How to Fix the Pencil Tool Bounding Box Issue in Acrobat Reader on Mac
Question details
The user needs to fix an issue where the Pencil tool displays an unwanted bounding box around the first drawing stroke in Adobe Acrobat Reader on a Mac.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- macOS 10.13
- Scenario
- Drawing or annotating on a PDF document using the Pencil tool.
- Observed behavior
- A bounding box unexpectedly displays around the very first stroke made with the Pencil tool, and typical Windows fixes or moving the preferences file do not resolve it.
Ensure you have saved your current PDF documents and completely closed Adobe Acrobat Reader before modifying preferences or installing updates on your Mac.
Reset Acrobat Reader Preferences on macOS
Deleting or replacing the macOS-specific .plist preferences file can clear corrupted settings that trigger the bounding box glitch.
Corrupted preference files are a common cause of UI glitches in Acrobat Reader. Removing the current preferences file forces the application to generate a fresh, error-free version upon the next startup.
Ensure Acrobat Reader is completely closed by right-clicking its icon in the Dock and selecting 'Quit', or pressing Command + Q while the app is active.
Open Finder, click 'Go' in the top menu bar, hold down the 'Option' key to reveal the hidden 'Library' option, and click it.
Navigate to the 'Preferences' folder and find the file named 'com.adobe.Reader.plist'.
Move the .plist file to the Trash. Restart Acrobat Reader and test the Pencil tool to see if the bounding box issue is resolved.
Install the Latest macOS Acrobat Reader Update
Adobe frequently releases patches to fix known macOS bugs, including drawing stroke anomalies.
Use the Undo and Deselect Workaround
A quick temporary fix if you cannot immediately update the application or reset the preferences.
Annotate PDFs Smoothly with WPS Office on Mac
If Acrobat Reader continues to present bounding box glitches on macOS, switch to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for reading, editing, and freely annotating PDFs without stroke display errors.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open', and select your PDF document to load it into the reader.
- 3. Annotate Freely: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab, select the Pen tool, and start drawing freely without annoying bounding boxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a bounding box appear when I draw in Acrobat Reader on Mac?
This is often caused by a software glitch or a corrupted preferences file in specific versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, particularly on older macOS versions like 10.13. It primarily triggers on the very first pen stroke.
Where is the Acrobat Reader preferences folder located on Mac?
The preferences folder is located in the hidden User Library. You can access it by opening Finder, clicking 'Go' in the menu bar while holding the Option key, selecting 'Library', and then opening the 'Preferences' folder.
Can I permanently fix the pencil tool issue without updating Acrobat?
While replacing or deleting the preferences .plist file might temporarily resolve the issue, Adobe highly recommends installing the latest patch, as specific drawing bugs are permanently patched in subsequent macOS-specific updates.
Are there free alternatives for annotating PDFs on Mac?
Yes, you can use the built-in macOS Preview app or install third-party software like WPS Office. WPS Office offers robust PDF reading and annotation tools, allowing you to draw and comment smoothly without the bounding box glitches.
