How to Fix Acrobat 2017 Freezing When Creating a Digital Signature
Question details
Users experience freezing or crashing in Adobe Acrobat Professional 2017 when attempting to create a certificate-based signature.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 2017
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Creating a certificate-based digital signature in a PDF document via the Certificate > Digital Signature menu.
- Observed behavior
- The application freezes or crashes immediately after the user attempts to sign the document, preventing the signature process from completing.
Ensure you have saved all open documents and temporarily closed unnecessary background applications to prevent data loss in case Acrobat crashes again during the troubleshooting steps.
Disable the Modern User Interface for Signing Documents
Reverting to the legacy signing interface often resolves graphical conflicts that cause Acrobat 2017 to freeze during signature creation.
The modern signing interface in Acrobat can sometimes conflict with specific system configurations or display drivers. Disabling it restores the standard interface without affecting the security of your certificates.
Open Adobe Acrobat 2017 on your computer.
Navigate to the top menu and select Edit, then click on Preferences.
In the left-hand pane of the Preferences window, select Signatures.
Under the 'Creation & Appearance' section, click the 'More' button.
Locate and uncheck the box next to 'Use modern user interface for signing documents'. Click OK to save the changes.
Close Acrobat, reopen your PDF, and attempt to create a digital signature again.
Install the Latest Acrobat Updates
Updating Adobe Acrobat ensures that known bugs and stability issues related to digital signatures are patched.
Easily Sign PDF Documents with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to crash, you can quickly and securely sign your PDF documents using WPS Office's built-in PDF tools. It provides a stable, user-friendly environment for managing documents.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you need to sign.
- 2. Navigate to the PDF Tools: Go to the 'Protect' or 'Fill & Sign' tab on the top ribbon.
- 3. Create Your Signature: Click on 'Sign' and select 'Create Signature' to draw, type, or upload an image of your signature.
- 4. Place and Save: Click exactly where you want the signature to appear on the document, then save your file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the modern signing interface cause Acrobat to freeze?
The modern user interface for signing in Acrobat 2017 can sometimes conflict with certain Windows display drivers or specific system configurations. Reverting to the legacy interface bypasses this graphical conflict.
Will disabling the modern interface affect the security of my digital signature?
No. Disabling the modern user interface only changes how the signing dialog looks and operates visually. The underlying cryptographic security of your certificate-based digital signature remains exactly the same.
How do I check my current Acrobat version?
You can check your current version by opening Acrobat, clicking on the 'Help' menu at the top, and selecting 'About Adobe Acrobat'. A window will appear displaying the exact version and build number.
What should I do if Acrobat still crashes after applying these fixes?
If the problem persists, take note of your exact Acrobat version, your Windows OS version, and any specific error codes that appear. You may need to perform a clean repair of the software via the Help menu, or contact Adobe support with those details.
