How to Restore Comment Sorting and Checkboxes in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
The user needs to locate the comment checkmarks and restore the ability to sort or filter comments by their checked status after an interface update changed how these features are accessed.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reviewing, organizing, and processing PDF comments during a heavy production or document editing workflow.
- Observed behavior
- The comment checkmarks are no longer visible by default in the comment box, and the options to filter or sort by checked/unchecked status are missing from the panel until specific actions are taken.
Ensure your Adobe Acrobat application is open and you are viewing a PDF document that contains at least one active comment.
Locate and Enable the Hidden Comment Checkmark
Use this method to find the relocated checkmark option for individual comments in updated versions of Adobe Acrobat.
In recent Acrobat updates, the checkmark feature was removed from the default visible comment box to save space. However, the functionality has not been removed entirely; it has just been moved into the comment's secondary menu.
Click on any comment in the right-hand Comments panel to highlight it.
Click the three-dot icon (...) that appears on the selected comment, or simply right-click the comment box.
Select the 'Checkmark' option from the bottom of the dropdown menu to mark the comment.
Sort and Filter Comments by Checkmark Status
Learn how to organize your comments by hiding resolved items and revealing the missing filter options.
Use WPS Office for Intuitive PDF Comment Management
If hidden menus and complex sorting steps are slowing down your productivity, WPS Office provides a streamlined PDF reader and editor where managing, sorting, and tracking comments is straightforward and user-friendly.
- 1. Open your PDF in WPS: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Access the Comment tab: Click on the 'Comment' tab located in the top ribbon to reveal all annotation tools.
- 3. Open the Comment Panel: Click 'Comment List' to open the dedicated sidebar where you can easily view, select, and manage all document comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the comment checkbox disappear in my Adobe Acrobat?
Adobe updated the Acrobat interface, moving the checkmark feature into a secondary menu (accessible via right-click or the three-dot menu) to declutter the interface. While this makes the panel look cleaner, it requires extra clicks for production workflows.
Why can't I see the 'Checked' or 'Unchecked' filter options in my PDF?
In newer versions of Acrobat, the checkmark filter options are hidden by default. They will not appear in your Filter menu until you have manually checked at least one comment in the current document.
Will the comment list automatically resort when I check an item?
No, the list does not resort dynamically. Once you check a comment, you must choose a different sorting criterion and then reselect 'Checkmark Status' to refresh and reorder the comment list.
