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Question

Old PDF files revert back after cancelling subscription

Forum|Forum|7 months ago
July 8, 2025
3 replies
302 views

Hi, I have saved huge amounts of PDF's on my computer, but when I started the free trial, Adobe changed all of these icons to Adobe files. I want to cancel the subscription, but concerned about what happens to these files. Do they revert back to the PDF program on my computer had before the trial?

File sync

jane-e

Community Expert

when I started the free trial, Adobe changed all of these icons to Adobe files.
By @vanessa_9870

This was done by your OS and is called File Associations. When you double click in Finder or File Explorer, then the file opens in the application it is associated with (the most recent application that was installed.). You can always open the application first and choose File menu > Open.

File associations can be changed. You can find instructions in Microsoft help, macOS help, or Adobe Help:

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/file-associations-broken-uninstall-applications.html

Jane

Peru Bob

Community Expert

. Do they revert back to the PDF program on my computer had before the trial?

By @vanessa_9870

No.

You have to change the file associations:

https://www.google.com/search?q=windows+change+file+asociations&oq=windows+change+file+asociations&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIICAcQABgWGB4yCAgIEAAYFhgeMggICRAAGBYYHtIBCTEyMTkyajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Tarun Saini

Community Manager

Hi @vanessa_9870,

Thanks for reaching out! What is the name of the Adobe app you're using?

We're here to help; we just need some info.

Regards,

Tarun

V

vanessa_9870Author

Participant

I have Adobe Pro on the free trial. It just changed all my ole files over to adobe and worried when I cancel this trial these files are either deleted or I cannot open them again.

kglad

Community Expert

if you (re)saved in the new version, you may see a warning when opening in an older version, but you'll be able to open it. why don't you try it now?

and if you don't re-save with the new version, the file won't change. also, no local file are deleted when ending an adobe trial or subscription. ie, files you create are yours to keep.

otoh, saving a file using adobe's document cloud or other cloud services can cause issues:

What happens to my existing files when a trial/subscription ends:
You can continue to access your Creative Cloud files on your computer and the Creative Cloud website, subject to a 2-GB cloud storage limit. If you’re over the 2-GB cloud storage limit when you cancel, you have 30 days to move files out of cloud storage.

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