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Writing-Related Software Tutorials

How to Change Your Name for Comments in Adobe Acrobat (2023 Interface Update)

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This tutorial shows how to change your name for comments in Adobe Acrobat with the 2023 interface update. These steps apply to both PC and Mac.

First, we will change your name for new comments. Then, we will change your name for existing comments. These changes will also apply to other annotations (or edits) such as highlights, text insertions, and strikethroughs (deletions).

Please note that Adobe calls the name connected to comments and annotations the Author Name. It is also commonly referred to as a username.

Table of Contents:

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If you are using Adobe Acrobat 2020, Adobe Acrobat 2017, or a version of Adobe Acrobat Pro or Standard that has not been updated, please see my previous tutorials “How to Change Your Name for New Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat” and “How to Change Your Name for Existing Comments and Mark-Ups in Adobe Acrobat.”

How to Change Your Name for New Comments

  1. Select the Menu button (PC) or Acrobat menu (Mac).
  2. Select Preferences from the drop-down menu.
Preferences option in the Menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 1. Preferences option (PC)
Preferences option in the Acrobat menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 2. Preferences option (Mac)
  1. Select the Commenting category in the Preferences dialog box.
  2. Ensure that Always use Log-in Name for Author Name is not selected.
  3. Select the OK button.
Always use Log-in Name for Author name option in the Preferences dialog box in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 3. Always use Log-in Name for Author name option in the Commenting category in the Preferences dialog box
  1. Select All tools in the toolbar.
  2. Select Add comments from the All tools menu.
Add comments option in the All tools menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 4. Add comments option in the All tools menu
  1. Type a comment into the text box in the Comments pane. (This doesn’t need to be a real comment.)
  2. Select the Post option.
Comment text box in the Comments pane in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 5. Comment text box
  1. Select the three-dot menu in the comment.
  2. Select Properties from the drop-down menu.
Properties option in the comment options menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 6. Properties option
  1. Select the General tab in the Sticky Note Properties dialog box.
  2. Enter a new name in the Author text box.
  3. Select the Make Properties Default option.
  4. Select the OK button.
Sticky Note Properties dialog box in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 7. Sticky Note Properties dialog box

Your new name should appear when you create new comments.

  1. To delete the first comment, select the three-dot menu in the comment and then select Delete from the drop-down menu.
Delete comment option in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 8. Delete option

How to Change Your Name for Existing Comments

  1. Select All tools in the toolbar (see figure 4).
  2. Select Add Comments from the All tools menu (see figure 4).
  3. Select the three-dot menu at the top of the Comments pane.
  4. Select Sort Comments from the drop-down menu.
  5. Select Author from the submenu.
Sort comments by author option in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 9. Sort comments by author option
  1. Select your first comment and then press and hold the Shift button as you select your last comment.

All your comments should now be selected.

  1. Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) on one of the selected comments, and then select Properties from the shortcut menu.
Properties option in the comment shortcut menu in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 10. Properties option
  1. Select the General tab in the Sticky Note Properties dialog box.
  2. Enter a new name in the Author text box.
  3. Select the OK button.
Sticky Note Properties dialog box in Adobe Acrobat
Figure 11. Sticky Note Properties dialog box

Your name should now be changed for your existing comments. The names of other commenters should not be affected.

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