How do I compare two versions of a PDF document in Adobe Acrobat?

Go to 'All tools' and select 'Compare files'. Choose your older and newer PDF documents. Pick a comparison mode like 'Autodetect' or 'Compare text only'. Click 'Compare' to see a summary of changes and navigate through them.

What are the different comparison modes available when using Compare Files in Acrobat?

Autodetect: Acrobat automatically chooses the best way to compare. Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with lots of numbers and tables. Presentation Decks: Good for comparing slides or visual presentations. Compare text only: Ignores all images and graphics, focusing just on words.

Early‑vs‑Current Art Comparison in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”I need a repeatable approach to compare early and current artworks for outcome reports to…+

I need a repeatable approach to compare early and current artworks for outcome reports to funders. I have photos, notes, and occasional ratings but no consistent analytic frame. Recommend a pragmatic, clinically valid comparison method (themes, affect, technique), specify which three indicators to track, and describe the minimal documentation needed to support each indicator across cases.

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 Pro on your computer.
2
Go to the Tools pane and select Compare Files.
3
In the Compare Files window, click Select File on the left to choose the older version of your PDF.
4
Click Select File on the right to choose the newer version of your PDF.
5
Click Compare to start the comparison process.
6
Review the summary report that appears, which highlights all text and graphic differences between the two files.
Best practiceFor best results, avoid using scanned PDFs as input, since Acrobat compares text and graphics most accurately with digitally generated files.
7
Use the side-by-side view and navigation tools to examine each change in detail, including both textual edits and visual modifications.
Best practiceYou can focus the comparison on text, graphics, or both by adjusting the settings before running the comparison.

In the appWith the API

After comparing, use the navigation panel to quickly jump between each detected change in your PDFs.

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

Glossary

words on this page

Compare FilesThis tool helps you find differences between two similar PDF documents.ExampleYou use this tool to quickly spot the differences between an original and a revised PDF document.

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.

Comparison ModeA setting that tells Acrobat how to look for differences in different types of documents.ExampleYou choose 'Text Only' comparison mode when comparing two versions of a contract.

Who does this

3 roles

Technical WriterLegal ReviewerQuality Assurance Specialist

FAQ

about this task

Go to 'All tools' and select 'Compare files'.
Choose your older and newer PDF documents.
Pick a comparison mode like 'Autodetect' or 'Compare text only'.
Click 'Compare' to see a summary of changes and navigate through them.

Acrobat fails to compare files if either document has security settings that prevent comparison. This is often due to password protection or restricted editing permissions. To fix this, you must first remove the security settings from both PDF files. You can usually find options to remove protection within the 'Protect' tools in Acrobat, but you will need the correct password if one was set.

Autodetect: Acrobat automatically chooses the best way to compare.
Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with lots of numbers and tables.
Presentation Decks: Good for comparing slides or visual presentations.
Compare text only: Ignores all images and graphics, focusing just on words.

When comparing digitally signed documents, Acrobat can specifically show you changes made after a signature was applied. This is very important for legal or official documents. The tool helps you verify the integrity of the signed version by highlighting any modifications that occurred post-signature, ensuring that the document has not been tampered with since it was signed. This feature helps maintain trust in digital workflows.

The 'Compare text only' mode focuses solely on textual differences between two PDF files. Unlike other modes such as 'Autodetect' or 'Reports/Spreadsheets', it completely ignores any changes in graphics, images, or layout. This mode is useful when you only care about the words and not how the document looks, making the comparison faster and less cluttered for text-heavy documents.

Early‑vs‑Current Art Comparison

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails