How to Fix PDF Comments Displaying the Wrong Author Name in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user needs to correct the author name displayed on PDF comments in Adobe Acrobat, as it currently shows an incorrect name rather than their personal account name.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Adding comments or annotations to a PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- Comments added to the PDF display a manager's or incorrect name instead of the logged-in user's personal Adobe account name.
Ensure you have the affected PDF document open in Adobe Acrobat and note the exact incorrect name currently appearing on your newly added comments.
Disable Login Name Usage and Change Default Author Properties
Adjust Acrobat's commenting preferences to stop forcing the system login name, then manually update and set your preferred author name as the new default.
By default, Adobe Acrobat may be configured to automatically pull your computer's local system account name instead of using your Adobe ID. Disabling this preference allows you to specify a custom author name for all future annotations.
Launch Adobe Acrobat. Go to 'Edit' > 'Preferences' on Windows or 'Acrobat' > 'Preferences' on macOS, and select the 'Commenting' category from the left sidebar.
Find and uncheck the box labeled 'Always use Log-In Name for Author name', then click 'OK' to save the preference.
Right-click on an existing comment in your PDF that displays the incorrect name and select 'Properties' from the context menu.
Navigate to the 'General' tab in the Properties window and type your actual name or desired display name in the 'Author' field.
Check the box at the bottom that says 'Make Properties Default', then click 'OK'. All future comments will now use this updated name.
Annotate and Manage PDF Comments Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you frequently encounter complex settings issues in other PDF readers, try WPS Office. It offers a lightweight, intuitive, and highly compatible PDF editor that makes adding comments, changing author names, and reviewing documents incredibly straightforward.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 2. Add a Comment: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon and select 'Note', 'Highlight', or 'Text Box' to add your annotation.
- 3. Change Author Identity: Right-click your new comment, select 'Properties', and easily update the author name to reflect your correct identity for all future annotations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat use my computer's login name instead of my Adobe ID?
By default, Acrobat may have the 'Always use Log-In Name for Author name' setting enabled in Preferences. This forces the application to pull the local computer account name (which might be a manager's name on a shared or company PC) rather than your personal Adobe account profile.
Will changing the default author name update my previously made comments?
No, changing the default properties will only affect new comments you create moving forward. To fix older comments, you must select them, open their Properties, and manually change the author name on the General tab.
Can I change the author name for multiple PDF comments at once?
Yes. You can hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Command key (Mac) and click to select multiple comments in the Comment pane. Then, right-click, choose Properties, and update the Author name in the General tab to change them all simultaneously.
Where are the Commenting Preferences located on a Mac?
On macOS, you can access these settings by clicking on 'Acrobat' in the top menu bar, selecting 'Preferences' from the dropdown, and then clicking on the 'Commenting' category in the left sidebar.
