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TiredOfPro
Participant
January 28, 2026
Question

Acrobat force Upgrading to Pro on re-install

  • January 28, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 56 views

My client initiated a trial of Acrobat Pro, adding their credit details. They then wanted to cancel and revert to the free version. The app on re-install immediately starts “Upgrading key features” and cannot be opened again without logging into a licenced account. On start-up of the app it would prompt to open the browser to authenticate but didn’t do so.

  • I have tried uninstalling with Revo uninstaller, Creative Cloud Cleaner tool, AcroCleaner, and running all 3 in different orders.
  • Manually clearing all registry entries I could find.
  • Deleting all possible files containing Acrobat or Adobe in the name via a file indexer.
  • Logged back into his Adobe account in browser to see the trial had been re-enabled without his consent and was about to expire and start billing him.
  • Cancelled the trial again, deactivated the device via account management, deleted all cookies/cache for Adobe websites, re-installed Chrome after clearing registry entries.
  • Installed Windows 11 32 bit version Acrobat.
  • Added registry entries in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown\cServices for bUpdater, bUpdateToSingleApp, bAcroSuppressUpsell

Another local profile does not does not prompt to authenticate or Upgrade key features. As soon as his profile opens Adobe it starts “Upgrading”.

Is there anything I can do short of Windows profile re-creation or Clean Windows install?

[Moved to Acrobat Reader by moderator authority]

1 reply

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 28, 2026

are you the admin of a teams or enterprise subscription?

TiredOfPro
Participant
January 29, 2026

Unfortunately not. Just assisting a single user who started the trial, and now can’t revert to the free version

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 29, 2026

they should use the acrobat cleaner.

 

p.s. you should be posting this in the acrobat reader forum.