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.
Quick Links:
- 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 also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.
Watch more than fifty other videos about Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat 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.
- Select the Comment button in the Tools Center.
The Comment toolbar will appear directly above the PDF, and the Comment pane will appear on the right side of your screen.
How to Use the Comment and Markup Tools in Adobe Acrobat
Now, let’s look at the thirteen tools in the 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When you’re finished using the comment and markup tools, select the Close button in the Comment toolbar.
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.
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).
How to Delete Comments and Markups
If you want to delete a comment or markup, right-click it, and then select Delete from the shortcut menu.
You can also delete a comment or markup by right-clicking it in the Comment pane, and then selecting Delete from the shortcut menu.
The Comment shortcut menu also allows you to set the status as Accepted, Cancelled, Completed, or Rejected.
For more information about interacting with comments and markups in PDFs, please visit “How to Reply to Comments and Markups in Adobe Acrobat DC.”
Related Resources
How to Create a Blank PDF in Adobe Acrobat
How to Create In-Text Links to Attached PDFs in Adobe Acrobat
Hey there! Easy question. I am a drafter so I make maps and send the PDF’s for review. The engineers review it and add comments and then I usually just make a new PDF with their changes saving overtop of the old PDF, so during this all of their comments are lost. Is there a way so that my new PDF can import in the old comments quickly so that they can see I did what they asked me to do? I guess I am asking what is the correct workflow here? I am saving all the pdfs on our local server and not using document cloud, should I be? Would this help?
Thank you for visiting my blog! A typical workflow starts with saving the PDF with the comments under a different name (e.g., Example_Edited_v1.pdf) so that the comments remain. Then, make the changes indicated by the comments and mark the status of each comment as accepted, rejected, canceled, or completed so that the other people can see your response to the comments. After the other people have seen your responses/changes and everyone is in agreement, the PDF would be saved once again under a final file name (e.g., Example_Final.pdf) and all comments should be deleted. The purpose of changing the file name each step of the way is to maintain a history of changes. This process applies to files saved on a local server or in the cloud. If space is an issue, all files but the final can be deleted after publication. I hope that helps!
~Erin