Technology

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader is Adobe's free PDF application that allows users to view, print, comment on, fill out, and sign PDF documents. It is intended for users who only need to work with existing PDF files and do not require advanced PDF editing features.

Who Can Access Acrobat Reader?


Adobe Acrobat Reader is available by default to all Illinois State University faculty, staff, and students. It provides the tools needed to view, print, comment on, fill out, and sign PDF documents.

For more information about available Adobe licenses and determining which license best meets your needs, refer to: 

Which Adobe License do I need?


  • What Can I do with Adobe Acrobat Reader?

Adobe Acrobat Reader provides essential tools for working with PDF documents without modifying their underlying content.

  • View PDFs
    • Open all types of PDFs
    • Zoom, rotate, and adjust page view to see exactly what you want
    • Search for text within a document
    • Store documents securely with cloud storage
  • Fill Forms, Sign, & Share
    • Complete forms with fillable fields
    • Share documents as secure, viewable links
    • Add your signature or initials in just a few clicks
    • Protect files with controls that prevent unwanted edits
  • Collaborate
    • Add comments, sticky notes, highlights, and annotations
    • Share PDFs with a single link for easy access and collaboration
    • Collect feedback from multiple reviewers in a single file
    • Reply to comments and keep conversations moving forward
    • Get notified when others view or comment
    • Type directly on PDFs or draw with freehand tools

Adobe Acrobat Reader is designed for reading, reviewing, and completing PDF documents rather than creating or extensively editing them.


  • Adobe Acrobat Reader Features

Adobe Acrobat Reader includes several tools for reviewing and interacting with PDF documents.

Key features include:

  • View PDF documents
  • Print PDF documents
  • Search document text 
  • Fill and save PDF forms
  • Add comments and annotations
  • Highlight, underline, and strike through text
  • Add sticky notes and drawing markups
  • Electronically sign PDF documents
  • Share documents for review

  • Limitations of Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Acrobat Reader does not include many of the advanced features available in Adobe Acrobat Pro. Examples of features not included are:

  • Editing existing PDF text or images
  • Creating PDFs from multiple file formats
  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for scanned documents
  • Redacting sensitive information
  • Password protecting or encrypting PDF files
  • Creating or editing fillable PDF forms
  • Combining or reorganizing PDF pages

If your work requires these capabilities, request an Adobe Acrobat Pro License.

Illinois State University has acquired Foxit PDF Editor+ as our PDF Editing software, which is available to Illinois State University faculty, staff, and students.

For guidance on available Adobe licenses and determining which license best meets your needs, see Which Adobe License do I need?



Getting Started with Adobe Acrobat Reader


To  begin using Adobe Acrobat Reader:

  1. Download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader if it is not already installed on your computer.
    • Windows users can install Adobe Acrobat Reader from the Software Center. 
    • Mac users can install it using Self-Service.
  2. Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader from your desktop or Start menu.
  3. Open a PDF by:
    • Selecting File > Open, or
    • Double-clicking a PDF file in File Explorer.
  4. Use the available tools to:
    • View PDF documents.
    • Add comments and annotations
    • Complete forms and apply signatures.

How to Get Help

Technical assistance is available through the Illinois State University Technology Support Center at: