Adobe Acrobat FAQs

Acrobat is the latest version of Acrobat after Acrobat XI. It's the complete PDF solution for working anywhere with your most important documents. Acrobat is totally reimagined with powerful new capabilities  and a stunningly simple user experience that works consistently across desktop, mobile and the web – including touch-enabled devices.

You can work with Acrobat on the desktop only or purchase a subscription to take advantage of additional capabilities made possible by new Adobe Document Cloud (DC) services.

Here are just a few things you can do with Acrobat:

• Work anywhere. Create, edit, comment, and sign with the Acrobat Reader mobile app.
• Edit anything. Instantly edit PDFs and scanned documents as naturally as any other file with revolutionary new imaging technology.
• Replace ink signatures. Send, track, manage, and store signed documents with a built-in e-signature service.
• Protect important documents. Prevent others from copying or editing sensitive information in PDFs.
• Eliminate overnight envelopes. Send, track, and confirm delivery of documents electronically.

Here are some of the new things you can do with Acrobat Pro on the desktop:

• Turn scanned paper documents into instantly editable PDFs
• Edit PDFs faster with full-page paragraph reflow and easy bullet updates
• Export PDFs to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint with improved bullets and tables
• Fill, sign, and send forms fast from anywhere with smart autofill
• Use a spell checker to identify and fix typos in your PDF
• Crop and correct photos of paper documents automatically
• Fix suspected text recognition errors in scans with a side-by-side view
• Store and access files securely online with 5GB of free storage

With a subscription to Acrobat Pro, you can also:

• Create, edit, and sign PDFs using the new Acrobat Reader mobile app
• Edit text in a PDF on your iPad
• Organize pages in PDF files from your iOS or Android tablet or smartphone.
• Turn your mobile device camera into a portable scanner
• Get signatures from others, track responses, and archive signed documents
• Send, track and confirm receipt of important documents, without overnight deliveries
• Store and access files securely online with 20GB of storage
• Get ongoing access to new features and upgrades at no additional charge
  

See the Acrobat version comparison for more detail about how Acrobat differs from previous versions.

Adobe Acrobat includes desktop products, free mobile apps, and online services available through Adobe Document Cloud.

Desktop products for Windows:

• Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Adobe Acrobat Standard
• Adobe Acrobat Reader

Desktop products for Mac OS:

• Adobe Acrobat Pro
• Adobe Acrobat Reader

 Mobile apps:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader for Android, iOS, or Windows Phone
• Adobe Fill & Sign for Android or iOS
• Adobe Sign for Android or iOS

Web app:

•  Adobe Document Cloud

See the Acrobat product comparison to discover the best way to buy Adobe Acrobat.

When you subscribe to Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard, you pay a low monthly fee to get:

• Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard desktop software, respectively – including any upgrades.
• Adobe Document Cloud services, which let you complete essential PDF tasks with the Acrobat Reader mobile app or your web browser, including storing and sharing files online. Document Cloud services also enable complete workflows for sending, e-signing, and tracking documents.

New and enhanced features are typically released on a quarterly basis. To see what's been added over time, read the Acrobat New Features summary.

Yes, many Acrobat tools and utilities are available to streamline enterprise deployments and help control IT costs. Supported tools include Microsoft SCCM/SCUP, Apple Remote Desktop, Citrix XenApp, and Windows Terminal Server on Windows Server 2008. To learn more, visit the IT resources page.

For information and tutorials about how to use the new features and functionality in Acrobat, visit Acrobat Learn and Support.

Activation is a required process by which Adobe validates that your software is genuine and being used as allowed by your product license agreement. It is intended to protect both your rights as a consumer and Adobe’s rights as a software developer. Activation also helps confirm that the software you bought is not counterfeit.

Acrobat products automatically attempt to activate over the Internet. During activation, no personal information is transmitted. Each single-user license grants rights for Acrobat to be installed on two computers at any given time. See the Adobe software activation page for more information.

If your organization has computers that cannot be online for activation, IT administrators can set an offline exception using Adobe Customization wizard. Learn more about IT resources.

See the Acrobat technical specifications page for information.

