Tips for Acrobat PDFs: Part 5 – Title Bar Display

What to do when your PDF does not display its file name on the title bar? 

Some of you may have come across this issue – when you open a PDF file, the name showing on the title bar is different from its file name. For me, this happened when I made a copy of a PDF file (right-clicked on a PDF in File Explorer and made a copy) and renamed it. Verifying the file properties revealed that the document title of the original file was retained, and my PDF has a title that is different than its new file name (as shown in the screenshot below).  

Remember this: the document title of a PDF does not get changed automatically when you change the file name.  

A quick investigation of the Initial View tab also revealed that the file name of my PDF was not showing because my PDF was set to display its Document Title, as shown below.  

How do I make the PDF title match its file name? 

1. Open the PDF file in Acrobat. 
2. Select File>Properties.  
3. Select the Description tab to verify the title information. 
4. In the Title field, you can manually edit the document title to match the file name. 

How do I display the file name of a PDF on the title bar? 

1. Open the PDF file in Acrobat. 
2. Select File>Properties.  
3. Select the Initial View tab. 
4. In the Window Options section, select File Name from the Show drop-down list, as shown in the screenshot below. This way, the file name will be displayed on the title bar. 
   

How do I ensure that Acrobat will always display the file name for all my PDFs? 

To always display the file name on the title bar, follow these simple and easy steps:  

1. Open the PDF file in Acrobat. 
2. Select Edit>Preferences.  
3. From the Categories list, select Documents. Then, in the Open Settings section, select the Always use filename as document title checkbox (as shown below) and click OK to save the settings. 
   
   

This is a global setting and will take precedence over the individual display settings in a PDF file. However, this preference setting is applicable only when PDF files are viewed on your device. When you share the PDF with another user, any global display settings they have will take precedence over your PDF’s display settings. Therefore, if you want a PDF to display its file name regardless of a user’s preference settings, your best bet is to make the file name and document title match.  

About the Author

Technical Writer and Editor<br><br>Surya has been writing and editing technical content for over two decades in multiple industries. How do you transform complex technical content into an easy-to-understand document? Ask Surya - technical writing is her passion! She has been with ASCENT since 2018. She holds a master’s degree in English Literature, and a diploma in Journalism, and is a certified Technical Writer.

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