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Disable automatic update to 64 bit Reader DC

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Hi,

We've got some legacy software that is hard coded to run with the 32bit version of Reader DC. We're finding that our software is automatically upgrading itself to the 64bit version, which causes our legacy software to fail.

Is there any way to disable this automatic update? I've tried disabling the AdobeARMService, and it hasn't helped.

Thanks

General troubleshooting

A

amanguptCorrect answer

Adobe Employee

Hi @Laurel5E3D

You set the below registry

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown]
"bUpdateToSingleApp" Dword32 and set this to 0.

Setting this will ensure that only upgrade to 64 bit is disabled. Let me know if this works for you.

B

BeHaberman

Participating Frequently

This is an ongoing issue with dumb VPN laptops we deploy to WFH approved users. Adobe Reader is installed to the laptop image. It shows itself on the laptop user desktop as "Adobe Reader". Then at some point after the user takes the laptop home, Reader updates from x32 to x64, and swaps out the icon for a "Adobe Acrobat" icon instead. Just, why?

Because then the user sees this on their dumb terminal VPN laptop and thinks WE THE IT DEPT remote installed them sweet sweet Acrobat Pro and tries to go hog wild with it. Only it's not. And then they complain to mangement that WE THE IT DEPT lied to THEM about "Acrobat installed to their computer".

Acrobat Pro, when licensed to a user, IS installed to their office workstation. Never the VPN laptop.

Really, Adobe. Why you do this? Reader is Reader is Reader. Stop labeling Reader x64 as "Adobe Acrobat". Stop lying to your users.

Anyway, the GPO key fix works for our office workstations that don't have Acrobat Pro installed. But these VPN laptops aren't on the domain. And the local reg key fix on our VPN laptop image server? That's hit-or-miss. We really could use a permanent fix.

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T

Test Screen Name

Legend

I wonder if the user is clicking on an item like "Edit PDF" in Acrobat Reader. Or the "rotate pages" icon. Or whatever. This would cause an upgrade to a trial version of Acrobat, since this is the job of Reader...

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B

BeHaberman

Participating Frequently

I mean, yes, this happens a lot, with in office and WFH users. But the real point is that the "upgrade" from Reader x32 to x64 should not CHANGE the icon name, and that everybody gets frustrated at false advertising, and that IT dept's can't 100% prevent the "upgrade"!

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J

Jennie243907384c2q

Participant

Ideally need a fix to stop Adobe auto-updating to 64 bit

I have done the following to no avail trying to FORCE adobe to stay on 32 bit but automatically swaps to 64 bit:

Disabling and deleting the Adobe Acrobat Update Task in Task Scheduler
Disable the service “Adobe Acrobat Update Service” and ensure it doesn’t start-up
You need to amend the “Mode” DWORD record and change the value Data field from “3” to “0” Please find below the location of the Reg entry:

· Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Acrobat\{AC76BA86-1033-1033-7760-BC15014EA700}

The string of numbers on the end may differ.

This is impacting the program SLI that uses Adobe Reader 32 bit for Print. It is only designed to run with the 32-bit version of Adobe Reader there for a Fix is needed

Help appreciated

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Mozzeh73

Participating Frequently

These are the registry keys I use in my GPO and no Adobe installations have updated to x64 nor updated directly from the application since. (we use SCCM to deploy updates)

Windows - Computer - Adobe Reader Disable Updates

Computer Configuration (Enabled)

PropertiesHive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key path SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown
Value name bProtectedMode
Value type REG_DWORD
Value data 0x0 (0)

PropertiesHive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key path SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown
Value name bUpdater
Value type REG_DWORD
Value data 0x0 (0)

PropertiesHive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Key path SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown
Value name bUpdateToSingleApp
Value type REG_DWORD
Value data 0x0 (0)

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M

Michaelomm

Participating Frequently

This doesnt appear to work anymore. So far i have had 1 server do the update ignoring the registry entry that i have had in there for a month or two

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edv-km

Participant

I can confirm this... please fix it @amangupt

We need to urgent disable the x64 version as we have multiple problems on older clients while only viewing and on newer clients while printing.

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A

amangupt

Adobe Employee

@edv-km can you please share a screenshot of the registry so that we can check whether it is created correctly or not?

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D

defaultremyegvk6wut

Participant

dumb question since i am not an it guy. is the registery entry for Dword32 that says to enter "0," is that decimal or hexadecimal?

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Mozzeh73

Participating Frequently

Either, as long as the DWORD (32bit) is 0, but I always just use "Decimal" whe setting the value.

If you use GPO you can drag these (attachments) into the reg key to add the required keys, these will stop it changing to x64 edition and block the users from updating from within the application.
GPO - Computer Configuration\Preferences\Windows Settings\Registry
It will then look like this:

Thanks
Glenn

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Adobe_Feature_Lockdown_(x32).xml

Adobe_Update_Disabled.xml

Mozzeh73

Participating Frequently

Adobe_Updates_Disabled_(x64).xml

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Adobe_Updates_Disabled_(x64).xml

Mozzeh73

Participating Frequently

Likewise, I have spent days trying to work out how this has updated to x64, we lost functionality of "BlackIce PDF" which is very important to our line of work.

I have then used SCCM to deploy x32 back to devices, but we now have duel installation of x32 and x64.
If only Adobe made a MSI removal tool so we could undo their mistake!!

Thanks for the reg keys I have impimented these into GPO to stop any repeat, but Adobe should explain why this happened.

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L

Laurel5E3D

Participant

I need this too. I don't want to disable updates altogether, I just dont want to 'upgrade' to 64bit.

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A

amanguptCorrect answer

Adobe Employee

Hi @Laurel5E3D

You set the below registry

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown]
"bUpdateToSingleApp" Dword32 and set this to 0.

Setting this will ensure that only upgrade to 64 bit is disabled. Let me know if this works for you.

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Hall Computer5FB0

Participating Frequently

Thank you @amangupt

Why we had to have the last 3 weeks of pain, it would have been nice that all the RDS are going to auto break adobe. Without warning and then keep doing that unless the system has all updates turned off.

Fingers crossed

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