See the Acrobat technical specifications page for information.

See the Adobe Document Cloud Language Tiers page for information.

Adobe Document Cloud services work with Acrobat desktop, web, and mobile apps to help you stay connected – and stay productive – wherever you are.

Sign up for free Adobe Document Cloud services to get these advantages:

• Adobe Document Cloud storage - Store and access files online with 5GB of free storage
• Fill & Sign - Fill and e-sign forms quickly with instant access to your personal autofill collection across desktop, web, and mobile
• Send files - Upload large files and easily share with others.
  

Purchase a subscription to Acrobat Standard DC, or Adobe Acrobat Pro to perform essential PDF tasks using a web browser or mobile device and enhance the functionality of Acrobat desktop software.

• Create PDF - Convert documents, images or photos into PDF files (web and mobile)
• Export PDF - Turn PDFs into editable Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or RTF files (web and mobile)
• Edit PDF - Add or edit text in a PDF (iPad with Acrobat Pro subscription only)
• Organize PDF – Reorder, delete, or rotate pages in a PDF (web and mobile with Acrobat Pro subscription only)
• Combine PDF - Combine multiple files into a single PDF (web only)
• Send & Track - Send, track, and confirm delivery of documents electronically instead of using fax or overnight services (this service supports desktop, web, and mobile functionality)
• Send for Signature - Send documents for signature and then track, manage, and store them online (this service supports desktop, web, and mobile functionality)
• Fill & Sign - Fill and e-sign forms quickly with instant access to your personal autofill collection (this services supports desktop, web, and mobile functionality)
• Adobe Document Cloud storage - Store and access files online with 20GB of storage

No. Acrobat desktop software can be used by itself, without taking advantage of Adobe Document Cloud services if desired.

The first time you open Acrobat desktop software, you’ll need an Internet connection for software activation. After that, you’ll be able to work offline with ease. If you purchase a subscription, you’ll be asked to log in periodically to verify your credentials (every 30 days if you have a monthly plan versus 99 days with an annual plan). Also, two new Acrobat tools – Send for Signature, and Send & Track – require an online connection.

Acrobat desktop software doesn't run in the cloud – it is locally installed software running on your desktop.  It can connect to Document Cloud services to provide a richer array of features and capabilities.  However, if your company prohibits software that connects to the cloud, talk to your IT administrator. Acrobat settings can be customized to remove access to the cloud services. Learn more about IT resources.

Yes. At Adobe, security practices are deeply ingrained into our internal culture, software development, as well as service operations processes. Whether related to identity management, data confidentiality, or document integrity, Adobe Document Cloud employs leading edge security practices to protect your documents, data, and personal identifiable information to the highest degree possible. For additional information about our company security practices, the Adobe Secure Product Lifecycle, or Adobe Document Cloud solution security, see the Adobe Security pages on adobe.com.

The free Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app makes it easy to view and interact with PDF files from anywhere on your Android, iOS, or Windows devices. It also lets you unlock premium Document Cloud features to do more with PDFs when you purchase a subscription to Adobe Acrobat Standard or Adobe Acrobat Pro. Learn more about the Acrobat Reader mobile app. Or, download it from Google Play, the iTunes App Store, or the Windows Phone Store.

Acrobat Reader for mobile is the next generation of the Adobe Reader mobile app, and it turns your mobile device into a serious business tool. Just like Reader on the desktop, Acrobat Reader for mobile is free, and continues to offer the industry’s most reliable mobile experience for viewing and interacting with PDFs. And now, with the addition of Adobe Document Cloud and Acrobat subscription services, you can take your files and PDF tools with you, and stay productive wherever you go. Learn more about the Acrobat Reader mobile app.

Adobe Sign mobile app (formerly known as the Adobe EchoSign mobile app) is a free, stand-alone app that works as a mobile companion to Adobe Sign, which is included in Acrobat Standard, Acrobat Pro, and Adobe Document Cloud for enterprise subscription plans. Adobe Sign lets you conduct complete business transactions on the go. With it, you can send, sign, track, and manage signed documents from your iOS or Android device. It’s also the ideal tool for collecting e-signatures in person from a client or customer. Adobe Sign works independently of the Acrobat Reader mobile app. You can download it from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.

Adobe Fill & Sign is a free mobile app that can be used all by itself, or with Acrobat. While Acrobat lets you work with fillable PDF forms and draw a signature with your finger, Fill & Sign gives you an easy way to work with paper forms or PDFs that haven’t been optimized for form filling.  You can download it from Google Play or the iTunes App Store. With Fill & Sign on an iPad or Android tablet device, you can:

• Open a PDF file, take a photo, or pick an image from your mobile device
• Type answers right onto the form, or accept autofill suggestions
• Sign your form by typing or drawing your signature, or using an image
• Edit your personal autofill collection so you don’t have to retype frequently-used information each time you complete a new form

Yes. Adobe is committed to helping enterprise customers meet demand for mobile business productivity solutions while safeguarding enterprise security and compliance. The Acrobat Reader and Adobe Sign mobile apps both support the Android for Work EMM platform, and Adobe Acrobat Reader for Microsoft Intune is available for iOS and Android.

No, but the Acrobat Reader mobile app includes essential PDF tools, including the most popular Acrobat features. With Acrobat Reader on Android or iOS devices, you can create, export, sign, and send PDFs with ease. And working on an iPad, you can also edit text in a PDF and organize pages. Learn more about the Acrobat Reader mobile app.

Acrobat is offered as a subscription or one-time desktop purchase.

• Subscription: You can buy Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard through an annual or month-to-month subscription plan. It includes Acrobat Pro for your desktop, plus mobile apps and Adobe Document Cloud services.
• Desktop: Get Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard for your desktop only. Special upgrade pricing is available for Acrobat X and XI owners.

Select a store to order Acrobat products or contact an Adobe Authorized Reseller. To purchase Acrobat for your organization, learn more about Acrobat volume licensing.

Subscription plans are the best way to take advantage of everything Acrobat has to offer. New, lower prices for annual and month-to-month subscription plans make Acrobat more affordable than ever, while also giving you access to premium Adobe Document Cloud services. If you own Acrobat Pro X or XI – or Acrobat Standard X or XI – you also qualify for a reduced price when purchasing a perpetual (one-time) license. A one-time purchase includes desktop software and lets you work free Adobe Document Cloud services only.

See the Acrobat product comparison to review subscription and one-time purchase options. You can also view the Acrobat version comparison to understand how Acrobat differs from previous versions.

Yes, you can download a trial version of Acrobat Pro desktop software for Windows or Mac. Acrobat trial software lets you take advantage of all the powerful features built into desktop software for Windows or Mac. Although Document Cloud services are not included automatically, you can try free Document Cloud services by downloading the Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store – and signing up for free Adobe Document Cloud services. Complete Document Cloud services are available with subscription plans only. The trial software is available in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. Read the trial FAQ.

Yes. You can sign up for a trial version of Adobe Sign, an Adobe Document Cloud solution. This trial lets you work with the Send for Signature tool in Acrobat Reader, Acrobat Standard, or Acrobat Pro. You can also use a web browser experience or the Adobe Sign mobile app. Download the app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.

Acrobat subscriptions are available in all countries where Acrobat is sold except China.

Yes, Adobe is committed to delivering variety of Acrobat software purchase options to meet customer requirements. The Acrobat family of products will continue to be available via a perpetual software (desktop-only) license that is sold through volume licensing programs such as the Transactional Licensing Program, Cumulative Licensing Program, as well as through retail and e-tail stores via product key cards and digital delivery.

No changes have been made to the availability of Upgrade Plan under the Cumulative Licensing Program for Acrobat, and there are no planned changes at this time.

When you subscribe to Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard, you pay a low monthly fee to get:

• Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard desktop software, respectively – including new features and services updates on an ongoing basis.
• Adobe Document Cloud services, which let you complete a wide variety of PDF tasks with the Acrobat Reader mobile app or your web browser, including storing and sharing files online. Document Cloud services also enable complete workflows for sending, e-signing, tracking, and managing documents.

