How to View PDF Comments and Sticky Notes Without Adobe Reader X
Question details
The user needs to view PDF sticky notes and annotations, initially believing the unsupported Adobe Reader X is required, and also wants to prevent highlights from disappearing when saving sections of a large PDF.
- Product
- PDF Reader
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to view sticky notes created in newer PDF software and trying to email 10-page sections of a 1,300-page document without losing the existing highlights.
- Observed behavior
- The user is unable to find an installer for Adobe Reader X. Additionally, when printing sections of a large PDF to new files, the highlights and comments disappear in the smaller documents.
Verify that you are using a currently supported PDF reader, as obsolete software like Adobe Reader X lacks security patches, and its installation servers have been permanently shut down.
Use a Modern PDF Reader to View Comments
Install a currently supported PDF application to securely view sticky notes and comments created in any standard PDF tool.
It is entirely unnecessary to install Adobe Reader X. Modern, supported versions of PDF readers are fully backward-compatible and can display standard PDF comments and sticky notes created by much older or newer versions.
Navigate to the official website of a modern PDF viewer (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC or WPS Office) and download the latest version.
Launch the installed application and open the PDF file containing the sticky notes.
Click on the 'Comments' or 'Annotations' panel on the right side of the screen to view all sticky notes, highlights, and remarks left by other users.
Extract Pages Properly to Retain Highlights
Use a dedicated page extraction tool instead of "Printing to PDF" to ensure annotations and highlights are carried over to the split documents.
View Comments and Extract PDF Pages with WPS Office
WPS Office includes a robust, free PDF editor that easily displays sticky notes, highlights, and annotations from any standard PDF file. It also provides native tools to split or extract pages from large PDFs without losing your important comments.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
- 2. Open your document: Right-click your PDF and select 'Open with WPS Office' or open the file directly from within the WPS PDF application.
- 3. View all comments: Click the 'Comment' tab at the top to reveal the comment pane, which displays all sticky notes and highlights.
- 4. Extract pages safely: To send a specific section, go to the 'Page' tab, click 'Extract Page', select your page range, and save. All highlights will remain perfectly intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I download Adobe Reader X anymore?
Adobe Reader X has reached its official end-of-support. Adobe no longer maintains its installation servers, security patches, or updates, meaning the software is both unavailable for secure download and vulnerable to security risks.
Why do my PDF highlights disappear when I print sections to a new file?
Using the 'Print to PDF' method acts as a virtual printer, which often strips out interactive layers like sticky notes, comments, and highlights. To retain these elements, you must use a 'Split' or 'Extract Pages' tool found in dedicated PDF editors.
Do I need the exact same PDF software version as the sender to view sticky notes?
No. Standard PDF annotations, including sticky notes and highlights, are part of the universal PDF standard. Any modern, supported PDF reader (such as WPS PDF or Acrobat Reader DC) will display comments created in other applications.
