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How to Fix Adobe Acrobat Freezes or Crashes When Highlighting Text
Question details
The user is experiencing application instability where Adobe Acrobat intermittently freezes or completely crashes when attempting to use the highlight tool on text within a PDF.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Highlighting text to annotate or mark up a PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- The application becomes unresponsive (freezes) or unexpectedly closes (crashes) as soon as the highlighting action is performed.
Ensure you have saved all open PDF documents to prevent data loss, and verify that you have administrative privileges on your computer to perform installations and repairs.
Update and Repair Adobe Acrobat
Installing the latest software updates and utilizing the built-in repair tool can automatically resolve internal software glitches causing the highlight tool to malfunction.
Software bugs related to specific tools like the highlighter are frequently addressed in official patch releases. Running a repair operation fixes missing or corrupted core files.
Open Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the top menu bar, and click on 'Help', then select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the prompts to install any available patches.
Once updated, go back to the 'Help' menu and click on 'Repair Installation'. Wait for the software to verify and fix its internal files.
Restart your computer to apply all changes, open a PDF document, and test the highlight tool.
Perform a Clean Reinstallation
If updating and repairing fail, completely removing Acrobat with the official cleaner tool ensures a fresh environment free of deep-rooted configuration errors.
Test Document and User Profile Variables
Isolating the issue to a specifically corrupted PDF file or a permission error in the computer's user profile helps narrow down the root cause.
Highlight PDF Text Smoothly Using WPS Office
If your current PDF reader continues to crash, you can seamlessly highlight, annotate, and edit your PDF documents without interruption using WPS PDF. It provides a highly stable, lightweight environment for all your reading and markup needs.
- 1. Download and Install: Download and install WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS PDF and open the document you wish to annotate.
- 3. Select the Highlight Tool: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon and select the 'Highlight' tool.
- 4. Highlight Text: Drag your cursor smoothly over the desired text to apply the highlight without crashing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF reader keep crashing when I highlight text?
Crashing during highlighting is commonly caused by outdated software versions, corrupted installation files, or specific bugs in the application's rendering engine. Running a software update or repair usually resolves this.
Can a specific PDF document cause the highlight tool to freeze?
Yes, heavily corrupted PDF files or those with highly complex, improperly embedded fonts can cause the highlight tool to freeze. Always test with a different, simple PDF to isolate the issue.
How do I completely remove Acrobat before reinstalling?
A standard uninstallation from your system settings might leave residual configuration files. It is recommended to use the official Adobe Acrobat Cleaner Tool to completely wipe all files before a fresh installation.
Will I lose my previous PDF annotations if the application crashes?
If you have not saved the document recently, you may lose unsaved highlights and annotations made before the crash. It is recommended to save frequently or switch to a more stable PDF editor like WPS PDF.