When you buy an Acrobat perpetual license as a one-time purchase, you get:

• Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard desktop software.
• If you sign up for a free Adobe Document Cloud account, you can also work with the Acrobat Reader mobile app or your web browser to complete basic PDF tasks, including storing and sharing files online.

Contact an Adobe Authorized Reseller to purchase Acrobat through the Transactional Licensing Program or Cumulative Licensing Program, or request a contact from Adobe to learn about Adobe Document Cloud for enterprise plans.

Contact an Adobe Authorized Reseller, or request a contact from Adobe Enterprise sales.

Get an all-new experience

With Acrobat, Adobe is taking the world’s best PDF solution to an entirely new level. With an intuitive, touch-enabled interface, Acrobat delivers powerful new functionality to get work done anywhere. The new Tools Center offers quick access to the tools you use most, while elegant new tool experiences work consistently across desktop, web, and mobile. And, Acrobat now includes functionality that lets you send and track documents electronically, instead of using fax or overnight delivery services.

Work anywhere

Access your work as you move between desktop and devices, and pick up that form or document where you left off. With the Acrobat Reader mobile app, you can create, edit, comment and sign documents directly on mobile devices.

Sign anything

Acrobat now includes two powerful options for signing documents. Use the new Fill & Sign tool to quickly complete forms sent to you by others. Finish the job fast with reusable text from your personal autofill collection. Or, use the new Send for Signature tool to collect e-signatures from others quickly and securely - without printing, faxing or overnight delivery. Send, track, manage and store signed documents from anywhere using a complete signing process that is legally-compliant in many countries around the world.

Edit anything

Acrobat includes powerful enhancements to PDF editing and exporting tools. Revolutionary new imaging technology lets you turn scanned paper documents into instantly editable PDFs. Acrobat automatically creates custom fonts to match your original document so new edits blend right in. Editing existing PDFs is faster than ever with full page paragraph reflow and easy updates to bullets and numbered lists. PDFs exported to Office formats include improved bullet and table formatting. And now, you can use your mobile device camera as a portable scanner, then optimize your photo in Acrobat to automatically remove backgrounds and adjust perspective.

See the Acrobat version comparison to see more detail about how Acrobat differs from previous versions.

While Acrobat offers dozens and dozens of new and improved features across desktop, mobile, and web apps – there are some features that have been removed or changed when compared to Acrobat XI. These include retirement of the Adobe FormsCentral desktop app, as well as reduced support for Flash-compatible videos and use of Flash technology in PDF Portfolios.

Despite enthusiastic use of FormsCentral by many of our customers over a three year period, we found there wasn’t as much demand for this type of service as we anticipated. Because the FormsCentral online service was fully retired on July 28, 2015, the companion desktop app – which was included in Acrobat XI Pro software – was also retired. To learn more, read the FormsCentral FAQs.

Acrobat includes three tools that can help you create and enhance fillable PDF forms.

• The Prepare Form tool in Acrobat is your primary tool. With it, you can easily convert existing forms into fillable PDF ones. Scan a paper form or select a simple form made in Microsoft Word, Excel, or another application. Acrobat automatically recognizes and converts static form fields to fillable ones. You can also add or edit form fields, and add intelligence to make sure you collect all the information you need. Robust form authoring options include buttons, checkboxes, calculations, signatures fields, and required fields. Learn more about fillable PDF forms, or view the tutorial.
• The JavaScript tool in Acrobat Pro lets you enhance fillable forms with advanced formatting, calculations, or validations. You can also assign actions to buttons and connect form fields to company databases.
• The Send for Signature tool - which is available with Acrobat subscriptions - gives you a quick and easy way to add form and signature fields to a document before requesting signatures from others. Learn more about electronic signatures, or view the tutorial.

Acrobat gives you multiple options for collecting form responses, depending on your goals.

