How to Fix Acrobat Pro Comment Tools Disabled in Internet Explorer 11
Question details
The user is unable to use PDF commenting and highlighting tools when opening documents inside an application that relies on Internet Explorer.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro XI / Internet Explorer 11
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Trying to highlight and comment on a PDF file embedded in Internet Explorer 11 using the Adobe browser plug-in.
- Observed behavior
- The Comment toolbar is visible when not in Read Mode, but all commenting options are greyed out and disabled, despite the PDF security settings allowing comments.
Ensure that the PDF document is not restricted by permissions or password protection, and save a local copy of the file to your computer's hard drive.
Open the PDF Directly in the Desktop Acrobat Application
Bypass the browser plug-in limitations entirely by opening the document offline using your dedicated desktop PDF software.
The Internet Explorer PDF plug-in is primarily designed to utilize Adobe Reader's basic viewing functionality. By design, advanced Acrobat Pro commenting features are often restricted or unsupported within the browser-embedded environment.
Instead of clicking the link to open the PDF in Internet Explorer, right-click the file link or use the save icon to download the document to your local storage.
Open Adobe Acrobat Pro XI from your Windows desktop or Start menu.
Click 'File' > 'Open' and locate the downloaded PDF. You will now have full access to all commenting, highlighting, and annotation tools.
Disable the PDF Reader Add-on in Internet Explorer
Configure Internet Explorer to stop opening PDFs in the browser window, forcing it to launch your external PDF application automatically.
Use WPS Office to Annotate and Comment on PDFs Freely
Avoid outdated browser plug-ins and deprecated software issues by switching to WPS Office. Its built-in PDF editor offers a modern, seamless way to add comments, highlights, and annotations directly to your documents.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open the PDF File: Launch WPS Office, click on 'PDF', and open your saved document.
- 3. Add Comments and Highlights: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon to easily add highlights, text boxes, and sticky notes without restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the commenting tools disabled in my browser's PDF viewer?
Browser-based PDF plug-ins, especially in older browsers like Internet Explorer, are typically designed for secure, read-only viewing. Advanced editing and commenting features are often disabled by design to ensure stability and security within the browser environment.
Does updating Adobe Acrobat fix the greyed-out comment tools in Internet Explorer?
Not necessarily. While upgrading from the unsupported Acrobat XI to a modern version is highly recommended for security, modern browsers have largely deprecated traditional plug-ins altogether. The best practice remains downloading the file and commenting offline.
How can I tell if a PDF has commenting restricted by security settings?
Open the PDF in your desktop PDF editor, go to 'File' > 'Properties', and check the 'Security' tab. If 'Commenting' is listed as 'Not Allowed', you will need the owner's permission or password to enable annotations.
