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

Go to 'All tools' in Acrobat. Select 'Compare files'. Choose your older and newer PDF files. Pick a comparison mode (like 'Autodetect'). Click 'Compare' to see the differences highlighted.

What are the different modes for comparing files in Acrobat?

Autodetect: Acrobat automatically figures out the best way to compare your files. Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with lots of numbers and tables. Presentation Decks: Good for comparing slides or presentations. Compare text only: Only looks at text changes, ignoring pictures.

Resolve Conflicting Edits in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Consolidate edits and comments from multiple reviewers into a single authoritative markup set…+

Consolidate edits and comments from multiple reviewers into a single authoritative markup set on the [manuscript] [pdf] and resolve obvious conflicts so production has one clean instruction file.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”To prevent rework, create a conflict log showing differing reviewer instructions, propose one…+

To prevent rework, create a conflict log showing differing reviewer instructions, propose one resolution with rationale for each conflict, and mark any items that require editor arbitration before production proceeds.

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

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.

Autodetect ModeA setting in Compare Files that automatically chooses the best way to compare your documents.ExampleCompare Files uses Autodetect Mode to figure out the best comparison type for your documents.

Who does this

3 roles

EditorLegal AssistantProject Manager

FAQ

about this task

Go to 'All tools' in Acrobat.
Select 'Compare files'.
Choose your older and newer PDF files.
Pick a comparison mode (like 'Autodetect').
Click 'Compare' to see the differences highlighted.

When you choose 'Compare text only', the Compare Files tool will only look for changes in the written words. It will ignore any differences in pictures, drawings, or other graphics in your PDF documents. This is useful when you only care about text changes.

No, if your PDF has security settings or a password, the Compare Files tool will not work. You will get an error message. You must first remove any security or password protection from both PDF files before you can compare them. This ensures the tool can access all parts of the documents.

Autodetect: Acrobat automatically figures out the best way to compare your files.
Reports/Spreadsheets: Best for documents with lots of numbers and tables.
Presentation Decks: Good for comparing slides or presentations.
Compare text only: Only looks at text changes, ignoring pictures.

Comparing signed document versions is important because digital signatures are sensitive. Even a small change to a signed document can invalidate the signature. Acrobat has a specific feature to 'Compare signed document versions' that helps you see changes while also checking the integrity of the signatures. This ensures that you understand both content changes and the status of legal commitments.

Resolve Conflicting Edits

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails