How to Fix Acrobat Comment Text Properties Tool Not Working
Question details
The user is unable to use the Comment Text Properties button multiple times because the formatting controls disappear after the first use.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing PDF comments and attempting to change text formatting properties during a single application session.
- Observed behavior
- The formatting controls only appear the first time the Comment Text Properties button is selected. Afterward, they fail to display unless the application is completely restarted.
Ensure you have an active internet connection and save any currently open PDF documents before proceeding with the software update.
Update Adobe Acrobat or Reader to Version 19.021.20049
Installing the official Adobe update resolves the specific software bug causing the Comment Text Properties tool to vanish.
Adobe has acknowledged this issue and released an official patch starting in version 19.021.20049. Normally, this update is pushed automatically to existing installations, but you can also trigger it manually from within the application.
Launch your Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader application on your desktop.
Navigate to the top menu bar, click on 'Help', and select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown menu.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install version 19.021.20049 or newer. Once the installation is complete, restart the application for the changes to take effect.
Format PDF Comments Easily with WPS Office
If you want to avoid recurring glitches with your PDF tools, use WPS Office's built-in PDF editor. It allows you to effortlessly add, edit, and format comment text properties without experiencing disappearing toolbars.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your target PDF document.
- 2. Access Comment Tools: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon to view all annotation tools.
- 3. Add or Select a Comment: Click on 'Text Comment' to add new text, or click to select an existing comment in your document.
- 4. Adjust Properties: Use the floating formatting toolbar to seamlessly change the font size, color, and style of your comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the text properties toolbar disappear in Acrobat?
This was caused by a known software bug in older versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader (prior to version 19.021.20049), which caused the comment formatting controls to fail after their initial use during a session.
Do I have to pay for the Acrobat update to fix this issue?
No, bug-fix updates like version 19.021.20049 are completely free for existing users of Adobe Acrobat and Reader. You can download the fix directly via the 'Check for Updates' menu.
What should I do if the update doesn't fix the Comment Text Properties tool?
If the issue persists after updating, try repairing your installation by going to 'Help' > 'Repair Installation', or completely uninstall and reinstall the latest version from the official Adobe website.
Can I format comment text properties using alternative software?
Yes, you can use alternative PDF editors like WPS Office, which provides a dedicated PDF suite allowing you to add, edit, and reliably format text comments without encountering these specific software glitches.
