How do I compare two versions of a PDF document?

First, open Adobe Acrobat and go to 'All tools'. Then, select 'Compare files'. Choose your original PDF and the revised PDF. Acrobat will then show you a summary of all the changes between them.

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

Autodetect: This is the default and best for most general documents, as Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare. Reports/Spreadsheets: Use this mode when comparing documents that are mainly data tables or financial reports, to focus on numerical changes. Presentation Decks: Select this for comparing slide presentations, as it's optimized for layout and visual changes common in such files.

Manage Supplier Spec Revisions in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

DBecome — “help me grow”Revisions from suppliers have cost us material mismatches twice this year. Analyze the pattern…+

Revisions from suppliers have cost us material mismatches twice this year. Analyze the pattern in where supplier specs diverge from our approvals, recommend one routine comparison checklist to catch those divergences quickly, and suggest how to flag differences so procurement can pause or approve with full context.

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

RevisionA new version of a document after changes have been made.ExampleAfter addressing all comments, the third revision of the report was ready for final approval.

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

EditorLegal AssistantProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

First, open Adobe Acrobat and go to 'All tools'.
Then, select 'Compare files'.
Choose your original PDF and the revised PDF.
Acrobat will then show you a summary of all the changes between them.

Comparing two PDF files helps you quickly see what has changed between different versions of a document. This is useful for checking revisions in contracts, specifications, or reports, ensuring you don't miss any updates. It highlights additions, deletions, and modifications.

No, if either of your PDF documents has security settings, the Compare Files feature will not work. You will get an error message. To compare them, you must first remove the security protection from both the old and new versions of the PDF. After removing protection, you can try comparing them again.

Autodetect: This is the default and best for most general documents, as Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare.
Reports/Spreadsheets: Use this mode when comparing documents that are mainly data tables or financial reports, to focus on numerical changes.
Presentation Decks: Select this for comparing slide presentations, as it's optimized for layout and visual changes common in such files.

You would choose 'Compare text only' if you are primarily interested in changes to the written content of the document and want to ignore any differences in images, graphics, or layout. This can make the comparison faster and clearer by focusing solely on textual revisions, which is helpful for legal documents or long reports.

Manage Supplier Spec Revisions

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails