How to Fix Acrobat Password Loop When Creating a New Digital ID
Question details
The user needs to create a new digital ID in Acrobat Pro X but is locked in a loop because they forgot the password for an expired digital ID, and the application keeps prompting for it without allowing a new ID to be created.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro X
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Creating a new digital ID to sign a document after an old digital ID has expired or its password has been forgotten.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat incorrectly prompts for the forgotten password of the old digital ID. It displays a single password field without a confirmation field, blocking the user from proceeding with the new ID creation.
Verify whether the Acrobat dialog is genuinely asking for your old password or simply displaying a glitched interface for a new password. Save any unsaved work in your current PDF before adjusting signature settings.
Remove the Expired Digital ID from Acrobat Settings
Deleting the old, inaccessible digital ID from your preferences stops Acrobat from requesting its forgotten password.
Open Acrobat and go to the top menu. Select 'Edit' > 'Preferences' (or 'Acrobat' > 'Preferences' on Mac).
Select 'Signatures' from the Categories menu on the left side of the Preferences window.
Look for the 'Identities & Trusted Certificates' section and click the 'More...' button.
Expand the 'Digital IDs' folder, select the expired or forgotten ID from the list, and click the 'Remove ID' button.
Once the old ID is deleted, proceed to create your new digital ID. The system should no longer trap you in the old password loop.
Navigate to the Hidden Confirmation Field via Keyboard
Bypass a known UI glitch in Acrobat X where the 'Confirm Password' field is hidden, making it look like an old password is being requested.
Contact Official Adobe Support
If the software remains stuck in a circular loop and you cannot remove the old ID, official technical support may need to reset your permissions.
Easily Sign PDFs and Manage Signatures with WPS Office
If Acrobat password loops are slowing down your workflow, WPS Office offers an intuitive, bug-free PDF editor that makes creating, managing, and applying digital signatures completely hassle-free.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document you need to sign.
- 2. Select the Fill & Sign Tool: Navigate to the 'Fill & Sign' or 'Protect' tab on the top ribbon menu.
- 3. Create Your Signature: Click 'Sign' and choose 'Create Signature'. You can draw via trackpad, type your name, or insert an image of your signature.
- 4. Apply and Save: Place the signature precisely where you want it on the document, click to confirm, and save your PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Acrobat asking for my old digital ID password when creating a new one?
Acrobat often requires the old password if the expired digital ID is still set as the default identity in your settings. Alternatively, it might be a known UI bug in older versions (like Acrobat Pro X) where the 'Confirm Password' field is hidden, making users mistakenly think the prompt is for their old password.
Can I recover a forgotten digital ID password?
No, digital ID passwords are heavily encrypted for security purposes and cannot be recovered or reset by administrators or support teams. If you forget it, you must remove the old ID and generate a new one.
How do I clear my old digital ID files from my computer entirely?
You can clear them by going to Acrobat's Preferences > Signatures > Identities & Trusted Certificates, selecting the old ID, and clicking 'Remove ID'. If that fails, search your computer for files ending in .pfx or .p12 and delete the associated signature files manually.
