How do I use 'Compare Files' to check what changed in my contract?

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Select 'Compare files'. Then, choose your older contract file and your newer contract file. Acrobat will show you a report of all the differences between them.

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

Mode When to Use. Autodetect For most general documents, Acrobat tries to pick the best method. Reports/Spreadsheets When comparing documents with lots of numbers, tables, or data. Presentation Decks For comparing slide presentations or visual documents. Compare text only When you only care about changes in words, not pictures or layout.

Contract Version Control in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”During supplier talks the team keeps sharing older drafts. I need the agreed current contract…+

During supplier talks the team keeps sharing older drafts. I need the agreed current contract stamped clearly so everyone knows which version to work from. Create a visible, non-destructive stamp that says 'Current Negotiation Copy — Do Not Publish' with [date] and [approver], apply it to the master PDF, and confirm the metadata and previous versions can't be mistaken for the active file.

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

Version ControlKeeping track of changes made to a document over time.ExampleVersion control lets you see who made changes to a document and when those changes occurred.

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.

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

First, open Acrobat and go to 'All tools'.
Select 'Compare files'.
Then, choose your older contract file and your newer contract file.
Acrobat will show you a report of all the differences between them.

The 'Compare text only' option helps you focus on words. If your documents have many pictures or drawings, choosing this option makes the comparison faster and clearer by ignoring those graphics. It's useful when only the written content matters.

'Compare Files' needs to read and analyze the content of both PDFs to find differences. Security settings often prevent Acrobat from accessing or changing the document's content. Because of this, the tool cannot perform its function. You must remove the protection first to allow the comparison.

Mode	When to Use
Autodetect	For most general documents, Acrobat tries to pick the best method.
Reports/Spreadsheets	When comparing documents with lots of numbers, tables, or data.
Presentation Decks	For comparing slide presentations or visual documents.
Compare text only	When you only care about changes in words, not pictures or layout.

When comparing signed documents, 'Compare Files' is very useful. It can show you if any changes were made to the document *after* it was signed. This helps you confirm the integrity of the signed agreement. Acrobat has a specific feature to compare signed document versions to highlight these post-signature changes.

Contract Version Control

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails