Other PDF Issues

How to Hide or Remove the Adobe Acrobat Tools Pane

Elise WilliamsElise Williams Nov 3, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to permanently remove or relocate the Tools pane in Adobe Acrobat for a better viewing experience.

How to Hide or Remove the Adobe Acrobat Tools Pane
Product
Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS
not provided
Scenario
Improving document navigation and scrolling by maximizing the viewing area.
Observed behavior
The Tools pane takes up screen space, and users are looking for ways to permanently remove or move it, but Acrobat only allows hiding it temporarily.
Before you start

Ensure you are using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat, as interface options and settings can vary slightly between updates.

Solution 1Recommended

Hide the Tools Pane in Adobe Acrobat

While you cannot permanently remove or move the Tools pane, you can hide it to maximize your document viewing area.

Adobe Acrobat does not currently offer a built-in feature to permanently delete or relocate the Tools pane to another side of the screen. However, you can collapse it so it doesn't interfere with your reading experience.

1
Open your PDF

Launch Adobe Acrobat and open any PDF document.

2
Collapse the pane

Click the small right-pointing arrow on the vertical divider between the document and the Tools pane to hide it.

3
Submit a feature request

If you want Adobe to add the ability to permanently remove or move the pane, consider submitting a feature request through Adobe's official feedback forum.

Hide the Tools Pane in Adobe Acrobat
Temporary Hiding: Even when hidden, a narrow bar remains on the right side, allowing you to reopen the Tools pane at any time.
Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Cleaner Document Experience

If you are frustrated by rigid interfaces in Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Office, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly customizable alternative for all your document and PDF needs.

  1. 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
  2. 2. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
  3. 3. Enter Reading Mode: Click on the 'View' tab and select 'Read Mode' to hide all toolbars and enjoy a distraction-free experience.
Free Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat alternative.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF formats.Clean, distraction-free reading mode for PDFs.Lightweight software with a familiar, easy-to-use interface.
microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move the Acrobat Tools pane to the left side?

No, Adobe Acrobat does not currently support moving the Tools pane to the left side or any other location on the screen. It is fixed to the right side.

How do I keep the Tools pane closed by default in Acrobat?

You can set the Tools pane to stay closed by going to Edit > Preferences > Documents, and checking the box for 'Remember current state of Tools pane'. Then, close the pane and restart Acrobat.

Is there a shortcut to hide the Tools pane in Adobe Acrobat?

Yes, you can use the keyboard shortcut Shift + F4 to quickly toggle the visibility of the Tools pane in Adobe Acrobat.