF restricts commenting?
Open the PDF, go to the document properties (usually under 'File' > 'Properties'), and check the 'Security' tab. Look for the 'Commenting' permission—if it says 'Not Allowed', the author has restricted modifications, and you will not be able to save highlights.
