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 two secured or password-protected PDFs in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Compare these two password-protected PDFs for differences: [PDF 1], [PDF 2]…+

Please compare these two secured or password-protected PDFs for any differences: [PDF 1], [PDF 2].

when the reply comes backWould you like tips on creating strong PDF passwords?

BImprove — “do it better”Find a clearer way to show differences between my two secured PDFs:…+

Find a clearer and more organized way to show the differences between my two secured or password-protected PDFs: [PDF 1], [PDF 2].

when the reply comes backNeed help merging changes from both PDFs?

CDecide — “help me choose”Based on the comparison, which secured PDF should I use for…+

Based on the comparison, which of these two secured or password-protected PDFs should I use for [purpose] and why?

when the reply comes backWant to learn how to remove passwords from PDFs safely?

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open both secured or password-protected PDF files in Adobe Acrobat.
CautionYou must know the passwords for both PDFs to open and process them.
2
Enter the correct password for each PDF when prompted to unlock them.
3
Save each unlocked PDF as a new file by choosing to print or export to PDF, ensuring the new versions are not password-protected.
Best practiceIf you cannot remove the password directly, use the Print to PDF function or upload both files to Google Drive and print them to PDF to create unprotected copies.
4
Close the original secured PDFs and open the newly created, unprotected versions in Acrobat.
5
In Acrobat, go to the Tools panel and select Compare Files.
6
Click the file selection button for both the 'Old File' and 'New File' fields, and choose your two unprotected PDFs.
7
Click the Compare button to begin the comparison.
8
Review the Compare Results summary and use the side-by-side view to examine all detected differences.
Best practiceFor best results, avoid using scanned images as input files, as text recognition may not be accurate.

In the appWith the API

You must remove password protection before comparing secured PDFs, as Acrobat cannot compare locked files directly.

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.

Password-protectedPassword-protected means you need a password to open or edit a file.ExampleThe password-protected document required a special code before it would open on her computer.

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.

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

In Adobe Acrobat, you can use the 'Compare Files' tool. First, unlock both PDFs by entering their passwords. Then, select the tool, upload your files, and Acrobat will show you what has changed between them.

A secured or password-protected PDF is a file that needs a password to open, view, or edit. This keeps the information safe from people who should not see or change it.

People compare secured PDFs to check for updates, edits, or mistakes between versions, especially when the documents contain private or important information.

Yes, you can compare a secured PDF with a non-secured one, but you must unlock the secured PDF first by entering its password before the comparison can happen.

Yes, Adobe Acrobat is designed to handle private documents securely. Make sure you are using a trusted computer and do not share your passwords with others.

Compare two secured or password-protected PDFs

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails