How do I compare two versions of a PDF document?

Go to 'All tools' in Acrobat. Select 'Compare files'. Choose your older PDF and your newer PDF. Acrobat will then show you a summary of the changes between them.

What is the difference between comparing text only and other comparison modes?

Comparison Mode What it compares. Compare text only Looks only at words and numbers. It ignores any pictures or graphics in the document. Autodetect Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare your files, including text and images. Reports/Spreadsheets Optimized for documents with lots of data, like financial reports or tables.

If I need to compare a contract revision, what steps should I take to ensure a successful comparison?

First, make sure both the old and new contract files do not have any security settings. Remove protection if needed. Open Acrobat and go to 'All tools', then 'Compare files'. Select your original contract as the 'old' file and the revised contract as the 'new' file. Choose a comparison mode, like 'Autodetect', to get a full view of changes. Review the summary and navigate through changes to ensure all revisions are understood.

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

AI prompts

1 way to ask · copy any one

CDecide — “help me choose”The buyer says the signed agreement differs from the last draft and the seller insists the…+

The buyer says the signed agreement differs from the last draft and the seller insists the signed copy is final. Broker wants a documented comparison to close the loop. I need an exact list of changes and a neutral note for the file that protects us in case of litigation. Tell me how to compare the signed PDF to the draft and draft the neutral broker memo summarizing differences and risks.

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

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.

Contract VersionA specific saved copy of a contract document at a certain point in time.ExampleWe reviewed Contract Version 3, which included the updated payment schedule.

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

Go to 'All tools' in Acrobat.
Select 'Compare files'.
Choose your older PDF and your newer PDF.
Acrobat will then show you a summary of the changes between them.

Compare Files needs full access to both documents to find differences. If a PDF has security settings, it might prevent Acrobat from reading or processing the file completely. This protection stops the comparison process. You need to remove these security settings first for the comparison to work.

Comparison Mode	What it compares
Compare text only	Looks only at words and numbers. It ignores any pictures or graphics in the document.
Autodetect	Acrobat tries to figure out the best way to compare your files, including text and images.
Reports/Spreadsheets	Optimized for documents with lots of data, like financial reports or tables.

First, make sure both the old and new contract files do not have any security settings. Remove protection if needed.
Open Acrobat and go to 'All tools', then 'Compare files'.
Select your original contract as the 'old' file and the revised contract as the 'new' file.
Choose a comparison mode, like 'Autodetect', to get a full view of changes.
Review the summary and navigate through changes to ensure all revisions are understood.

The summary page shows you an overview of all the differences found between your two documents. This helps you quickly see how many changes there are. The 'Previous Change' and 'Next Change' navigation buttons let you jump directly to each specific difference in the document, so you don't have to search for them manually. This makes reviewing changes much faster and more efficient.

Resolve Contract Version

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help

When it fails