How to Open PDFs in Separate Windows Instead of Tabs in Acrobat
Question details
The user wants to view multiple PDF documents in separate windows for side-by-side comparison, rather than having them open as tabs within a single application window.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro XI
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Comparing two or more PDF documents side-by-side on the screen.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat Pro XI opens multiple PDF documents as tabs in one single window by default.
Ensure that you have saved any annotations or form data in your currently open PDFs, as you will need to restart Adobe Acrobat for the preference changes to take effect.
Disable Tabbed Documents in Acrobat Preferences
Modifying the general preferences allows Acrobat to open every new PDF in its own standalone window automatically.
By default, newer versions of Acrobat consolidate all open documents into a single window to save space. Changing this behavior in the Preferences menu forces the application to treat every document as an independent window.
Go to the 'Edit' menu at the top of the application window and select 'Preferences' (or press Ctrl+K on Windows).
In the Preferences dialog box, select 'General' from the Categories list on the left-hand side.
Locate and uncheck the box labeled 'Open documents as new tabs in the same window'.
Click 'OK' to save the settings, then completely close and restart Adobe Acrobat Pro XI for the changes to apply.
Use the Tile Feature for Side-by-Side Viewing
If you prefer to keep tabbed browsing enabled but still need to view documents side-by-side, you can use Acrobat's built-in Tile function.
Use WPS Office to Compare PDFs Side-by-Side
WPS PDF offers an intuitive interface where you can easily drag PDF tabs into separate windows or use the built-in view modes to compare documents effortlessly. It is a lightweight, all-in-one suite that handles PDF reading, editing, and comparison without needing complex settings adjustments.
- 1. Open your PDFs in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF files you want to compare; they will open in clean, organized tabs.
- 2. Drag to create a new window: Simply click and drag a PDF tab outside the main WPS window to automatically snap it into a new, separate window.
- 3. Use Side-by-Side View: Alternatively, go to the 'View' tab and select 'View Side by Side' to effortlessly scroll and compare two documents simultaneously.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I simply drag a tab out to create a new window in Acrobat Pro XI?
In newer versions like Acrobat DC, you can drag a tab out to create a new window. However, in Acrobat Pro XI, the interface behaves differently, and you generally need to disable the tabbed viewing preference or use the Window > Tile option to achieve a side-by-side setup.
Will disabling tabbed documents alter my existing PDF files?
No, unchecking the 'Open documents as new tabs in the same window' option only changes how the application displays documents on your screen. Your actual PDF files and their contents remain completely unchanged.
How do I switch back to tabbed viewing in Acrobat?
To restore tabbed viewing, simply go back to Edit > Preferences > General, check the box for 'Open documents as new tabs in the same window,' click OK, and restart Adobe Acrobat.
