How to Change Comment Author Name in Adobe Acrobat Shared Reviews
Question details
The user needs to change the author name on PDF comments, which incorrectly displays as a default computer name instead of their real name.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating on a sensitive PDF document shared among team members from multiple companies.
- Observed behavior
- Comments show the author as 'Laptop 1'. The standard 'Properties > General' method to manually edit the author name is unavailable during the shared review workflow.
Ensure your device is connected to the internet and check which Adobe ID is currently signed into your Adobe Acrobat application, as shared reviews rely on active account profiles.
Verify and Update Your Signed-In Adobe Identity
In shared review workflows, Acrobat uses your signed-in Adobe profile instead of local application settings to establish the comment author name.
When participating in a shared review, Adobe Acrobat restricts local author name edits to maintain a reliable audit trail across multiple organizations.
To resolve the 'Laptop 1' issue, you must ensure you are properly signed into an Adobe account that reflects your correct display name.
Launch the application and open the shared PDF document you are reviewing.
Look at the top-right corner of the application window to verify which Adobe account is currently signed in. If you are not signed in, sign in using your work or personal credentials.
If you are signed in but the name is still incorrect, click your profile icon, navigate to your Adobe Account settings online, and edit your personal display name.
Sign out and sign back into Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, then reopen the document. New comments should now reflect your updated account name.
Adjust Local Commenting Preferences
Modify Acrobat's local preferences to stop the application from automatically forcing the system login name onto new comments.
Easily Manage PDF Comments with WPS Office
Avoid complex account syncing issues by using WPS Office to manage your PDF comments. WPS PDF allows you to quickly change comment authors and customize properties without the restrictive locks found in some shared review environments.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your sensitive PDF document securely.
- 2. Add a Comment: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab and insert a text box, sticky note, or highlight.
- 3. Change Author Name: Right-click your new comment, select 'Properties', and type your real name in the 'Author' field under the General tab.
- 4. Set as Default: Check the 'Make Current Properties Default' box to automatically apply this name to all future comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the 'Properties > General' option disabled for my PDF comments?
In Adobe Acrobat shared reviews, comment properties are frequently locked to the signed-in user's profile. This prevents users from masquerading as someone else and maintains a verifiable audit trail among collaborators from different companies.
Why does my comment author show as 'Laptop 1' or 'Administrator'?
If your application is configured to 'Always use Log-in Name for Author name' and you are not signed into a specific software account, the program defaults to using your computer's local system account name (e.g., 'Laptop 1').
Can I edit other users' comment names in a shared PDF?
Generally, no. To preserve document integrity, accountability, and the audit trail, PDF editing software restricts you from modifying the properties of comments authored by other participants.
How do I change the default author name for all my PDF comments?
If local edits are allowed, right-click any of your comments, choose 'Properties', go to the 'General' tab, update the author name, check 'Make Current Properties Default', and click 'OK'.
