How to Fix Resolved Acrobat Comments Not Visible to Other PDF Reviewers
Question details
Reviewers without a paid software license are unable to view comments that have been marked as resolved in a shared PDF document.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Collaborating on a shared PDF document where some team members are using a free PDF viewer to check resolved feedback.
- Observed behavior
- Comments marked as resolved by licensed users completely disappear for free users and cannot be revealed even when using the comments filter.
Verify whether this review workflow functioned correctly in previous versions of your software, and ensure that all collaborators have updated their PDF viewers to the latest release.
Report the Visibility Issue with Diagnostic Files
Because this comment visibility behavior is often a software bug or workflow limitation, reporting it with proper diagnostic files helps support reproduce and fix the issue.
When free users cannot see resolved comments despite using the correct filters, it often indicates a version compatibility issue or a bug within the PDF software itself. Gathering the exact steps is crucial for developers to implement a permanent fix.
Take screenshots or record a short video showing the licensed user marking a comment as resolved, and then demonstrate how that same comment disappears for the free user.
Create a test PDF with non-sensitive information, add a few comments, resolve them, and save the file. Confirm the issue persists in this test file.
Send the screen recording and the sample PDF to your software's customer support or community forum so the development team can investigate the bug.
Verify Comment Filters in the PDF Viewer
Ensure that the hidden comments are not simply being filtered out by the software's default viewing preferences.
View All PDF Comments Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are experiencing bugs with comment visibility in your current PDF reader, you can easily open and manage all PDF comments, including resolved ones, using WPS Office without licensing restrictions.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open the PDF File: Launch WPS Office and open the shared PDF document where comments are missing.
- 3. Access the Comment Menu: Navigate to the "Comment" tab located on the top navigation ribbon.
- 4. View the Comment Pane: Open the comment pane to view all active annotations, threads, and resolved comments instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do resolved comments disappear for some users in shared PDFs?
This usually happens due to default filter settings that hide resolved threads to save space. However, if filters do not work, it may be a licensing restriction or a software bug affecting free versions of the PDF reader.
Can free PDF viewers show resolved comments?
Yes, most standard PDF viewers can display all comment states, including resolved ones. If your current software fails to show them, opening the file in a highly compatible alternative like WPS PDF can bypass the issue.
How do I unhide comments in a PDF document?
Open the document's Comment pane, click the Filter icon, and make sure that options like "All Comments" or "Resolved" are checked so that previously hidden annotations become visible.
