PDF Editing Issues

How to Add a Reset All Fields Button in Adobe Acrobat Pro XI

John Wilson Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to add an interactive button to a fillable PDF form that clears all inputted data and restores the form to its original blank state.

How to Add a Reset All Fields Button in Adobe Acrobat Pro XI

Product: Adobe Acrobat Pro XI
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating or managing a fillable PDF form where end-users need a convenient way to clear their entries and start over, ensuring functionality across different PDF viewers like Adobe Reader and tablet devices.
Observed behavior: The user needs to configure a form field button with a specific action to reset selected or all form fields within the document.

Before you start

Ensure you have your fillable PDF form open in Adobe Acrobat Pro XI and that all the text fields, checkboxes, and dropdowns you want to clear are already created and properly named.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure a Reset Button Using the Forms Tool

Use the built-in interactive form editing tools in Acrobat Pro XI to create a button and assign the 'Reset a Form' action to it.

Adding a reset button involves creating a standard button field and modifying its action properties. This method ensures the reset function is embedded into the PDF itself and works on standard PDF readers, including mobile and tablet applications.

Enter Form Editing Mode

Open your PDF document in Adobe Acrobat Pro XI. Navigate to the top right panel, click on 'Tools', expand the 'Forms' section, and select 'Edit'. This will activate the form field interface.

Add a New Button Field

Click on 'Add New Field' under the Tasks pane and select 'Button' from the dropdown list. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag on the document page to draw the button at your desired location.

Set the Button Label

Right-click the newly drawn button and select 'Properties'. In the 'General' tab, give your button a recognizable name (e.g., 'ResetButton'). Next, switch to the 'Options' tab and type 'Reset All Fields' in the 'Label' box. This text will appear on the button itself.

Assign the Reset Action

Click on the 'Actions' tab within the Properties window. Ensure 'Select Trigger' is set to 'Mouse Up'. In the 'Select Action' dropdown menu, choose 'Reset a form', then click the 'Add' button.

Select Fields to Clear

A new dialog box will appear displaying all the interactive fields currently in your PDF. By default, all fields are selected. Verify that only the fields you want to clear are checked, then click 'OK'.

Save and Test

Click 'Close' on the Properties window. Exit form editing mode, save your PDF document, and open it in a standard viewer like Adobe Reader to test the reset functionality.

Configure a Reset Button Using the Forms Tool

Testing on Tablets: To ensure the button works properly for all users, transfer the saved PDF to your Samsung tablet and open it using the official Adobe Reader mobile app. Tap the button to verify the fields clear as expected.

Manage and Edit PDF Forms Seamlessly with WPS Office

If you are looking for an intuitive way to handle PDF forms alongside your daily documents, WPS Office offers a comprehensive PDF editor. You can easily view, fill, and manage interactive PDFs without needing heavy or expensive software.

1. Launch WPS Office: Open WPS Office on your computer or mobile device and click on 'PDF' to access the PDF toolset.
2. Open Your PDF Form: Import the fillable PDF document that you need to complete, review, or reset.
3. Interact with Form Fields: Click directly into the text fields, checkboxes, or interactive buttons to fill out or reset the form data instantly.
4. Save and Share: Once complete, save your PDF to lock in the form data or share it directly with colleagues via email or cloud link.

Easily view, fill, and interact with PDF forms natively within the applicationSeamlessly compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) and standard PDFsLightweight, fast, and completely free to download for desktop and mobileFamiliar user interface makes switching from other PDF and office software effortless

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my reset button not work when viewed in a web browser?

Many default web browser PDF viewers (like Chrome or Edge built-in viewers) have limited support for interactive PDF elements and JavaScript actions. To ensure the reset button works, instruct users to open the form in a dedicated PDF application like Adobe Reader or WPS Office.

Can I set the reset button to clear only specific fields instead of the whole form?

Yes. When you add the 'Reset a form' action in the button properties, a window appears listing all form fields. Simply uncheck the boxes next to any fields you want to preserve, and only the checked fields will be cleared when the button is clicked.

How can I prevent the reset button from showing up when the document is printed?

To hide the button on physical copies, right-click the button in Edit mode and select 'Properties'. Go to the 'General' tab and look for the 'Form Field' property. Change the setting from 'Visible' to 'Visible but doesn't print'.

PDF Troubleshooting