How to Change the Author or Account ID Displayed on PDF Files
Question details
The user wants to update or change the account ID and author name that appears on PDF files.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / PDF
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Updating account information or changing the author metadata displayed on existing and newly created PDF documents.
- Observed behavior
- The Adobe account login ID does not match the ID displayed on created PDFs, and the user cannot easily locate the account management option to update it.
Make sure you have an active internet connection to access your online account settings, and ensure the PDF file is not encrypted or restricted from editing.
Update Your Adobe Account Settings and Re-sync Acrobat
Use this method to update the overarching Adobe account ID so that future PDFs reflect the correct creator name.
Your PDF software pulls the author name from your active account profile. By updating your profile details online and re-syncing your desktop software, newly created PDFs will display the correct ID.
Navigate to the official Adobe website and sign in. Go to 'Account Settings' or 'Manage Account'.
Locate your profile information and update your email address or display name to reflect your desired ID.
Open Adobe Acrobat on your computer. Sign out of your current session and sign back in so the app synchronizes with your newly updated account details.
Modify PDF Document Properties for Existing Files
Manually change the author metadata in an existing PDF file without altering your main account settings.
Easily Edit PDF Author Details with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a robust PDF editor that allows you to easily modify document properties, change author names, and manage metadata without relying on complicated online account syncing.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF file you wish to modify.
- 2. Access Document Properties: Click on the 'Menu' button located at the top-left corner, then select 'Document Properties'.
- 3. Update the Author field: In the properties window, locate the 'Author' box under the Description tab and type your preferred name or ID.
- 4. Save the document: Click 'OK' and save your PDF. The new author information will now be permanently displayed in the file's metadata.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't my existing PDFs update when I changed my Adobe Account ID?
Existing PDF documents store the creator's name as static metadata at the exact time of creation. Changing your account ID only affects files created after the change. You must manually edit the document properties of older files to update their displayed author.
Can I hide the author name completely on a PDF?
Yes, you can easily remove the author name. Open the document properties (Ctrl + D), navigate to the Description tab, and clear all text from the 'Author' box. Once saved, the PDF will no longer display an author name in its metadata.
Where can I find the document properties to check the current ID?
In most PDF readers, including WPS Office and Adobe Acrobat, you can view the properties by going to File > Properties or by pressing Ctrl + D on your keyboard. Look for the 'Author' field under the Description tab to see the current ID.
