How to Change Legal or Letter Scan Size in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user needs to change the default scan dimensions (such as switching between Legal and Letter sizes) when scanning documents into Adobe Acrobat.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to scan paper documents into a PDF using Adobe Acrobat, but the resulting scanned pages default to the wrong dimensions.
- Observed behavior
- Scans are outputting in a fixed size (like Legal), and changing the preset list within Adobe Acrobat does not adjust the actual hardware scan dimensions.
Ensure your scanner is properly connected to your computer and that the latest manufacturer-provided scanner software and drivers are installed.
Adjust Paper Size in the Scanner Manufacturer's Software
Since Acrobat relies on the scanner's driver to control dimensions, changing the paper size directly in the scanner's software is the primary solution.
Adobe Acrobat does not perform the scanning process internally. Instead, it links to your scanner's software to execute the scan. Therefore, dimension limitations or default sizes are dictated by the scanner driver, not Acrobat.
Launch your scanner manufacturer’s proprietary scanning software (such as Epson Scan, HP Scan, or Canon IJ Scan Utility) outside of Adobe Acrobat.
Look for the scanning mode settings. If you are in 'Auto' or 'Basic' mode, switch to an 'Advanced', 'Home Office', or 'Professional' mode to reveal detailed paper size controls.
Locate the 'Document Size' or 'Paper Size' dropdown menu and select 'Letter' or 'Legal' based on your current document.
Save this newly configured scan setting as a named preset within the scanner software.
Return to Adobe Acrobat, initiate a new scan, and select your newly saved preset to ensure the correct dimensions are applied.
Configure Scan Size Using Image Capture on macOS
On macOS, Acrobat links to the native Image Capture application, so Mac users must configure their scan dimensions there.
Edit and Manage Scanned Documents with WPS Office
While troubleshooting hardware scanner drivers can be tedious in other software, managing your final scanned PDFs is effortless with WPS Office. As a comprehensive and free alternative to expensive office suites, WPS Office includes a powerful PDF editor perfect for cropping, editing, and reading your scanned files.
- 1. Download the Software: Visit the official WPS website to download the free WPS Office installation package.
- 2. Install and Launch: Follow the on-screen instructions to install the suite, then open the WPS PDF module.
- 3. Open Your Scanned PDF: Import the documents you scanned to view, annotate, and manage their pages with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat ignore my chosen scan size presets?
Acrobat relies entirely on your scanner's native driver to execute the scan. If the scanner's manufacturer software is set to default to Legal size, Acrobat will receive a Legal-sized document regardless of the internal presets you select in Acrobat.
Where do I find the advanced scan settings for my scanner?
You need to open the standalone application provided by your scanner manufacturer (such as HP Scan, Epson Scan, or Brother ControlCenter) from your Start menu or Applications folder. Once open, look for a settings icon or a dropdown menu to change the mode from 'Auto' to 'Advanced' or 'Professional'.
Why can't I access my scanner's proprietary software when scanning through Acrobat on a Mac?
Due to strict macOS system restrictions, third-party applications like Adobe Acrobat are not allowed to link directly to scanner drivers in the same way they do on Windows. Instead, Acrobat links to the native Apple Image Capture application. You must configure your scan dimensions within Image Capture.
