Adobe Acrobat Reader on Mac is free software for viewing, searching, annotating, filling, signing, and printing PDFs. It can add comments and marks, but it cannot permanently change text or images already in a PDF; for that, Adobe directs users to Acrobat. Here’s how to install Reader, work with documents and forms, and check Mac compatibility.
Get Reader and check whether your Mac is supported
Download the desktop app from Adobe’s Acrobat Reader download page. Adobe’s download page lets you select a language, operating system, and connection speed. Follow the prompts shown there, since installer screens can change.
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Adobe’s system requirements page, last updated June 22, 2026, lists Intel or M1 processors and macOS 12, 13, 14, or 15. It also lists 2 GB RAM, 380 MB available disk space, and a 1024×768 display resolution. Check the current system requirements before installing; supported macOS versions can change.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf you have an older Reader release, check for an update in the app via Help > Check for updates and follow the on-screen instructions. Adobe says Reader releases from before August 2019, Reader 2017, and Reader 2015 cannot be licensed on macOS 10.15 Catalina or later.
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Open, read, search, and print a PDF
Open a PDF in Reader from Finder, or use Reader’s file-opening controls to select it. Reader is Adobe’s free desktop app for viewing PDFs; it also supports searching, sharing, printing, signing, and annotations. Adobe’s Acrobat Reader Help center links to troubleshooting for documents that will not open, printing, and updates.
To print a document, choose File > Print, select the printer and other options in the macOS print dialog, then print. For a form, see the print options below to control whether comments or only form entries appear.
Annotate a PDF without changing its original content
Reader lets you mark up a document with sticky notes, typed text, highlights, underlining, strikethrough, and freehand drawing. Use these features for comments or reading marks; they do not permanently rewrite the PDF’s existing text or images.
Adobe states, “You cannot make permanent changes to text or images inside PDF files using Acrobat Reader.” If you need to revise the underlying text or images, Adobe identifies Acrobat as the product for that job. See Adobe’s Acrobat Reader FAQs for the distinction.
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- Create and edit PDFs. Collaborate with ease. E-sign documents and collect signatures. Get everything done in one app, wherever you go.
- Edit text and images without jumping to another app.
- E-sign documents or request e-signatures on any device. Recipients don’t need to log in to e-sign.
- Convert PDFs to editable Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents.
- Share PDFs for collaboration. Commenting features make it easy for reviewers to comment, mark up, and annotate.
Fill in, sign, and save a PDF form
Fill an interactive form
An interactive form has selectable fields. Click a field and type; use Tab to move to the next field or Shift+Tab to return to the previous one.
Fill a flat form
A flat form has no interactive fields. Use Fill & Sign to place text or other symbols where they belong on the page. Adobe documents both form workflows in its Fill and sign forms help.
Add a signature and save a copy
Adobe says Reader can add a signature by typing or drawing it, or by using an image. Adobe’s FAQ also notes limits on free signature requests; check its current terms if you need to request signatures from other people.
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When you finish, choose File > Save As on macOS and give the completed form a new filename. Saving under a new name keeps the original form separate from your filled-in copy.
Choose what appears on a printed form
In File > Print, use the Comments and Forms options to select what to print:
- Document: the form and typed entries.
- Document And Markups: the form, entries, and comments.
- Form Fields Only: only entries in an interactive form.
These choices are documented in Adobe’s form help.
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Use Reflow and accessibility features
Reflow displays text in a single column, which can reduce horizontal scrolling when reading. It is not a print or editing mode: Adobe says you cannot save, edit, or print while Reflow view is active. Some content may also appear differently or be omitted, including forms, comments, digital signature fields, and page artifacts; pages that mix readable text with form or signature fields may not reflow.
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