How do I compare two versions of a PDF document?

Go to 'All tools' in Acrobat. Select 'Compare files'. Choose your two PDF files. Pick a comparison mode (like 'Autodetect'). Click 'Compare' to see the differences.

What are the different comparison modes in 'Compare Files' and when should I use them?

Autodetect: Best for most general documents, Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare. Reports/Spreadsheets: Use this for documents with lots of numbers and tables, like financial reports. Presentation Decks: Good for slides, where the layout and images are important. 'Compare text only': Choose this if you only care about text changes and want to ignore any pictures or graphics.

Avoid Trivial Draft Diffs in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”Across the last 20 document comparisons I've done, what's the pattern in false…+

Across the last 20 document comparisons I've done, what's the pattern in false positives—formatting, metadata, or boilerplate updates—and recommend one comparison setting or checklist that surfaces meaningful differences and reduces review time for executives.

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

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.

DiffThis is a short word for 'difference' and means what has changed between two versions.ExampleThe software showed a diff highlighting the new paragraph added to the second version of the contract.

Security SettingsRules that protect a PDF file, like preventing changes or copying.ExampleThe security settings on the PDF prevented anyone from printing or copying its contents.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorLegal AssistantProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

Go to 'All tools' in Acrobat.
Select 'Compare files'.
Choose your two PDF files.
Pick a comparison mode (like 'Autodetect').
Click 'Compare' to see the differences.

This message appears when one or both of your PDF files are protected. Security settings stop Acrobat from reading the full content needed for comparison. To fix this, you need to remove the protection from both files before you can use the 'Compare Files' tool. Look for the 'Protect' feature in Acrobat to do this.

Autodetect: Best for most general documents, Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare.
Reports/Spreadsheets: Use this for documents with lots of numbers and tables, like financial reports.
Presentation Decks: Good for slides, where the layout and images are important.
'Compare text only': Choose this if you only care about text changes and want to ignore any pictures or graphics.

When comparing signed documents, the process is similar to regular files. However, you should be aware that any changes after signing might invalidate the signature. Acrobat's 'Compare Files' can still show you what changed, but it's important to understand the legal implications of changes to signed documents. The tool focuses on showing the visual and textual differences.

After comparing, Acrobat opens a 'summary page'. This page gives you an overview of all the changes found. You will also see 'Previous Change' and 'Next Change' buttons. These buttons let you easily navigate through the document, jumping directly to each specific difference that Acrobat has identified, so you don't have to search manually.

Avoid Trivial Draft Diffs

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails