Top 10 Hidden Features in Adobe Acrobat Reader Adobe Acrobat Reader is the world’s most popular PDF viewer. Most people only use it to open, read, and print documents. However, this free software packs powerful, hidden tools that can revolutionize your digital workflow.
Here are the top 10 hidden features in Adobe Acrobat Reader that you should start using today. 1. Read Out Loud (Text-to-Speech)
Acrobat Reader can read your PDF documents to you. This is perfect for multitasking, reviewing long reports, or assisting users with visual impairments.
How to use it: Go to View > Read Out Loud > Activate Read Out Loud. Then, select whether to read just the current page or the entire document. 2. Take a Snapshot
If you need to copy a specific section, chart, or image from a PDF into another application like Word or PowerPoint, the Snapshot tool makes it effortless. It captures any selected area as a high-resolution image automatically saved to your clipboard.
How to use it: Go to Edit > Take a Snapshot, then click and drag your cursor over the area you want to capture. 3. Change Background Color for Night Reading
Staring at a bright white screen during late-night study or work sessions causes severe eye strain. Acrobat Reader has a hidden accessibility setting that lets you change the background and text color scheme, including a dark mode.
How to use it: Go to Edit > Preferences > Accessibility. Check Replace Document Colors and choose High-Contrast colors (like White Text on Black). 4. Enable Automatic Scrolling
Reading through endless pages of documentation can get tiring for your fingers. Acrobat Reader offers a hands-free automatic scroll feature that glides through the text seamlessly.
How to use it: Press Ctrl + Shift + H (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + H (Mac) to start scrolling. Use the number keys to adjust the speed and the arrow keys to change direction. 5. Add a Sticky Note and Highlighter
You do not need a paid subscription to markup your documents. The commenting toolbar allows you to highlight text, cross out words, and leave sticky notes for collaborative feedback.
How to use it: Click on the Tools tab and select Comment, or use the sticky note icon located in the top toolbar. 6. Fill and Sign Form Electronically
Printing out a form just to sign it and scan it back into your computer is a waste of time and paper. The “Fill & Sign” feature lets you type text directly onto flat PDFs and add a valid electronic signature.
How to use it: Click Tools > Fill & Sign. You can type your name or draw your signature, then place it anywhere on the document. 7. Compare Two Zoomed Views (Split Screen)
When cross-referencing information between different pages of the same PDF, constantly scrolling up and down is frustrating. Reader allows you to split your screen horizontally to look at two different pages at the exact same time.
How to use it: Go to View > Window > Split. You can now navigate both halves of the document independently. 8. Use the Advanced Search Tool
The standard “Find” function (Ctrl+F) only looks for single phrases page by page. Acrobat Reader actually features a massive, advanced search engine that can scan all PDFs in a specific folder simultaneously and look for complex phrase variations.
How to use it: Press Ctrl + Shift + F (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + F (Mac) to open the Advanced Search window. 9. Measuring Tool
Architects, engineers, and designers often use this hidden gem. If your PDF contains blueprints, maps, or technical drawings, you can measure the exact distance, perimeter, and area of objects directly within the software.
How to use it: Navigate to Tools > Tools Center > Measure. Click on the document to set your starting and ending points. 10. Clear Recent Files History for Privacy
If you share your computer with others, you might not want your recently viewed document titles visible on the home screen. You can easily wipe this history or change how many files Acrobat remembers.
How to use it: Go to Edit > Preferences > Documents. Under Recent Files List, change the value to 0 to clear and disable the tracking of recent documents.
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