How to Add Page Transitions in Adobe Acrobat (PC & Mac)

This tutorial shows how to add page transitions in Adobe Acrobat. Page transitions are visual effects that appear between pages when a PDF is viewed in Full Screen mode.

First, we will look at how to add transitions to the entire PDF or consecutive pages within the PDF. Then, we will look at how to add transitions to nonconsecutive pages within the PDF. Finally, we will look at how to view page transitions in Full Screen mode.

Table of Contents:

How to Add Page Transitions to an Entire PDF or Consecutive Pages within a PDF
How to Add Page Transitions to Nonconsecutive Pages within a PDF
How to View Page Transitions in Full Screen Mode

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The images below are from Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. These steps also apply to Adobe Acrobat 2020 and Adobe Acrobat 2017. In addition, the steps are the same for PC and Mac.

These steps don’t apply to Adobe’s free PDF display software, Acrobat Reader. However, transitions added with Adobe Acrobat can be viewed with Acrobat Reader.

How to Add Page Transitions to an Entire PDF or Consecutive Pages within a PDF

Select the Tools tab.

Tools tab in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 1. Tools tab

Select Organize Pages in the Tools Center.

Organize Pages button in the Tools Center in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 2. Organize Pages button

Select More in the Organize Pages toolbar.

More button in the Organize Pages toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 3. More button

Select Page Transitions in the drop-down menu.

Page Transitions option in the More menu in the Organize Pages toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 4. Page Transitions option

Select an effect from the Transition menu in the Page Transitions dialog box.

The options are No Transition, Blinds, Box, Comb, Cover, Dissolve, Fade, Glitter, Push, Random, Replace, Split, Uncover, Wipe, Zoom In, and Zoom Out.

Transition menu in the Page Transition dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 5. Transition menu

Select a direction from the Direction menu. (The direction options vary by transition. Some transitions don’t have direction options.)

Direction menu in the Page Transitions dialog box — Figure 6. Direction menu

Select Fast, Medium, or Slow from the Speed menu.

Speed menu in the Page Transitions dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 7. Speed menu

(Optional) If you want the pages to turn automatically while in Full Screen mode, select Auto Flip and then enter the number of seconds each page should be visible before turning to the next page.

Auto Flip option in the Page Transitions dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 8. Auto Flip option

(Optional) Select Page range and then enter a range into the From and To text boxes. (The default is All pages in document.)

Page range text boxes in the Page Transitions dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 9. Page range option and text boxes

Select the OK button.

Figure 10. OK button in the Page Transitions dialog box in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 10. OK button

Select Close in the Organize Pages toolbar.

Close button in the Organize Pages toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 11. Close button

How to Add Page Transitions to Nonconsecutive Pages within a PDF

Select the Tools tab (see figure 1).
Select Organize Pages in the Tools Center (see figure 2).
Select the page or pages to which you want to add a transition using either of the following methods:

- Select Even Pages, Odd Pages, Landscape Pages, Portrait Pages, or All Pages from the drop-down menu.

Page Range menu in the Organize Pages toolbar in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 12. Page range menu

- Select page thumbnails.
  - To select multiple pages, select the first one and then press and hold the Shift key as you select the last one.
  - To select nonconsecutive pages, select the first page and then press and hold the Ctrl key on a PC or Command key on a Mac as you select additional pages.
  - Click and drag your mouse to select multiple pages at once.
  - PC users can select Enable multiple page selection to select multiple consecutive or nonconsecutive pages without using the Shift or Ctrl key.

Selected thumbnails in the Organize Pages screen in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 13. Selected thumbnails and Enable multiple page selection option

Right-click (PC) or Control-click (Mac) the selection and then select Page Transitions from the shortcut menu.

Page Transitions option in the Organize Pages screen shortcut menu in Adobe Acrobat — Figure 14. Page Transitions option

Select an effect from the Transition menu in the Page Transitions dialog box (see figure 5).
Select a direction from the Direction menu (see figure 6). (Some of the transitions don’t have direction options.)
Select Fast, Medium, or Slow from the Speed menu (see figure 7).
(Optional) Select Auto Flip to turn automatically while in Full Screen mode and then enter the number of seconds each page should be visible before turning to the next page (see figure 8).
Select the OK button (see figure 10).
Select Close in the Organize Pages toolbar (see figure 11).