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MacUserSince96
Participating Frequently
September 5, 2025
Answered

Hide the “welcome” screen?

  • September 5, 2025
  • 15 replies
  • 1108 views

I have installed Adobe acrobat reader on my Mac. When no PDF files are open, I see it automatically opens a “welcome” screen, the default page being the Recent tab. This tab contains advertisements which I don’t like so I would like to hide this tab or perhaps the whole default screen When acrobat reader launches. Can I find a setting to do that in the preferences?

 

Architecture: x86_64

Processor: Intel

Build: 25.1.20643.0

AGM: 7.1.17

CoolType: 10.0.7

JP2K: 4.0.2.54782

Correct answer creative explorer

@MacUserSince96 Totally! On a Mac, you can typically find this by going to Acrobat Reader > Preferences in the menu bar. From there, navigate to the General category and uncheck the box next to this option. By doing so, you prevent the application from defaulting to the home screen with its "Recent" tab and advertisements. Instead, when you launch the application without opening a specific PDF, the main application window will be a blank, document-less interface. I do this when I work at client offices with my MacBook... I don't want them to see what else I am working on either! 

 

15 replies

tracyDbryant
Participant
August 11, 2026

The Home Screen does not hide even when the “Show Home screen when all documents are closed” box is not checked. Please fix it. It is very disruptive to workflows.

Version 206.001.21771

 

Anand Sri Bhattacharya
Community Manager
Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
Community Manager
August 11, 2026

Hello ​@tracyDbryant 

 

I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out. We’re sorry for the trouble you had.

 

Could you please share more about the issue? Are you on a Mac or Windows machine, and what is the version?

What happens when you select the preferences settings? Can you please share a screenshot?

 

For testing purposes, please turn off the Enhanced security options from the preferences window, go to Acrobat > Preferences > Security enhanced, turn off the security settings, click ok, restart the app, and the machine.

Please enable the security settings after the test.

 

Also, can you please collect the logs from the affected machine and share them with us along with the log ID? To collect the logs, please refer to this article: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-diagnostics.html

 

Please reach out with your observations and for any help.

Regards,

Anand Sri.

 

    jth53163761
    Participant
    July 10, 2026

    I, too, will claim insanity as I try, repeatedly, to STOP the Adobe Reader for Mac from opening on a Home Page. It’s so disruptive to my mind/work flow! I promise - I’m signed in, using the latest version (.21662) & don’t have the “Show Home” preference checked. Come on, Dad - give a kid a break! Show me how, or FIX IT!

      rachaelt10226357
      rachaelt10226357
      Participant
      June 9, 2026

      THIS DOES NOT WORK! Can someone please suggest a way to get of the home screen, I don’t need it at all. Or a script I can run, anything.

        leo.r
        Community Expert
        leo.rCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        June 9, 2026

        Sadly, cannot be done.

          Supergraphic
          Supergraphic
          Inspiring
          May 12, 2026

          I don’t want to see ANY Acrobat screen. Just give me an option to remove this who tool space thing. See my screen shot  - I have unchecked the “right references” and I still have this wackado Acrobat background. I don’t want ads, I don’t want recommended tools, I don't want inspired spaces, I don’t want a side bar full of easy tools. Can anyone tell me how to turn this thing off?

           

          leo.r
          Community Expert
          leo.rCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          May 12, 2026

          There’s no way to disable the screen entirely. But you can disable the “new Acrobat” (under the View menu) to at least get rid of inspired spaces.

          creative explorer
          Community Expert
          creative explorerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
          Community Expert
          September 7, 2025

          @MacUserSince96 Totally! On a Mac, you can typically find this by going to Acrobat Reader > Preferences in the menu bar. From there, navigate to the General category and uncheck the box next to this option. By doing so, you prevent the application from defaulting to the home screen with its "Recent" tab and advertisements. Instead, when you launch the application without opening a specific PDF, the main application window will be a blank, document-less interface. I do this when I work at client offices with my MacBook... I don't want them to see what else I am working on either! 

           

          m
          troyjack
          troyjack
          Inspiring
          October 8, 2025

          Hi @creative explorer  This no longer seems to be working... I've always left that box unticked, but today Acrobat seems to be ignoring this preference and continues to show the Home Screen when documents are closed. Is there another setting somewhere that could be affecting this?
          Processor: Apple M1 Max

          Build: 25.1.20756.0

            creative explorer
            Community Expert
            creative explorerCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            October 10, 2025

            @troyjack  Years ago, the golden rule was to always set your global preferences before opening any documents. I'd make the changes, close the application, and then relaunch it to ensure the new settings took full effect. Otherwise, changing preferences with a document open meant they were only applied to that specific file.

             

             




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