How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools in Adobe Acrobat

This tutorial explains how to edit PDFs with the comment and markup tools in Adobe Acrobat. First, we’ll look at how to access the tools. Then, we’ll look at how to use all thirteen markup tools, including sticky notes, strikethroughs, and text insertions. The bonus tips at the end show how to change the color of markups, add comments to markups, and delete comments and markups.

Table of Contents

How to Access the Comment and Markup Tools
How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools
Bonus Tips: Changing Colors, Adding Comments to Markups, and Deleting Comments and Markups

Important Note: Acrobat’s comment and markup tools can’t change a PDF like Microsoft Word’s Track Changes tools can change a Word file. Instead, Acrobat’s comment and markup tools function like handwritten editing marks on paper—the tools can be used to mark what should be changed, but you must make those changes manually in the PDF.

This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 150 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. These steps will also work in Adobe Acrobat Standard DC, Adobe Acrobat 2020, and Adobe Acrobat 2017.

Attention Acrobat Reader Users

These tools are also available in Acrobat Reader when commenting is allowed in the PDF.

To find out if commenting is allowed in your PDF, select File > Properties > Security. Then, see if the Commenting option is listed as Allowed.

Unfortunately, you cannot change this option if the creator of the PDF has set Commenting to Not Allowed.

How to Access the Comment and Markup Tools in Adobe Acrobat

Open your PDF.
Select the Tools tab.

Tools tab in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 1. Tools tab

Select the Comment button in the Tools Center.

Comment button in the Tools Center in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 2. Comment button

The Comment toolbar will appear directly above the PDF, and the Comment pane will appear on the right side of your screen.

Comment toolbar and Comment Pane in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 3. Comment toolbar and Comment pane

How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools in Adobe Acrobat

Now, let’s look at the thirteen tools in the Comment toolbar.

Comment toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 4. Comment toolbar

1. Sticky Note	8. Text Box
2. Highlight	9. Pencil
3. Underline	10. Erase Drawing
4. Strikethrough	11. Stamp
5. Note to Replace Text	12. Attachment
6. Insert Text at Cursor	13. Drawing Tools (Shapes)
7. Text Comment

1. Sticky Note

The sticky note tool lets you “stick” a comment anywhere on the page.

To use the sticky note tool, select it in the toolbar, and then click the spot where you want the note to appear. Your cursor will move to the Comment pane where you can type your comment. After typing your comment, select the Post button.

Sticky Note example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 5. Sticky Note example

2. Highlight

The highlight tool lets you add a background color to draw attention to specific text.

To use the highlight tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text that you want to highlight.

Highlight example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 6. Highlight example

3. Underline

The Underline tool lets you place a line under the text. This underline is meant to draw attention to specific text for editing purposes. If you want to add an underline that will become part of the PDF, use the underline tool in the Edit toolbar, instead.

To use the Underline tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text to be underlined.

Underline Text example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 7. Underline Text example

4. Strikethrough

The strikethrough tool lets you place a line through text that you want to mark for deletion.

To use the strikethrough tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text that should be deleted.

Strikethrough example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 8. Strikethrough example

5. Note to Replace Text

The Note to Replace Text tool lets you mark text for deletion and create a note showing the replacement text.

To use this tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select the text that should be replaced. Your cursor will move to the Comment pane where you can type the replacement text. After typing the replacement text, select the Post button.

Add Note to Replace Text example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 9. Note to Replace Text example

6. Insert Text at Cursor

The Insert Text at Cursor tool lets you indicate where new text should be inserted.

To use the tool, select it in the toolbar, and then click the location where the new text should be inserted. Your cursor will move to the Comment pane where you can type the new text. After typing the new text, select the Post button.

Insert Text at Cursor example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 10. Insert Text at Cursor example

7. Text Comment

The Text Comment tool lets you type a comment directly onto the PDF. This tool should only be used for creating comments. If you want to add new text to your PDF, use the Add Text tool in the Edit toolbar, instead.

To use the Text Comment tool, select it in the toolbar, click the location where you want to add the text comment, and then type your comment.

Add Text Comment example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 11. Text Comment example

8. Text Box

Like the Text Comment tool, the Text Box tool lets you type a comment directly onto the PDF. However, this tool encloses the comment in a text box.

To use the Text Box tool, select it in the toolbar, click the location where you want to add the text comment, and then type your comment.

Add Text Box comment example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 12. Add Text Box example

9. Pencil

The Pencil tool lets you draw a comment directly onto the PDF.

To use the Pencil tool, select it in the toolbar, and then use the pencil icon to draw your comment.

Use Drawing Tool example in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 13. Pencil tool example

10. Erase Drawing

The Erase Drawing tool erases the drawing created with the Pencil tool explained above.

To use the Erase Drawing tool, select it in the toolbar, and then click and drag your cursor over the drawing until you have erased the portion you want to remove.

11. Stamp

The Stamp tool lets you add stamps such as Approved, Confidential, and Sign Here.

To use the Stamp tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select a category from the drop-down menu: Dynamic, Sign Here, or Standard Business. Then, choose a stamp from the submenu and click on the PDF where you want to place the stamp.

Add Stamp menu in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 14. Stamp menu

12. Attachment

The Attachment tool lets you attach a file or an audio recording as a comment. Note that attachments added with this tool are considered comments and do not become part of the PDF like attachments added through the Edit toolbar or the Attachments pane.

To use the Attachment tool, select it in the toolbar, and then select Attach File or Record Audio from the drop-down menu. Then, click the PDF where you want to place the attachment. Depending on your choice, you can then select a file to attach from the Add Attachment dialog box or record a comment in the Sound Recorder dialog box.

Add Attachment menu in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 15. Attachment menu

13. Drawing Tools (Shapes)

The Drawing Tools option provides a variety of premade shapes, such as rectangles, arrows, and ovals.

To use the Drawing Tools, select it in the toolbar, and then select a shape from the drop-down menu. Then, click and drag the shape onto the PDF.

Drawing Tools menu in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 14. Drawing Tools menu

When you’re finished using the comment and markup tools, select the Close button in the Comment toolbar.

Close button in the Comment toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 17. Close button

Bonus Tips: Changing Colors, Adding Comments to Markups, and Deleting Comments and Markups

Here are three bonus tips to help you make the most of your comments and markups.

How to Change the Color of Markups

You can change the color of a markup by selecting it and then selecting a new color from the Color menu.

Color menu in the Comment toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 18. Color menu

How to Add Comments to Markups

You can add a comment to any existing markup by double-clicking it in the Comment pane to open a comment text box. After typing your comment, select the Post button (see figures 5, 9, and 10).