How do I compare two versions of a PDF using Compare Files?

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Then, select 'Compare files'. Choose your older PDF and your newer PDF. Acrobat will then show you a summary of all the changes found, making it easy to review.

What is the purpose of comparing text only in Compare Files?

Comparing text only means Acrobat will ignore any pictures or graphics in your documents. This is useful when you only care about changes in the words, like in a text-heavy report or legal document. It helps you focus on the written content without being distracted by image differences.

Why does Compare Files sometimes fail and say 'These documents have security settings'?

Compare Files fails when a PDF has security settings that prevent changes or comparisons. This is a protection feature. To fix this, you need to remove the security settings from both PDF files before trying to compare them. Look for the 'Protect' feature in Acrobat to manage these settings.

If I compare two signed document versions, what does Compare Files show me?

When you compare two signed document versions, Compare Files focuses on changes made after each signature. It helps you see if any content was altered once a document was signed. This is very important for legal or official documents where preserving the integrity of a signed version is critical. The tool highlights these post-signature modifications.

What are the different comparison modes available in Compare Files?

Autodetect: Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare your files. Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with lots of numbers or tables. Presentation Decks: Good for slides or visual documents. 'Compare text only': Ignores pictures and only looks for text changes.

Compare PDFs using third-party or open-source tools in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Compare these two PDF files and show me the differences:…+

Compare these two PDF files and show me the differences: [PDF file 1], [PDF file 2].

when the reply comes backShow me a step-by-step guide with screenshots.

BImprove — “do it better”Can you highlight the important changes between these PDFs and explain…+

Can you highlight the important changes between these PDFs and explain them simply? [PDF file 1], [PDF file 2]

when the reply comes backList the best free tools for comparing PDFs.

CDecide — “help me choose”Which free or open-source tool should I use to compare PDFs…+

Which free or open-source tool should I use to compare PDFs for [my situation]?

when the reply comes backExplain how to compare scanned PDFs with text.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Verify that both files you want to compare are in PDF format and not password-protected or encrypted.
CautionAcrobat cannot compare files that are not standard PDFs or are secured with passwords or encryption.
2
Open each PDF in Acrobat and check if they display correctly without error messages.
Best practiceIf a PDF will not open or shows a corruption error, it may be damaged and cannot be compared until repaired.
3
Remove any security restrictions from the PDFs by going to File > Properties > Security and setting Security Method to No Security if possible.
NoteYou must have the document password or permissions to change security settings.
4
If a file is corrupted, attempt to repair it by re-saving in Acrobat or using the Print function to print to PDF to generate a new copy.
Best practiceRe-saving can sometimes fix minor corruption; for severe corruption, request a new copy from the source.
5
Ensure neither PDF is a scanned image-only document; if so, run Recognize Text to recognize text before comparing.
Best practicePDF comparison works best with text-based PDFs, not image-only scans.
6
Check file size and page count; extremely large or complex PDFs may cause compare errors—split them if necessary.
Best practiceVery large files can exceed Acrobat's processing limits and should be divided for comparison.
7
After troubleshooting, retry the Compare Files operation in Acrobat.

In the appWith the API

If you see an error when comparing, check that both PDFs open normally and are not protected or corrupted.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

PDFA common file type used to share documents that look the same everywhere.ExampleShe saved the brochure as a PDF so everyone would see the exact same layout and fonts.

CompareTo look at two things and find the differences between them.ExampleYou look at two versions of a contract to identify any changes made between them.

Open-sourceOpen-source means a tool or software that anyone can use or change for free.ExampleLinux is an open-source operating system that many people contribute to and use freely.

The real tasks

all 2, listed here

Compare files for differences in dreamweaver

Two versions floated during last-minute edits; I don’t know which to deploy.

FAQ

about this task

You can use free or open-source tools like DiffPDF, PDF24 Tools, or online websites to compare two PDF files. These tools show you what is different between the files, such as changed words or missing pages.

Comparing PDFs with open-source tools means using free software that anyone can use or change to look for differences between two PDF documents. This is useful if you do not have paid software like Adobe Acrobat.

You should use a third-party PDF comparison tool when you need to check for changes in documents, like contracts, assignments, or reports, especially if you do not have access to Adobe Acrobat.

Free tools can compare text in PDFs quite well, but they might not catch every detail, like changes in images or formatting. Adobe Acrobat may offer more advanced features, but for most basic needs, free tools work fine.

Comparing PDF files helps you spot changes, mistakes, or updates between versions. This is important for checking edits, making sure nothing is missing, and keeping documents correct.

Compare PDFs using third-party or open-source tools

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails