How to Restore Disabled Text Box Properties in Adobe Acrobat DC
Question details
The user is unable to access or edit text formatting controls for Text Boxes or Text Callouts in Adobe Acrobat DC because the properties are disabled.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to format text, adjust lines, or change fill settings within a text box or callout annotation.
- Observed behavior
- The text properties in the Property Box are greyed out or completely disabled, preventing the user from making formatting changes.
Verify your current version of Adobe Acrobat DC, as older builds from the continuous release track contain known bugs related to the properties pop-up menu.
Access the Text Box Tool via the Comment Toolbar
Opening the text tools specifically through the Comment pane forces the formatting properties menu to appear and activates the formatting controls.
In Adobe Acrobat DC, selecting the text box tool without the Comment toolbar active can cause the properties to remain disabled. You must open the dedicated Comment interface to restore full formatting functionality.
Press Shift + F4 on your keyboard, or click on the 'Tools' tab at the top left of the Acrobat window to access the full tool list.
Click on 'Comment' to open the dedicated Comment toolbar. It will appear directly below the main Acrobat toolbar.
Click the Text Box or Text Callout icon from the newly opened Comment toolbar.
Click anywhere on the PDF page to place the text box. The Text Properties pop-up menu will automatically appear with all formatting options enabled.
Install the Latest Acrobat Update
Updating the software applies patches that resolve interface bugs, including the unresponsive properties toolbar.
Format PDF Text Boxes Easily with WPS Office
Avoid struggling with hidden toolbars and greyed-out settings. WPS Office provides an intuitive PDF editor where adding and styling text boxes is seamless and straightforward.
- 1. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document.
- 2. Insert a Text Box: Navigate to the 'Insert' or 'Comment' tab on the top ribbon and select the 'Text Box' tool.
- 3. Format Automatically: Click to place your text box. The formatting panel instantly appears on the right side, allowing you to change fonts, colors, and borders without restriction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my text box properties toolbar greyed out in Adobe Acrobat?
This usually occurs if the text tool was activated outside of the Comment environment or due to interface bugs in specific continuous release versions of Acrobat DC. Accessing the tool through the 'Comment' pane resolves it.
How do I change the text box fill color in Acrobat DC?
Make sure the Comment toolbar is open. After selecting your text box, look for the small gear icon in the properties pop-up menu. Clicking this gear gives you access to adjust border lines and fill colors.
Can I make text larger than 72 pt in an Acrobat text box?
The default comment text box drop-down restricts the font size to 72 pt. You typically cannot manually override this in the standard comment tool. For larger text, you need to use the 'Edit PDF' tool to add document text instead of an annotation text box.