• The fastest and easiest method is to use Acrobat to convert an existing paper or electronic form into a simple PDF file - without adding fillable form fields – and send it to others as an email attachment. Anyone with free Adobe Acrobat Reader software can fill it out using the new Fill & Sign tool and send it right back to you. If you have an Acrobat subscription, you can also use the new Send & Track tool to upload your form to Adobe Document Cloud, share a link with specific recipients, and get notified when they’ve viewed your file.
• If you have a form that gets used frequently and you need to keep a record of each person’s responses, the Acrobat Prepare Form tool lets you collect form data automatically in Acrobat and compile it in a table format. Data can be exported to a spreadsheet for further analysis.
• If the primary goal of your document is to collect signatures from others, the new Send for Signature tool – which is available with Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Standard subscriptions – lets you send, track, manage, and store documents that include both signature and form fields.

Adobe Document Cloud enterprise plans also let you add form data collection and e-sign services to your business applications through turn-key integrations, APIs, and professional services.

Acrobat no longer offers an option to embed Flash-compatible videos in PDF files. This affects the creation of new PDFs only. Acrobat and Acrobat Reader will continue to support viewing of PDFs that include Flash content if the file was created with prior versions.

New PDF Portfolios created with Acrobat use a simpler visual experience than prior generations. In the past, Acrobat made it possible to customize PDF Portfolios with built-in themes, layouts, and palettes that were dependent upon Flash technology. Because support for Flash-compatible content is being reduced, these features are no longer available. This affects the creation of new PDF Portfolios only. Acrobat and Acrobat Reader will continue to support viewing of PDF Portfolios created with prior versions.

Yes. Acrobat runs as a 64-bit application on Mac. Acrobat on Windows is a 32-bit application that can run and has been tested on 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows 7, 8, and 10, and Windows Server 2008 and 2012.

Similar to Protected Mode in Acrobat Reader, Protected View is an implementation of “sandboxing” technology for the rich Acrobat feature set. In Acrobat, Adobe extends the functionality of Protected View beyond blocking write-based attacks that attempt to execute malicious code on your computer system using the PDF file format to read-based attacks that attempt to steal your sensitive data or intellectual property via PDF files.

Just like Protected Mode, Protected View confines the execution of untrusted programs (for example, any PDF file and the processes it invokes) to a restricted sandbox to avoid malicious code using the PDF format from writing to or reading from your computer’s file system. Protected View assumes all PDF files are potentially malicious and confines processing to the sandbox unless you specifically indicate that a file is trusted.

Acrobat integrates seamlessly with Office 365, Office 2013, Office 2010, and Office 2007 applications.

From Windows environments, you can:

• Create high quality Adobe PDFs from the Acrobat task ribbon in Office apps (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook).
• Add protection to PDFs created from the Acrobat ribbon in Office to restrict others from copying or editing sensitive content.
• Use the Acrobat ribbon in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to execute many steps at once. Quickly email a PDF file, protect it with a password, set file usage restrictions, or send a file out for shared review. In Acrobat Pro, you can also create a PDF and immediately run a preset Action to run predefined tasks, such as preparing a document for archiving or public distribution.
• Use the Send & Track plug-in for Microsoft Outlook to send large or small files to others and set tracking options to get notified when people view your file (Acrobat subscription only)
• Import comments from a PDF file into the source Word document as markups that can be accepted or rejected with the Microsoft Word Track Changes tool.
• Simplify email search and retrieval. Archive emails or email folders from Microsoft Outlook with one-button ease.
• Create high quality Adobe PDFs directly from Microsoft Project or Visio.

Additional ways to work with Microsoft tools:

• Use the Save As command In Microsoft Word for Mac to create high-quality PDF files, complete with interactive links.
• Work in Acrobat to turn existing PDFs into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with industry-leading formatting accuracy. Keep layouts, bulleted lists, and tables intact for easy editing in Office applications.
• Work with Windows 8.1 touch-enabled devices
• Capture web pages as PDF files with a single click from Microsoft Internet Explorer. Convert all or part of the page, keeping links, layouts, and formatting intact.

Yes. From SharePoint document libraries, you can:

• Open a PDF file, edit it in Acrobat, and save it back into the repository.
• Turn any repository file into a PDF and save it
• Turn any repository file into a PDF and email it
• Combine multiple files into a single PDF

You can also automate processes by hosting shared document reviews or data collection for PDF forms on your SharePoint server.

