The two ways to edit a PDF in Adobe Reader and Acrobat
Adobe sells two programs that open PDFs: Adobe Reader (free) and Adobe Acrobat (paid subscription). Reader lets you add comments, highlight text, and fill forms, but cannot change the actual content of the PDF itself. Acrobat Pro can edit text, move images, delete pages, and make the PDF look different from the original — this is the program you need if you want to rewrite what the document says.
If you have Reader and try to click "Edit PDF" in the toolbar, you will see a message asking you to switch to Acrobat. That message is Adobe's way of telling you the feature is not available in the free version. The distinction matters because many people assume Reader can do more than it actually can.
Before you pay for Acrobat, check whether your workplace, school, or library offers it. Many institutions include Acrobat in their software licenses, and you can use it on your personal computer if you sign in with your organizational account.
Key Takeaways
- Adobe Reader (free) can highlight, comment, and fill forms, but cannot change the text or images that make up the PDF.
- Adobe Acrobat Pro (paid) can edit text, move or delete images, rearrange pages, and change the document's appearance.
- To edit text in Acrobat, click the Edit PDF tool, then click the text you want to change — the program will find the font and let you type over it.
- If the PDF is a scanned image rather than a text-based document, neither program can edit it without first converting it using OCR (optical character recognition).
- Your workplace, school, or public library may already provide Acrobat access through an institutional subscription.
How to edit text in Adobe Acrobat Pro
Open the PDF in Acrobat Pro and look for the Edit PDF tool in the right panel. Click it. The document will shift into edit mode, and you will see a toolbar appear above the page with options for text, images, and links.
Click directly on the text you want to change. Acrobat will recognize the text box and show you a cursor. You can now select words, delete them, and type new text in their place. Acrobat tries to match the original font and size, though the match is not always perfect — if the original text was in an unusual font, your new text may look slightly different.
If you click on text and nothing happens, the PDF may be a scanned image rather than a text-based document. Scanned PDFs are pictures of pages, not editable text. You will need to use Acrobat's OCR feature first, which converts the image into searchable and editable text. This takes a few seconds to a few minutes depending on the file size.
How to move, resize, or delete images
In edit mode, click on any image in the PDF. A box with handles will appear around it. You can drag the image to a new location on the page, or grab one of the corner handles and drag to resize it. To delete the image entirely, click it and press Delete or Backspace.
If you want to replace an image with a different one, delete the original and then use the Edit PDF toolbar to insert a new image from your computer. Click the image icon in the toolbar, choose the file you want to add, and click where on the page you want it to appear.
How to add new text or objects to a PDF
While in edit mode, click the Add Text button in the toolbar. Your cursor will change to a crosshair. Click and drag on the page to create a text box, then type. The new text will use a default font unless you change it using the formatting options in the toolbar.
You can also add shapes, lines, or boxes by clicking the drawing tools in the toolbar. These are useful if you want to highlight an area, draw an arrow pointing to something, or add a visual element that was not in the original PDF.
How to handle PDFs that are scanned images
If the PDF is a photograph or scan of a paper document, the text is actually a picture, not editable characters. Acrobat's OCR feature converts that picture into real text that you can edit. Open the PDF, go to the Tools menu, and select Recognize Text. Choose whether you want to recognize text on just the current page or the entire document, then click Recognize Text.
Acrobat will process the file — this may take several seconds or several minutes depending on how many pages there are. Once it finishes, the text becomes editable. The accuracy depends on the quality of the original scan. A clear, straight scan of printed text usually converts perfectly. A blurry photo or handwritten text may have errors that you will need to fix manually.
After OCR completes, you can use the Edit PDF tool to change the text just as you would with a native PDF. Keep in mind that OCR is not perfect, especially with unusual fonts, small print, or poor image quality.
How to save your changes
When you finish editing, go to File and click Save. If you want to keep the original PDF unchanged and save your edits as a separate file, click Save As instead and give it a new name.
Acrobat will save the file in PDF format by default. If you want to export it as a Word document, Excel spreadsheet, or image file, go to File, select Export To, and choose the format you need. This is useful if you want to make further changes in another program or share the content in a different way.
When you cannot edit a PDF
Some PDFs are locked or password-protected to prevent editing. If you open a PDF and the Edit PDF tool is grayed out or does not work, the document owner may have restricted editing. You cannot remove this restriction without the password.
If you own the PDF or created it yourself and forgot the password, you will need to contact whoever set the restriction. If someone else sent you a locked PDF and you need to edit it, ask them to send you an unlocked version or provide the password.
Another common reason editing does not work is that the PDF is a scanned image and you have not run OCR yet. If you see text on the page but cannot click and edit it, that is usually the cause — use the Recognize Text tool first, then try editing again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit a PDF in Adobe Reader?
Adobe Reader can add comments, highlight text, and fill in form fields, but it cannot change the actual text or images in the PDF. To edit the document itself, you need Adobe Acrobat Pro. Some institutions provide Acrobat access through a library or workplace subscription.
Why does my text look different after I edit it?
Acrobat tries to match the original font, but if the PDF uses an unusual or embedded font, your new text may appear in a substitute font instead. You can manually select your new text and change the font using the toolbar, though it may not match the original exactly.
What is OCR and why do I need it?
OCR (optical character recognition) converts images of text into actual editable text. If your PDF is a scan or photograph of a document, the text is just a picture and cannot be edited until you run OCR. After OCR completes, the text becomes editable like any other PDF.
Can I edit a PDF on my phone or tablet?
Adobe offers a mobile app called Adobe Acrobat that works on phones and tablets. The free version can view and comment on PDFs. Editing text and images requires a paid subscription, which is the same subscription as Acrobat Pro on desktop.
What should I do if a PDF is password-protected?
Password-protected PDFs cannot be edited without the correct password. If you created the PDF and forgot the password, you will need to recreate it or contact Adobe support. If someone else sent you a locked PDF, ask them to provide an unlocked version or the password.