How to Stop Adobe Acrobat From Selecting Pen Strokes While Commenting
Question details
The user wants to prevent Adobe Acrobat from automatically selecting pen strokes with a blue box after adding a comment, and wishes to retain continuous scrolling as the default document view.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Adobe Reader
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Annotating and commenting on PDF documents using the built-in pen tool.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat automatically selects the first ink stroke right after writing a comment, incorrectly enclosing it in a blue bounding box.
Check your current Adobe Acrobat version by navigating to Help > About Adobe Acrobat to confirm if you are running the affected build (19.008.20071). Ensure your device is connected to a stable internet connection so you can successfully download the necessary software patch.
Update Adobe Acrobat or Reader
Installing the latest patch (version 19.008.20074 or newer) resolves the known bug that causes Acrobat to auto-select pen strokes upon commenting.
The auto-selection of ink strokes was identified as a software bug specific to Acrobat DC build 19.008.20071. Adobe has released an official update to correct this behavior.
Launch Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer.
Click on 'Help' located in the top application menu bar.
Select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown menu to prompt the application to search for the latest version.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the update, then restart the application to apply the fix.
Retain Scrolling as the Default View
Configure Acrobat's preferences to remember your scrolling view settings so you do not have to manually enable it each time.
Annotate PDFs Without Glitches in WPS Office
If you frequently encounter bugs while commenting on PDFs, WPS Office provides a stable, lightweight PDF editor. It offers a smooth pen tool and comprehensive annotation features without annoying auto-selection glitches, allowing you to mark up your documents effortlessly.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office on your computer or mobile device.
- 2. Open your PDF document: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF file using the built-in WPS PDF tool.
- 3. Access commenting tools: Navigate to the 'Comment' tab located on the top ribbon to view all markup options.
- 4. Draw smoothly: Select the 'Graffiti' or 'Pen' tool to draw, write, and annotate smoothly without unwanted selection boxes interrupting your workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat put a blue box around my pen strokes?
This was a recognized software bug in Acrobat DC version 19.008.20071 where the program incorrectly auto-selects the first ink stroke as an active object after a comment is made. The issue is resolved by updating to version 19.008.20074 or higher.
Will I lose my PDF comments if I update Adobe Acrobat?
No, updating the software only replaces the core application files. It will not affect or delete your PDF documents or the comments saved within them. Just ensure you save your current file before initiating the update.
How do I permanently change the default page display to continuous scrolling?
Go to Edit > Preferences > Page Display. Under the 'Default Layout and Zoom' section, change the 'Page Layout' dropdown from 'Automatic' or 'Single Page' to 'Single Page Continuous', then click OK.
