How to Fix Missing Acrobat Image and Text Editing Tools on Mac
Question details
The user is unable to open PDF objects directly in Photoshop or Illustrator from Acrobat on Mac, as the automatic integration is missing and prompts an 'Open With' dialog.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Attempting to edit PDF images or text objects using external integrated editors like Photoshop or Illustrator.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat displays an 'Open With' dialog requiring manual application selection instead of opening the object directly in the designated editor.
Ensure that you have the latest versions of Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, and Illustrator installed on your Mac, and that you are logged into your Adobe Creative Cloud account.
Configure Content Editing Preferences in Acrobat
Manually re-link your image and object editors within Acrobat's preferences to restore the direct editing functionality.
Acrobat relies on its internal preference settings to know which external applications to use for editing specific objects. If these paths are broken or reset, you will be prompted to manually locate the software.
Launch Adobe Acrobat on your Mac. Go to the top menu bar, click on 'Acrobat', and select 'Preferences' (or press Cmd + Comma).
In the left-hand pane of the Preferences window, scroll down and select 'Content Editing'.
Under the 'Image Editor' and 'Object Editor' sections, check if Photoshop and Illustrator are selected. If not, click the appropriate button to browse your Applications folder and select them manually.
Click 'OK' to save your changes. Right-click an image or object in your PDF and select 'Edit Using' to verify it now opens directly in the assigned application.
Update or Repair Adobe Acrobat Installation
If preferences are configured correctly but the tools are still missing, updating or repairing the software can fix corrupted integration files.
Edit PDF Images and Text Directly Using WPS Office
Instead of relying on external applications like Photoshop or Illustrator for basic edits, WPS Office features a powerful, built-in PDF editor. You can seamlessly modify text, replace images, and adjust layouts directly within the document.
- 1. Open Your PDF Document: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the PDF file you wish to modify.
- 2. Access the Edit Tab: Navigate to the top toolbar and click on the 'Edit' tab to reveal the PDF modification tools.
- 3. Edit Text or Images: Click on 'Edit Text' or 'Edit Image'. You can now click directly on any element in the document to crop, resize, or rewrite content without ever leaving the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Acrobat 'Edit Using' feature suddenly stop working?
This issue typically occurs after a macOS update, an Acrobat version update, or if you recently moved or reinstalled Photoshop/Illustrator, which breaks the application file paths.
Can I use applications other than Photoshop to edit PDF images in Acrobat?
Yes, you can set any compatible image editing software as your default editor by browsing for its application file in Acrobat's Content Editing preferences.
How do I fix missing PDF editing tools after migrating to a new Mac?
When migrating to a new Mac, application paths often change. You must open Acrobat Preferences, navigate to Content Editing, and re-select the image and object editors from your new Applications folder.
