PDF Editing Issues

How to Find Underline and Reading Options in the New Adobe Acrobat

Algirdas Jasaitis Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to find the underline annotation tool and wants to adjust the single-page reading size after a recent Adobe Acrobat Reader interface update.

How to Locate Underline and Reading Options in the New Adobe Acrobat

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Annotating and reading PDF documents after a software update altered the toolbar layout.
Observed behavior: The interface update moved icons, hid the underline option behind the pencil icon, and reduced the default single-page reading view size.

Before you start

Ensure you have your PDF document open in Adobe Acrobat and familiarize yourself with the newly updated toolbar layout before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Accessing the Underline Tool via the Pencil Icon

The underline tool is now grouped under the main annotation tool in the new Adobe Acrobat interface.

To streamline the user interface, Adobe has consolidated several markup tools into a single drop-down menu. You can easily access the underline, strikethrough, and highlight tools from this unified menu.

Locate the Pencil Icon

Open your PDF in Adobe Acrobat and look for the Pencil icon on the toolbar, which now houses the primary annotation tools.

Expand Annotation Options

Click and hold (or long-press on touch devices) the Pencil icon to open the drop-down menu of hidden markup tools.

Select the Underline Tool

Choose the Underline tool from the expanded menu and apply it to your desired text.

Accessing the Underline Tool via the Pencil Icon

Interface Update: If you are on a desktop device, simply clicking once or right-clicking the pencil icon may also reveal the underline tool, depending on your OS.

Solution 2

Adjusting the Single-Page Reading Size

If the single-page view appears too small, you can manually adjust the zoom and page display settings.

Easy PDF Annotation Alternative

Easily Underline Text and Read PDFs with WPS Office

If you find the new Adobe Acrobat interface confusing, try WPS Office. It offers an intuitive, easy-to-navigate PDF editor where annotation tools like underline and highlight are visible upfront, alongside flexible reading views.

1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
2. Navigate to the Comment Tab: Click on the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon, where all annotation tools are clearly visible without hidden menus.
3. Select Underline: Click the 'Underline' icon directly from the ribbon and select the text you want to underline.
4. Adjust Reading View: Use the 'View' tab or the bottom right status bar to quickly adjust zoom levels and page layout settings.

Easily accessible PDF annotation tools visible on the main ribbonFully compatible with standard PDF formatsCustomizable reading views, zoom levels, and page layoutsLightweight, fast performance, and a familiar user interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my underline tool disappear in Adobe Acrobat?

In recent updates, Adobe streamlined the interface by grouping multiple markup tools under a single Pencil icon. You need to long-press or click and hold this icon to reveal the underline option.

Can I revert to the old Adobe Acrobat interface?

In some versions, you can revert to the old interface by going to the 'Menu' (hamburger icon on Windows) or 'View' menu and selecting 'Disable New Acrobat'. However, Adobe may permanently phase out the old interface in future updates.

How do I make the PDF page larger when reading?

You can increase the reading size by using the zoom-in (+) button on the toolbar or selecting 'Fit Width' from the page display options to make the document horizontally fill your screen.

PDF Troubleshooting