Adobe Express Photos June auto-install for certain Windows Acrobat auto-update users starting June 2026 — opt out instructions

Applies to: Windows · Acrobat Studio or Acrobat Express · Auto-update enabled

Starting early June 2026, Adobe Express Photos will install automatically on Windows devices for certain enterprise Acrobat users with auto-update enabled.

Adobe Express Photos is a lightweight Windows desktop app that gives end users two everyday creative tools in one install: essential photo editing and a built-in screenshot tool for capturing and annotating their screen. It also integrates with Adobe Express for users who need more advanced design capabilities. Learn more about Adobe Express Photos.

To prevent installation, you must opt out by following the steps below.

Who is affected

Automatic installation applies to users who meet all of the following:

• Using Windows
• Assigned an Acrobat Studio or Acrobat Express offer
• Has Acrobat auto-update enabled

Opt out of automatic installation

To prevent Adobe Express Photos from installing through Acrobat updates, set the following registry key on the target machines before the next Acrobat auto-update:

Key:   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown 
Value: bDisableHarmonyInstallationFeature 
Type:  REG_DWORD 
Data:  00000001

This key instructs Acrobat's update mechanism to skip the Adobe Express Photos installation step. Without it, the app installs automatically on the next Acrobat update cycle.

Uninstall and prevent reinstallation

If Adobe Express Photos is already installed, follow both steps:

Step 1: Uninstall the app. Remove Adobe Express Photos using your enterprise software management tools, or through Windows Apps & features.

Step 2: Prevent reinstallation. Apply the registry key above to block reinstallation during future Acrobat updates. Without this setting, the app will be reinstalled automatically on the next update cycle.

Will all existing Acrobat users automatically receive Adobe Express Photos?

Existing Acrobat users don't automatically have access to Adobe Express Photos today. For organizations that have purchased Acrobat Studio or Acrobat Express, there are two ways users can receive it:

• Admin-managed deployment. Administrators can deploy an Acrobat package that includes Adobe Express Photos to any Windows user in the organization, regardless of which Acrobat product each user is assigned (Studio, Express, Pro, or Standard), using the same packaging and distribution methods used for Acrobat through the Admin Console and enterprise management tools. Learn more.
• Auto-install starting early June. As described above, Adobe Express Photos will auto-install with an Acrobat update for Windows users assigned Acrobat Studio or Acrobat Express. Admins who don't want this can opt out using the instructions above.

Auto-install does not apply to users assigned Acrobat Pro, Acrobat Standard, or other Acrobat offers, even if they are part of an organization that has purchased Acrobat Studio or Acrobat Express. For these users, administrators can still make Adobe Express Photos available through admin-managed deployment.

For deployment details, supported configurations, and troubleshooting, see the Adobe Express Photos FAQs for Administrators.

Questions or issues with the rollout? Drop them in this thread - the team is reading.

Quick Links

• Adobe Express Photos overview
• Questions? Adobe Express Photos FAQs for administrators
• Packaging Apps via Admin Console

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