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

Open Acrobat and go to All tools. Click Compare files. Pick the old and new PDF files. Choose a mode if needed. Run the comparison to see the summary of changes.

Why would someone use the 'Compare text only' option when comparing PDFs in Acrobat?

To ignore pictures and graphics and focus just on the words. It helps if you only care about text changes, not images or layout. It can make the comparison faster and clearer for text-heavy files.

How does Compare Files in Acrobat differ when used on a presentation deck versus a contract revision?

File Type Best Mode Focus of Comparison. Presentation Deck Presentation Decks mode Looks for changes in slides, layout, and visuals. Contract Revision Autodetect or Compare text only Focuses on changes in text, wording, and clauses.

◆ Acrobat · convert

Compare Quarterly Positions

Combine the raw transaction tables and bank statements into one searchable PDF, add a one-page summary at the front ti…

2ready prompts

1real task

3roles

See the prompt↓More convert workflows

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Combine the raw transaction tables and bank statements into one searchable PDF, add a one-page…+

Combine the raw transaction tables and bank statements into one searchable PDF, add a one-page summary at the front titled "Q vs Q Snapshot" that lists totals for this quarter and last, and save the finished file to SharePoint so I can review at my desk.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Before I share this with the portfolio team, make the single PDF easy to scan: move the…+

Before I share this with the portfolio team, make the single PDF easy to scan: move the one-page comparison summary to the very first page, bold the headline savings and net change, insert page bookmarks for Transactions, Statements, and Notes, and verify table legibility after conversion.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open Adobe Acrobat on your computer.
2
Go to Tools and select Compare Files.
3
Click Select File under 'Compare' and choose your first PDF (the older or original version).
4
Click Select File under 'With' and choose your second PDF (the newer or revised version).
5
Click Compare to start the comparison.
6
Review the results in the comparison summary and use the side-by-side view to examine highlighted differences.
Best practiceFor best results, avoid using scanned PDFs as input files, as text recognition may be inconsistent.

In the appWith the API

You can filter the comparison results to focus on text, images, or formatting changes for a clearer review.

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

Glossary

words on this page

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.

Protected PDFA PDF file that has security settings, like passwords or restrictions, stopping some actions.ExampleThis protected PDF requires a password to open and prevents anyone from printing its contents.

Summary PageA page that shows you the main differences between two files.ExampleThe summary page highlighted that one document had an extra paragraph compared to the other.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

Turn raw transaction tables and statements into a single, readable report so I can compare this quarter to last at a glance.

FAQ

about this task

Open Acrobat and go to All tools.
Click Compare files.
Pick the old and new PDF files.
Choose a mode if needed.
Run the comparison to see the summary of changes.

Compare Files lets you find all the changes between two PDF documents. This is useful because it saves time and helps you quickly spot what is different, which is important when checking reports, contracts, or any updated files.

If your PDF files have security settings (are protected), Compare Files will not work and you will get an error message. To fix this, you must remove the protection from both files before trying again. Make sure neither file is locked or has passwords set.

To ignore pictures and graphics and focus just on the words.
It helps if you only care about text changes, not images or layout.
It can make the comparison faster and clearer for text-heavy files.

File Type	Best Mode	Focus of Comparison
Presentation Deck	Presentation Decks mode	Looks for changes in slides, layout, and visuals.
Contract Revision	Autodetect or Compare text only	Focuses on changes in text, wording, and clauses.

Compare Quarterly Positions

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails