For the majority of Windows users, Adobe Acrobat is the go-to PDF viewer. It's easy to use, a great tool for creating PDFs, and you can edit, print, and allow others to access your collection.
The software, however, sometimes acts up like any other app, so you may experience a variety of problems while using it. A common issue is when Adobe Acrobat Reader DC won't open PDF files. As such, here are six fixes you can try to fix Adobe Acrobat Reader DC not being able to open PDF files.
Before We Get Started...
Before implementing any of the fixes, make sure the problem isn't occurring only with one PDF. Check any other file in the software. If all other files work fine, redownload the PDF or recall it from the source you got it from earlier.
Also, check if the issue is related to a specific folder location, as file path problems can sometimes prevent PDFs from opening. If you're having trouble with PDFs in a particular folder, try moving the file to a different location with a simpler path and shorter filename without special characters.
When you are unable to open any of the PDF files, you can proceed to the below fixes.
1. Close Background Processes and Give Adobe a Fresh Start
Many processes continue to run in the background even after we close the program. It means that closing and reopening Adobe Acrobat without closing these processes won't count as a fresh start. Therefore, you must close all associated processes in the Task Manager before closing the main program and reopening it. Follow the below steps to do so:
Right-click on the Windows Start button and select Task Manager.
Find processes related to Adobe Acrobat.
To end the process, right-click on it and select End task.
Close all relevant tasks one by one, then close the main program. Once everything is closed, open the PDF again using Adobe Acrobat. If the issue is not resolved, start implementing the following fixes.
2. Run Adobe Acrobat as an Administrator
Whenever you run an app as an administrator, it has full access to all files of your operating system that would otherwise be restricted. As such, the first fix you should try is to run Adobe Acrobat Reader as an administrator. If Windows is stopping Adobe from opening PDF files due to missing or corrupted permissions, running it as administrator will fix the issue.
You can run Adobe Acrobat as an administrator by simply left-clicking on the icon and tapping Run as administrator.
If the software is working well now and opening PDFs normally, consider making this setting the default for Adobe Acrobat. Follow these steps to configure Adobe to run as an administrator by default:
Right-click on the Adobe shortcut and go to Properties.
Navigate to the Shortcut tab in the Properties window.
Tap on Advanced.
Check the box for Run as administrator and hit OK.
Note: Giving administrator privileges to programs that aren't backed by trusted sources can be dangerous. Always be careful of which programs you grant administrative rights to.
3. Run Adobe Acrobat in Compatibility Mode
With the Windows compatibility mode, older versions of Windows can be used as operating systems. There might be some programs that work better with an older version of Windows than an updated one.
If you are using an Adobe version that is not compatible with the current version of Windows, run it in compatibility mode. To do so, follow these steps:
Right-click on the Adobe Acrobat shortcut and go to Properties.
Navigate to the Compatibility tab in the Properties window.
Check the box for Compatibility mode.
Choose any older Windows version from the available options.
Tap on Apply and hit OK.
If compatibility were the problem, Adobe would begin opening PDF as usual. If not, make sure you turn off compatibility mode before implementing the rest of the fixes on this list.
4. Disable Protected Mode
Protected Mode is a security feature introduced in Reader 10.0 that protects users from viruses and attacks. This is a good thing for your security, but it sometimes misinterprets files as malicious and doesn't open them correctly.
As such, you can try temporarily turning off this mode to see if it's preventing the software from opening PDFs. Here's how to do it:
Press Win + R to open the Run command.
Type Regedit and tap Enter to open Registry Editor.
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Paste the following address into the Registry Editor.
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown -
Right-click and navigate to New > DWORD Value.
Rename the file to "bProtectedMode."
Right-click the file and tap on Modify.
Change data value to 0 to disable Protected Mode.
Run the PDF file again with Protected Mode off. Keep Protected Mode off if everything works well this time instead of having to turn it on/off many times throughout the day. Of course, this will compromise your security, so it's up to you to decide if it's worth keeping off!
5. Repair and Update Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
In the presence of Potentially Unwanted Programs, some of the files of software and apps can get corrupted. Corrupted files cause Adobe Acrobat to malfunction. The common issues are improper file saving, crashing issues, and software not properly loading all PDFs.
To make sure this isn't an issue, repair Adobe Acrobat once. This will repair any corrupt files and reinstall any missing files.
To repair Adobe Acrobat, follow these steps:
Open Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
Navigate to the Help tab.
Tap on Repair Installation.
If the problem persists after repairing the software, check for any available updates. An outdated version of Adobe Acrobat can also lead to such a problem.
To do that, open Adobe Acrobat and navigate to Help > Check for Updates. Adobe will take some time to check for updates, and you can update to the latest version if it is available.
In case none of the fixes work, you can reinstall the software.
6. Reinstall the Software
Before you reinstall the software, uninstall it and delete any of the associated system files that might still be lurking inside your computer.
To do this, go to Control Panel > Programs and Features. Once you have located Adobe Acrobat DC, right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
Remove the associated system files by going to the below address on your computer and deleting each file.
C:\Users\<add your username here>\AppData\Local\Adobe\AcrobatNext, you'll need to reinstall the latest Adobe version from Adobe's website.
Consider switching back to Adobe Acrobat's older version if you are still having trouble even after reinstalling.
7. Roll Back to an Older Version of Adobe Acrobat
When a new version of software comes out, it often brings tons of unexpected issues. You can always revert to an older version of Adobe that isn't working correctly after an update. But before you do that, make sure you properly uninstall it.
Once you're done uninstalling Acrobat, it's time to download an older version to see if that fixes your problem. Adobe lets you roll back your copy of Acrobat, and you can use third-party websites that host some older files; however, make sure the source is legit before downloading.
8. Troubleshoot Plugin and Add-in Issues
Incompatible or outdated plugins and add-ins are common causes of Adobe Acrobat crashing or failing to open PDF files. This is particularly problematic in remote desktop environments or when using specialized add-ins.
If you suspect a plugin issue is causing your problem, try these troubleshooting steps:
Check the plugins folder and remove any potentially conflicting plugins, such as the CCH PFX Plugin
Temporarily disable all add-ins by moving them out of the plugins folder
Test opening Adobe Acrobat to see if it works without the plugins
If it works, selectively re-add plugins one by one to identify the problematic one
Check for plugin updates or compatibility with your specific Adobe version
Remove or update any incompatible plugins (common culprits include CCH PFX Addin)
If you encounter an "unexpected error initializing the plug-in" message, this is a clear indication that a plugin compatibility issue is causing your problem.
If Adobe add-ins have suddenly disappeared from your application, try restarting the Adobe application first, as this often resolves the issue. If the problem persists, check your application settings to ensure add-ins are enabled, or contact your IT support for further assistance.
9. Troubleshoot Display Issues with PDFs
If your PDF files are not opening correctly or are displaying as Chrome HTML files, this could be due to corrupted Adobe files or plugin issues. To fix these display problems, try the following steps:
Check your Adobe settings and ensure it's set as the default PDF viewer
Clear your browser cache and cookies if you're opening PDFs from the web
Verify that all necessary Adobe plugins are properly installed
Verify that the PDF file itself is not corrupted
10. Address Slow Performance Issues
If Adobe Acrobat is taking a long time to open PDFs or becoming unresponsive, several factors could be causing the problem:
High computer uptime - Try restarting your computer if you haven't done so in a while
Insufficient system resources - Check your computer's RAM (low memory can cause significant slowdowns, especially with large PDF files)
Outdated software - Ensure both Windows and Adobe Acrobat are updated to the latest versions
Configuration issues - Review Adobe Acrobat preferences, particularly in the Security (Enhanced) settings
Add-in conflicts - Pop-up messages when opening Adobe often indicate add-in conflicts that need resolution
For optimal performance, ensure your computer meets or exceeds Adobe's recommended system requirements. If you're working in a professional environment, 32GB of RAM is ideal for handling large PDF files efficiently.
11. Run a Malware Scan
If none of the fixes have worked, ensure the hidden malware is not interrupting the program's operation. You can only do that by running a malware scan. There are several ways to perform a security check in Windows, but we recommend using Windows Defender Offline scan, which is easy to use and free.
Open PDF With Ease in Adobe Acrobat
If you have followed the fixes mentioned above, Adobe Acrobat should be able to open your PDFs again. If it doesn't work, don't worry! There are hundreds of other PDF viewers available. While the list is endless, we recommend you try PDFescape. In addition to being trendy, it is also considered one of the best alternatives to Adobe Acrobat.
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