How to Change the Initiator of an Acrobat Shared PDF Review
Question details
The user needs to regain initiator access to shared PDF reviews in Adobe Acrobat after changing their Adobe account email address.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user wants to manage or close existing shared PDF reviews but lost initiator rights due to an email address change.
- Observed behavior
- The user is unable to act as the initiator for older reviews and cannot close them to new comments because the reviews are inextricably linked to the former email address.
Ensure you have the exact login credentials for your previous Adobe account and verify that the network folder or SharePoint workspace hosting the shared review is still accessible.
Sign In with the Original Email Account
Access initiator functions by temporarily logging in with the Adobe ID used to create the shared review.
Adobe Acrobat ties shared review ownership directly to the Adobe ID (email address) used at the time of creation. Because Acrobat does not natively support transferring initiator ownership to a new email address, the most direct method to regain control is to authenticate using the original credentials.
Open Adobe Acrobat, click on the Profile icon in the top right corner of the application window, and select Sign Out.
Click Sign In and enter the former email address and password that you originally used to initiate the shared review.
Navigate to the top menu bar and go to View > Tracker, or open the Tracker from the Tools pane.
Locate your shared review under the Reviews section. You will now have the initiator rights to manage deadlines, track reviewers, or close the review to further comments.
Create a New Shared Review with the Updated Account
If the old account is completely inaccessible, save the current comments and initiate a fresh review under your new email address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer ownership of an Adobe shared review to another user?
No, Adobe Acrobat does not currently support transferring the initiator role or ownership of a shared review to another user or a different email address. You must either log in with the original account or start a new review.
What happens to the comments if I can't access my old Adobe account?
The existing comments remain in the PDF and on the review server, but you will not be able to manage the review (e.g., change deadlines or close it). You can still save a copy of the PDF with the current comments to keep them safe.
How do I close a shared review to new comments?
To close a review, open Adobe Acrobat, go to View > Tracker, select your shared review under the Reviews category, and click the End Review or Close button. This action requires you to be signed in as the original initiator.
Why are my shared reviews not showing up in the Acrobat Tracker?
Reviews are inextricably tied to the specific Adobe ID used to create them. If you have changed your email address or signed in with a different account, the Tracker will only display reviews associated with your current login credentials.
