How to Fix Adobe Acrobat Sharing Not Showing View or Review Options
Question details
Users are unable to find the Review or View sharing options when attempting to share a PDF document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to share a PDF file to allow other users to view or collaborate via comments and reviews.
- Observed behavior
- The Share menu does not display the expected Review or View options, limiting the user's ability to collaborate.
Verify whether you have installed the free Adobe Acrobat Reader or a paid Adobe Acrobat Pro/Standard version, and ensure you are signed into your Adobe account.
Sign In to a Qualifying Acrobat Subscription
The collaborative 'Review' sharing option requires a paid Adobe Acrobat subscription and is not fully available in the free Acrobat Reader.
Adobe restricts advanced sharing and collaboration features, such as initiating a shared review, to users with active premium subscriptions. Free Acrobat Reader users are generally restricted to generating view-only links.
Look at the application title bar to see if it says 'Acrobat Reader' (free) or 'Adobe Acrobat' (paid).
Click the profile icon in the top right corner of the application and log in with the Adobe ID tied to your premium Acrobat subscription.
Open your PDF, click on the 'Share' icon in the upper right corner, and select 'Review' to invite collaborators.
Share a View-Only Link using Acrobat Reader
If you are using the free version and only need others to see the document without commenting, you can still share a view-only link.
Review and Share PDFs Effortlessly with WPS Office
Bypass expensive subscription paywalls. Use WPS Office to easily annotate, review, and share your PDF documents with an intuitive, built-in collaboration toolset.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF file you need to review or share.
- 2. Annotate and comment: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab to utilize highlights, text boxes, and sticky notes for your review.
- 3. Share with collaborators: Click the 'Share' button in the top right corner to generate a shareable link or send the document directly via email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can I only see the 'View' option and not 'Review' in Adobe Acrobat?
The 'Review' feature is premium and requires an active Adobe Acrobat Pro or Standard subscription. Users on the free Acrobat Reader app are typically limited to view-only sharing.
Can I share a PDF for collaborative review without an Adobe subscription?
Within the Adobe ecosystem, you cannot initiate a shared review without a paid plan. However, you can use alternative PDF software like WPS Office to add comments and share files for review without needing an Adobe subscription.
How do I check which version of Adobe Acrobat I am currently using?
Open your software, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'About Adobe Acrobat' or 'About Adobe Acrobat Reader'. A dialog box will appear displaying your exact version and license details.
What is the difference between the View and Review sharing options?
The 'View' option allows recipients to only read the document as a final copy. The 'Review' option grants recipients the ability to add comments, highlight text, and collaborate directly on the PDF file.
