PDF Editing Issues

How to Access and Accept Tracked Changes in Adobe Acrobat

Jason Miller Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to view and accept tracked changes or markups within a PDF document using Adobe Acrobat.

How to Access and Accept Tracked Changes in Adobe Acrobat

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing a PDF document that has been marked up or edited by collaborators.
Observed behavior: Seeking the equivalent of Microsoft Word's 'Track Changes' feature to systematically accept or reject edits in a PDF file.

Before you start

Ensure you have Adobe Acrobat installed and that the PDF document you are opening contains comments or markup annotations left by reviewers.

Solution 1Recommended

Reviewing and Managing Markups Using the Comments Tool

Since Adobe Acrobat handles tracked changes differently than Word, you must use the Comments pane to review, accept, or reject annotations and text markups.

Adobe Acrobat does not have a traditional 'Track Changes' feature that automatically alters the document's underlying text when accepted. Instead, edits are treated as comments, highlights, strikethroughs, and text insertions.

To manage these proposed edits, you use the Comments tool to cycle through each markup, allowing you to set a status (such as Accepted or Rejected) for your own review process.

Open the PDF document

Launch Adobe Acrobat and open the marked-up PDF file you need to review.

Access the Comments pane

Look at the right-hand tool pane and click on the 'Comments' icon. Alternatively, you can go to the top menu and click 'View' > 'Tools' > 'Comment' > 'Open'.

Review the list of markups

Scroll through the Comments list that appears on the right side. This pane displays all text edits, highlights, and annotations left by collaborators in the document.

Set markup status

To accept or reject a specific edit, right-click the item in the Comments list, hover over 'Set Status', and choose 'Accepted', 'Rejected', 'Completed', or 'None'.

Reviewing and Managing Markups Using the Comments Tool

Applying Edits to the Source File: Setting a comment's status to 'Accepted' in Acrobat does not automatically update the original text. You must either manually apply these accepted changes to the source document (like a Word file) or use Acrobat's 'Export to Word' comment integration feature.

Seamless PDF Markup and Review

Easily Manage PDF Comments and Markups with WPS Office

WPS Office includes a powerful, built-in PDF editor that allows you to easily view, add, and manage comments, annotations, and text markups. It provides a highly intuitive interface for collaborating on PDFs without the need for heavy, expensive software.

1. Open your PDF in WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office application and open your marked-up PDF file.
2. Access the Comment tab: Click on the 'Comment' tab located in the top ribbon to reveal all available PDF markup and annotation tools.
3. View the Comment List: Click the 'Comment List' button on the ribbon to open a side panel displaying all annotations made by collaborators.
4. Manage and reply to markups: Click on any item in the Comment List to jump directly to the markup in the document, where you can reply, resolve, or delete the comment during your review.

Review and manage PDF comments seamlessly in an intuitive panelHighly compatible with standard PDF annotations from Adobe AcrobatLightweight application with a familiar, easy-to-use interfaceConvert seamlessly between PDF and Word to utilize traditional Track Changes

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use standard Track Changes in Adobe Acrobat like I do in Word?

No, Adobe Acrobat does not feature a traditional 'Track Changes' mode that automatically edits text upon acceptance. Instead, it relies on a commenting system where edits are suggested via highlights, strikethroughs, and text boxes, which you must manually update in your source file.

How do I export PDF comments back into Microsoft Word?

In Acrobat, you can integrate comments back into your original Word document by opening the Comments pane, clicking the Options menu (the three-dot icon), and selecting 'Export to Word'. This maps the PDF markups directly into your Word file's Track Changes.

Why can't I see the tracked changes or comments in my PDF?

If comments are not visible, they might be filtered out or hidden. Go to the Comments pane in Acrobat, click the 'Filter Comments' icon, and ensure that all reviewers and all comment types are checked to display them on the document.

PDF Troubleshooting