How to Fix Acrobat Error 14 When Opening Apple Pages or Keynote PDFs
Question details
Users encounter Acrobat Error 14 or see blank white areas when attempting to open PDF files exported from Apple Pages or Keynote in Adobe Acrobat.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat, Apple Pages, Apple Keynote
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Opening, viewing, or sharing PDF documents containing figures exported from Apple productivity applications.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF file triggers Error 14 or fails to display embedded figures in Adobe Acrobat, despite opening correctly in macOS Preview and other PDF viewers.
Ensure your Adobe Acrobat or Reader DC is updated to at least version 20.006.20034, as updates often patch parsing errors associated with Apple-generated PDFs.
Update Adobe Acrobat or Reader DC
Installing the latest version of Acrobat can resolve parsing conflicts with Apple's PDF 1.4 format.
Apple's native PDF generation tools often produce files that closely adhere to older PDF formats. Strict PDF readers like Acrobat may struggle with these unless fully updated.
Launch Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader DC on your computer.
Navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top of the application window and select 'Check for Updates'.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the latest software patches, then restart the application.
Re-export Using an Alternative Format Workflow
Bypass Apple's native PDF generator by exporting your document to a Microsoft Office format first, then converting it to a standard PDF.
Open Apple-Generated PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF reader that effortlessly opens PDFs exported from Apple Pages and Keynote. Skip Adobe Error 14 completely and view, edit, or annotate your documents with ease.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free on your Mac or Windows computer.
- 2. Locate the PDF File: Find the problematic PDF file originally exported from Keynote or Pages.
- 3. Open with WPS: Right-click the file, choose 'Open with', and select 'WPS Office' or 'WPS PDF'.
- 4. View Flawlessly: Your PDF and all embedded figures will load perfectly without throwing Error 14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat show Error 14 on PDFs made on a Mac?
Apple's native PDF engine, used by Preview, Pages, and Keynote, often produces files based on the older PDF 1.4 standard. Strict readers like Adobe Acrobat may interpret certain embedded figures or formatting tags in these files as malformed, triggering Error 14.
Can I fix the blank images in my Keynote PDF?
Yes. If updating Acrobat doesn't work, try exporting your Keynote presentation as a PowerPoint (.pptx) file first. You can then open this file in WPS Office or Microsoft PowerPoint and export it as a standard PDF, which usually resolves blank image rendering issues.
Does macOS Preview damage PDF files?
Historically, editing or re-saving complex PDF documents in macOS Preview can alter their internal structure. This sometimes results in rendering conflicts or 'Error 14' when the file is subsequently opened in strict standard viewers like Adobe Acrobat or Reader.