Yes, Acrobat works with both 32- and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows 7, 8, and 10. It also works with Windows Server 2008 and 2012.

Acrobat Pro is available through Adobe Creative Cloud, which provides access to the latest versions of Creative applications on a membership basis. Many Creative Cloud plans include Acrobat Pro with Document Cloud services.

Yes. Many Creative Cloud plans include Acrobat Pro with Document Cloud services. Explore Creative Cloud plans.

Acrobat is a completely reimagined solution with a stunningly simpler user experience that works consistently across desktop, mobile, and the web – including touch-enabled devices.

Here are just some of the new things you can do:

• Create, combine, and export PDFs using the new Acrobat Reader mobile app
• Edit text and organize pages in a PDF on an iPad
• Edit PDFs faster with full-page paragraph reflow and easy bullet updates
• Turn scanned paper documents into instantly editable PDFs
• Fill, sign, and send forms fast – with smart autofill
• Get e-signatures from others – in minutes instead of days
• Turn your mobile device into a portable scanner
• Send, track, and confirm delivery of documents and graphic layouts electronically

The product features in Acrobat Pro in Creative Cloud are identical to the features included in Acrobat Pro when purchased separately on a subscription plan. Many Creative Cloud plans include Acrobat Pro desktop software, plus the corresponding set of Adobe Document Cloud services.

Yes. Acrobat trial software lets you take advantage of all the powerful features built into desktop software for Windows or Mac. Although Document Cloud services are not included automatically, you can try free services by downloading the Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store – and signing up for free Adobe Document Cloud.

Yes. 20GB of storage is included when you get Acrobat Pro with Document Cloud. This is in addition to your Creative Cloud storage.

Both the Creative Cloud Packager and the Customization Wizard for Acrobat will output an MSI or PKG file for centralized deployment via Microsoft SCCM or Apple Remote Desktop, respectively. If your organization works with a lot of Creative Cloud products, Packager lets you download, deploy, and license Acrobat together with Creative Cloud apps. The customization Wizard can then be used for application level customization, including suppressing upsell messaging, configuring PDF printer settings, and turning off access to services. Creative Cloud for Enterprise (CCE) admins can now create self-service Acrobat packages with Creative Cloud serial numbers using Customization Wizard. Learn more about Customization Wizard.

Adobe actively supports Acrobat and Acrobat XI. Per the Adobe Enterprise Support Lifecycle Policy, support for Acrobat X ended on November 15, 2015. Learn more about Supported Product Versions.

Registered owners of the current version of Acrobat are eligible to receive person-to-person support on issues related to installation and products, with affordable per-incident support prices. Visit the Acrobat Help page for additional support information, including worldwide telephone support numbers, Knowledgebase articles, and tutorials — available free of charge. The Acrobat Help page also provides detailed information on common Acrobat issues.

By default, Acrobat is set to update your software automatically. If you have a perpetual (one-time) license, you will get bug fixes and security updates throughout the supported lifecycle of the product. If you have a subscription, you’ll get the same updates – plus new and enhanced features – as long as your subscription is current. For organizations that prefer to manage their updates on their own schedule, Acrobat also provides flexible tools for IT administrators. Learn more about IT resources.

Acrobat Pro and Acrobat Standard desktop software are available for volume deployment using either “continuous” or “classic” tracks.

Typical installations use the continuous track, which updates silently and frequently in order to stay current with new features, security and platform enhancements, and bug fixes. The continuous track is the only track that enables access to all paid Adobe Document Cloud services, including support for the Send for Signature and Send & Track tools. If desired, IT administrators can turn off automatic updates in order to test a new version before rolling it out to employees. Only the latest version is available for download. IT administrators can also tune out Document Cloud services so employees don’t see the options presented in their user experience.

Using similar update methods to Acrobat X and XI, the classic track uses a quarterly update cadence to deliver security and platform enhancements and bug fixes only. The classic track does not provide access to new or enhanced features, and enables access to free Adobe Document Cloud services only. IT administrators can tune out Document Cloud services if desired. Learn more.

