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fredric_7079
Participant
November 5, 2025
Question

Adobe Reader doesn't open where it was before when restarting computer

  • November 5, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 162 views

On my HP Spectre All-in-One laptop running Windows 11 Professional Edition 64 bit, when I start the laptop Adobe Reader does not open with pdfs where I left off.

I have Googled this issue and checked the boxes in Preferences, Documents "Restore last view settings when reopening documents" as well as under General where it says, "Open Pdfs from last session on Acrobat Launch" but it still does not open the pdfs where they were when I shut down the laptop.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled Adobe Reader as well. 

1 reply

creative explorer
Community Expert
creative explorerCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 6, 2025

@fredric_7079 Simply uninstalling through Windows Settings can sometimes leave corrupted configuration files (like those from previous versions), the most robust solution is to perform a clean installation using Adobe Cleaner, 
https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html

I would uninstall Adobe Reader with the Creative Cloud Desktop application to uninstall from your PC. After you have clean the old Adobe Reader with Adobe Cleaner, I would also manually delete the Adobe Reader Preferences that may survive the Adobe Cleaner. For Windows 11, Adobe Reader preferences are stored in the Windows Registry. Once you deleted it, make sure to empty the trash as well then restart your PC. 

 

Then use the Creative Cloud Desktop, app and this is crucial, download a fresh Adobe Reader, don't use the one you used in the past, that could be the issue and to reinstall the latest version of Adobe Reader. Don't worry, a new Adobe Reader preferences will be created. 

Go back to what you did with the Preferences "Documents "Restore last view settings when reopening documents" as well as under General where it says, "Open Pdfs from last session on Acrobat Launch" — and see if that solves the issue! 


m
F
fredric_7079Author
Participant
November 6, 2025

Thank you for your reply.

Can you please elaborate on what I need to do with:

"I would also manually delete the Adobe Reader Preferences that may survive the Adobe Cleaner. For Windows 11, Adobe Reader preferences are stored in the Windows Registry. Once you deleted it, make sure to empty the trash as well then restart your PC."

I do not know how to find that in the Registry nor know what I should do.

 

BTW, today before I saw your reply, I asked Google how to startup Adobe Reader.  It had me go to shell:startup and paste Adobe Reader shortcut from Desktop into it.  I restarted the laptop and it did launch Adobe where I had left off from 2 pdfs.  Is this an acceptable solution or in your opinion, should I try what you suggested above?

AnandSri
Community Manager
AnandSriCommunity Manager
Community Manager
November 11, 2025

Hello @fredric_7079

 

I hope you are doing well. Thank you for providing the detailed information about the steps you have tried.

 

++Adding to what our community product expert has already shared, adding Adobe Reader to the shell: startup forces the app to launch at Windows startup, so it reopens the last session if the “Open PDFs from last session” preference is enabled. This is an acceptable workaround and is safe to use if it meets your needs.

 

For information on deleting preferences in the Registry, please refer to this article: How to Reset Acrobat Preference Settings to Default. Also, use the Acrobat Cleaner tool to do a complete uninstallation. 

 

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

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