Why Text Marked with Apple Pencil Cannot Be Copied in Acrobat
Question details
The user is unable to copy text in an Acrobat PDF that has been marked using the Apple Pencil pen tool on an iPad.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- iPadOS
- Scenario
- Annotating and copying text from a PDF document using an Apple Pencil on an iPad.
- Observed behavior
- Text marked with the pen tool cannot be copied, whereas text highlighted with the text-markup tool copies normally.
Ensure your PDF document contains selectable text rather than scanned images, and verify that your Apple Pencil is properly paired with your iPad.
Use the Text-Selection or Highlight Tool Instead of the Pen Tool
The pen tool creates ink annotations (drawings) rather than selecting underlying text. To copy text, you must use dedicated text-selection tools.
When you use the Apple Pencil with the standard pen tool in Acrobat, it creates a vector ink layer over the document. It does not interact with the actual text layer of the PDF. Therefore, the system treats your marks as drawings, not text selections.
Tap the 'Select' or 'Text' tool icon in the Acrobat toolbar instead of the drawing pen.
Long-press on the text you want to copy using your finger or Apple Pencil until the selection handles appear.
Drag the handles to cover the desired text, then tap 'Copy' from the pop-up menu.
Easily Annotate and Copy PDF Text with WPS Office
WPS Office provides an intuitive PDF reading and editing experience on iPad. It intelligently distinguishes between Apple Pencil handwriting and text selection, making it easy to highlight, annotate, and copy text without confusion.
- 1. Open PDF in WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office app on your iPad and open your PDF document.
- 2. Select Text: Long-press on any text to bring up the selection handles and the quick action menu.
- 3. Copy or Highlight: Tap 'Copy' to save the text to your clipboard, or choose 'Highlight' to mark it cleanly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert my Apple Pencil handwriting into typed text in a PDF?
Yes, if you use the iPadOS 'Scribble' feature, you can write with your Apple Pencil in text fields, and it will automatically convert to typed text. However, drawing directly on a PDF page creates ink annotations, not text.
Why does the highlight tool work differently than the pen tool?
The highlight tool is specifically designed to interact with the PDF's text layer, anchoring the color to the text characters. The pen tool simply draws freehand vector lines on top of the page, ignoring the text underneath.
How do I copy text from a scanned PDF on my iPad?
If the PDF is a scanned image, it does not have a text layer. You will need to use an OCR (Optical Character Recognition) tool to extract the text before you can select and copy it.
