Fix PDF Showing Strange Characters in Acrobat Reader on iPad
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where text in a PDF document displays as strange symbols or gibberish when viewed on an iPad.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader for iPad
- Device & OS
- iOS 13
- Scenario
- Opening and viewing a transferred PDF document on an iPad.
- Observed behavior
- Characters in the PDF appear as strange symbols on the iPad, despite displaying correctly on Windows or macOS versions of Acrobat.
Ensure you have access to the original source document (such as a Word or InDesign file) and a desktop computer, as you will need to re-export the file with different settings.
Recreate the PDF with Embedded Fonts
Export the document again while ensuring all fonts are embedded into the file to prevent iOS from using incorrect fallback fonts.
When fonts are not embedded in a PDF, the viewing device attempts to substitute them with available system fonts. Because iOS has a different set of system fonts compared to Windows or macOS, this substitution often fails and displays strange symbols instead of text.
Launch your word processor or design software (such as Microsoft Word, WPS Office, or InDesign) and open the original source document of your PDF.
Navigate to the 'File' menu and select 'Save As' or 'Export to PDF'.
Click on 'Options', 'More Options', or 'Advanced Settings' in the save dialog. Look for an option that says 'Embed all fonts' or select the 'PDF/A compliant' mode, which forces font embedding.
Save the new PDF file. Transfer this updated file to your iPad and open it in Acrobat Reader to verify the text renders correctly.
Export PDFs with Embedded Fonts Using WPS Office
WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF converter that automatically embeds standard fonts, ensuring your documents display perfectly on iPads and other devices without strange characters.
- 1. Open Document: Launch WPS Office on your desktop and open the source document you want to convert.
- 2. Select Export to PDF: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and choose 'Export to PDF'.
- 3. Adjust Settings: Click 'Advanced Settings' in the export window to ensure high-quality output and font retention are active.
- 4. Export File: Choose your desired save location and click the 'Export' button to generate a highly compatible PDF file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the PDF look fine on my computer but not on my iPad?
Your computer likely has the original fonts installed locally on its system, so it renders the text correctly even if the fonts aren't embedded in the PDF itself. The iPad lacks these specific fonts and fails to substitute them properly.
How can I check if fonts are embedded in my current PDF?
Open the PDF in a desktop reader like Adobe Acrobat or WPS PDF. Go to 'File', select 'Properties' (or 'Document Properties'), and click on the 'Fonts' tab. It will list all fonts used and explicitly state if they are embedded or embedded subsets.
Can I fix the font issue directly on my iPad without a computer?
Generally, no. Fixing missing fonts requires embedding them into the file's structure, which is best done by recreating the PDF from the original source file using robust desktop software.