Acrobat supports ISO 32000-1, the open standard maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Acrobat supports the creation and validation of these workflow-specific PDF standards:

• PDF/A for archiving (ISO 19005): PDF/A-1a, PDF/A-1b, PDF/A-2a, PDF/A-2b, PDF/A-2u, PDF/A-3a, PDF/A-3b, and PDF/A-3u
• PDF/E in Acrobat Pro for engineering (ISO 24517): PDF/E-1
• PDF/X for print production (ISO 15930): PDF/X-1a, PDF/X-3, PDF/X-4, PDF/X-4p, PDF/X-5g, and PDF/X-5pg
• PDF/VT in Acrobat Pro for variable data and transactional printing (ISO 16612-2): PDF/VT-1 and PDF/VT-2

PDF/A provides specifications for creating, viewing, and printing digital documents for long-term preservation. Records managers, archivists, and industry-compliance professionals can use Acrobat to preserve and help protect final documents of record as self-contained files.

PDF/E provides specifications for creating, viewing, and printing documents used in engineering workflows. Architects, engineers, construction professionals, and manufacturing product teams can use Acrobat Pro to facilitate the exchange of documentation and drawings with others in the supply chain, and to streamline review and markup of documents.

PDF/X provides specifications for creating, viewing, and printing final print-ready or press-ready pages. This standard provides guidelines for PDF settings that affect critical aspects of printing, such as color space and trapping. Print professionals, graphic designers, and other creative professionals can use Acrobat to create and deliver predictable, press-ready PDF/X-compliant files.

PDF/VT provides specifications for creating, viewing, and printing files such as bank statements and business invoices used in the variable data and transactional printing industry. Professionals who work with large documents containing variable data can use Acrobat Pro to ensure that the files they’ve produced comply with this international standard.

Yes. Acrobat supports the creation and use of PDF in compliance with these additional standards and initiatives:

• PDF/UA (Universal Accessibility): PDF/UA is an ISO standard (ISO 14289-1) that helps clarify PDF-specific technical requirements to ensure that conforming PDF ISO 32000-1 files are accessible and usable to all, including users who rely on assistive technology.
• W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG): Adobe participates in the WCAG working group at the W3C to help develop the technology-independent WCAG 2.0 standard as well as advisory techniques to help authors and developers meet this accessibility standard.
• PAdES (ETSI): PDF Advanced Electronic Signatures provides specifications to help ensure compliance with digital signature standards in the European Union. Adobe Acrobat supports PAdES Parts 2, 3, and 4.

See additional details about Adobe and industry standards.

Acrobat helps address the needs of both users with disabilities and authors of accessible content. Using Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Standard, virtually anyone can create accessible PDF documents that others can view using Adobe Acrobat Reader. This helps users with disabilities more easily access and use PDF files and forms across multiple languages.

Using Acrobat Pro, Acrobat Standard, or Acrobat Reader on Windows, users and authors can:

• Customize accessibility preferences with an easy-to-use wizard
• Work with magnifiers
• Read PDFs out loud using built-in functions or working with professional screen-reading software
• Set high-contrast colors for better visibility
• NEW Read text easier in high contrast mode with dynamic background adjustment
• Enable large-type display by setting text to reflow through pages

Using Acrobat Pro or Acrobat Reader on Mac, users can:

• NEW Work with the VoiceOver screen reader on Mac OS X computers
• Work with magnifiers
• Set high-contrast colors for better visibility
• NEW Read text easier in high contrast mode with dynamic background adjustment
• Enable large-type display by setting text to reflow through pages

In addition, authors can use Acrobat Pro to make PDF files more accessible:

• Add tags to control reading order and improve navigation
• Verify and adjust reading order for pages or columns of text
• Validate standards-compliant PDF documents, check for possible accessibility problems, and adjust files to meet accessibility standards
• Take advantage of enhanced tools to support the creation of PDF documents that meet WCAG 2.0 and PDF/UA standards
• Use the Make Accessible guided Action to more easily prepare, verify, and fix standards-compliant accessible PDF files

Learn more at the Adobe Accessibility Resource Center.