PDF Editing Issues

How to Change Freehand Comment Color and Thickness in Acrobat Reader iOS

Ayan Masood Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to find the options menu for the Freehand comment tool in order to adjust the ink color and thickness when drawing on a PDF.

How to Change Freehand Comment Color and Thickness in Acrobat Reader for iOS

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS: iOS (iPad/iPhone)
Scenario: Annotating or signing a PDF document using the freehand drawing tool on a mobile device.
Observed behavior: There is no direct access to an options menu for the Freehand tool before drawing, making it difficult to figure out how to change its appearance properties.

Before you start

Ensure your Adobe Acrobat Reader app is updated to the latest version from the App Store, as interface options and toolbars for annotation features frequently change between updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Modify Freehand Properties After Drawing

Since there is no direct options menu prior to drawing in some versions of the app, you must draw a stroke first and edit its properties afterward.

Adobe Acrobat Reader for iOS simplifies its default toolbar. To adjust the thickness and color of the freehand tool, you typically need to interact with an already-drawn element. Once you change the settings for one stroke, you can often set it as the default for future annotations.

Draw a freehand mark

Select the Freehand (Pencil) tool from the Comment menu and make a quick mark or signature on your PDF document.

Exit drawing mode

Tap 'Done' or the checkmark icon to exit the active drawing state.

Select the drawn mark

Tap directly on the freehand mark you just drew to highlight it and bring up the context menu.

Adjust color and thickness

Tap 'Properties' or the color palette icon in the pop-up menu. Adjust the color and thickness to your preference, then optionally select 'Make Properties Default'.

Modify Freehand Properties After Drawing

App Version Variations: Depending on your specific version of Acrobat Reader for iOS, the properties menu might appear as a floating toolbar at the bottom of the screen while the stroke is selected.

Solution 2

Use the Floating Style Toolbar

For newer updates of the Acrobat iPad app, a floating menu may appear when the freehand tool is activated.

Intuitive PDF Editor

Easily Annotate PDFs with WPS Office for iOS

Skip the confusing menus and hidden properties. WPS Office provides an intuitive PDF editor for iPad and iPhone with easily accessible options to change your freehand drawing color, thickness, and style right from the main toolbar.

1. Open your PDF in WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office app on your iPhone or iPad and open your target PDF document.
2. Access the Annotation Tools: Tap the 'Tools' menu at the bottom and select the 'Annotation' or 'Pen' feature from the PDF toolkit.
3. Customize Freehand Options: Directly tap the color palette and thickness slider visibly located on the active toolbar to set your exact preferences before you make a mark.
4. Draw and Save: Freely draw your annotations or signature. Tap 'Done' to seamlessly save the customized freehand comments to your document.

Instantly change ink color and thickness before you start drawingFully compatible with standard PDF annotations and Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)Free, lightweight, and incredibly easy to navigate on iOS devicesComprehensive mobile editing tools including text modification and image insertion

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find the freehand tool options in Acrobat for iOS?

Adobe Acrobat Reader for iOS uses a simplified interface for mobile devices. This means the options menu for the Freehand tool isn't always directly accessible before drawing. Users often have to draw a stroke first, then tap it to edit its properties.

Can I set a default color for the freehand tool on my iPad?

Yes. Once you change the properties of a drawn freehand shape, look for an option to 'Make Properties Default' in the context menu. Subsequent drawings will then use your new color and thickness.

Is there a free alternative for seamlessly annotating PDFs on iOS?

Yes, WPS Office offers a free and robust PDF editor for iOS that allows you to easily draw, annotate, and customize your comment tools with all properties visibly accessible on the main toolbar.

PDF Troubleshooting