How do I remove comments and annotations from my PDF document?

Open the PDF in Acrobat. Click on the comment or markup you want to remove. Press the 'Delete' key or right-click and choose 'Delete'. Save your document to make the changes permanent.

What is the difference between deleting comments and flattening a PDF?

Action Result. Deleting Comments Removes the comment data, but other hidden data might remain. Comments are still recoverable if not sanitized. Flattening a PDF Merges all layers (text, images, comments) into one. Comments become part of the main document content and are no longer editable or recoverable as separate objects. This can also make the file size smaller.

Why would someone want to remove all comments and annotations from a document?

To create a clean, final version of a document without review notes. To prevent sensitive feedback or internal discussions from being seen by external parties. To reduce file size if there are many comments that are no longer needed.

◆ Acrobat · edit

Clear Exception Remedies

We spend too much time arguing about what remedies customers get after delivery exceptions. I want to change the stand…

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When to use it

real situations

A student removes teacher's review notes from their essay.
A lawyer clears client feedback from a legal contract draft.
A designer deletes review comments from a final brochure proof.

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”We spend too much time arguing about what remedies customers get after delivery exceptions. I…+

We spend too much time arguing about what remedies customers get after delivery exceptions. I want to change the standard so operations can decide fast. Show the pattern in our past exception decisions, recommend one clear evidence threshold for on-the-spot driver escalations that should trigger an immediate remedy, and draft the short policy language I can push to operations that balances cost and customer retention.

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 your PDF file in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Click the Comment button in the toolbar to display the commenting tools.
3
Select the annotation tool you want to use, such as Note, Highlight, Text Box, or Draw.
4
Click on the PDF page where you want to add your comment or annotation.
5
Type your comment or draw your annotation as needed.
6
Click away from the annotation or press Escape to save your comment or annotation.

In the appWith the API

You can use multiple annotation types in one session, such as highlighting text and adding sticky notes for detailed feedback.

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

Glossary

words on this page

CommentsShort notes or feedback added to a document without changing the main text.ExampleYour colleagues added short notes and suggestions to your presentation slides without changing the content.

AnnotationsMarks or drawings added to a document to highlight, explain, or suggest changes.ExampleThe editor's annotations on the manuscript included underlines, highlights, and margin comments.

SanitizeTo remove sensitive or private information from a document before sharing it.ExampleRemember to sanitize the document by redacting personal details before sharing it publicly.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorTeacherProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
Click on the comment or markup you want to remove.
Press the 'Delete' key or right-click and choose 'Delete'.
Save your document to make the changes permanent.

Sanitizing a PDF is important because comments and markups are often on a separate layer. Even after you delete them, some data might remain hidden. Sanitizing ensures all review notes and other sensitive information are completely removed, preventing accidental leaks when you share the 'final' file with others.

Yes, highlighting text is considered an annotation. Annotations are a type of markup used to draw attention to specific parts of a document. They are part of the 'Comments and Annotations' feature set in Adobe Acrobat.

Action	Result
Deleting Comments	Removes the comment data, but other hidden data might remain. Comments are still recoverable if not sanitized.
Flattening a PDF	Merges all layers (text, images, comments) into one. Comments become part of the main document content and are no longer editable or recoverable as separate objects. This can also make the file size smaller.

To create a clean, final version of a document without review notes.
To prevent sensitive feedback or internal discussions from being seen by external parties.
To reduce file size if there are many comments that are no longer needed.