How do I compare two versions of a PDF document?

Open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Select 'Compare files'. Pick your old and new PDF files. Acrobat will show you the differences.

What is the 'Compare text only' option when comparing files?

The 'Compare text only' option means Acrobat will only look for changes in the words. It will ignore any pictures or other graphics in the documents. This is useful if you only care about text changes, like in a legal document or a report with many images.

Why does 'Compare Files' fail with a security message?

The 'Compare Files' tool fails with a security message because one or both of your PDF documents have protection settings. These settings stop Acrobat from making changes or comparisons. To fix this, you must first remove the security from the files before you can compare them.

Can I compare a signed document with an unsigned one using 'Compare Files'?

Yes, you can use 'Compare Files' to see differences between signed and unsigned documents. Acrobat has a specific feature for comparing signed document versions. This helps you check if anything changed after a document was signed. You can find more details on how to use this for signed documents in the help section.

What are the different modes available when using 'Compare Files'?

Autodetect: Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare. Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with tables and numbers. Presentation Decks: Good for slides or documents with many graphics. You can also choose 'Compare text only' to ignore images.

◆ Acrobat · edit

Compare two scanned or image-based PDFs using OCR

Discrepancies in signed agreements have cost us time twice this year. Propose a workflow and toolset to automatically …

3ready prompts

1real task

3roles

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AI prompts

3 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Compare these two scanned PDFs for text differences using OCR:…+

Compare these two scanned PDFs for text differences using OCR: [Upload PDF 1] and [Upload PDF 2].

when the reply comes backWould you like a summary of the differences?

BImprove — “do it better”Show the differences between these scanned PDFs in a clearer way:…+

Show the differences between these scanned PDFs in a clearer way: [Upload PDF 1] and [Upload PDF 2].

when the reply comes backNeed help extracting text from one of these PDFs?

CDecide — “help me choose”Tell me which scanned PDF is closer to the original text:…+

Tell me which scanned PDF is closer to the original text: [Upload PDF 1], [Upload PDF 2], and [Upload Original Text or Description].

when the reply comes backWant tips on making your scans easier to compare next time?

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

OCROCR stands for Optical Character Recognition. It is technology that turns images of text into real text you can search and copy.ExampleAfter scanning a paper invoice, OCR allows you to copy the vendor's name from the image.

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.

ScanA scan is a digital copy of a paper document made with a scanner or phone.ExampleYou use your phone to 'Scan' a receipt, turning it into a digital image for your expense report.

The real tasks

the one, listed here

I want a system so signed agreements are automatically compared and discrepancies surface before anyone assumes parity.

FAQ

about this task

Adobe Acrobat first uses OCR to turn the pictures of text in each scanned PDF into real, editable words. Then, it compares the words from each file and highlights any differences so you can easily spot changes.

Without OCR, the computer only sees pictures, not words. OCR lets the program read the text in your scans, so it can compare the words and sentences, not just the images.

You can try, but OCR works best with printed text. If your handwriting is very clear, it might work, but mistakes are more likely.

If OCR misses words, try rescanning your documents with better lighting or higher quality. Make sure the pages are flat and not blurry, as this helps the software read the text more accurately.

Comparing regular PDFs is usually more accurate because the text is already digital. With scanned PDFs, OCR can make mistakes if the scan quality is poor, so the results might not be perfect.

Compare two scanned or image-based PDFs using OCR

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails