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Where can I find accurate information on how to deploy the current version of Acrobat Reader to multiple users with options pre configured. The information I can find seems out of date and doesnt seem to work

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I've only been able to find information relating to very old versions of reader and when applying this to the current version they don't seem to work. Ideally I need an msi to deploy, a gpo to manage settings and reference material to tell me how to use it. It should be simple, its not.

T

Tariq Ahmad DarCorrect answer

Community Manager

Hi @jfsimon13,

Adobe now offers unified installer for Acrobat and Reader - https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-unified-installer-windows-overview.html

You need to go through Adobe Acrobat ETK https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/AdminGuide/advancedconfig.html and read through it thoroughly you can turn off features and restrict the app. You can enable and disable services.

If you disable online services, digital signture like Adobe Sign wont work. You then have access to digital Signature with certificates.

If you have an Enterprise plan for Adobe Acrobat, you can create a support ticket through Admin console, and a dedicated Enterprise support team can assist you with package customization. Alternatively, you can get more details in Adobe Reader Community here: https://community.adobe.com/acrobat-reader-10

Thanks,

Tariq

J

jfsimon13Author

Participating Frequently

Of course I don't have an Enterprise plan. I'm not using Adobe products other than to read and sign pdf documents with a local PKI certificate. I don't need users confused by all the extras and marketing. I do need documentation that reflect reality. I need something like reader was about 10 years ago when it was a half decent product. Now it just a vehicle for Adobe self promotion. If only Edge could sign pdf’s as well as print and view them, Id be sorted,. Alas not!. Lets call this a day, thanks for your help.

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jfsimon13Author

Participating Frequently

SO nothing forthcoming then. Current version of reader is not suitable for use in a corporate environment.

o It installs and claims to be Acrobat

o It offers loads of confusing popups and prompts directing the user to unrequired Adobe centric software and options

o The documentation that is supposed to resolve the above is inaccurate and misleading.

I’d welcome any suggestions for a pdf reader that allows digital signing, can be installed using an msi and configured using gpo or registry settings and has documentation that actually describes how to achieve all that.

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A

AnkitVerma

Community Manager

Hi @jfsimon13,

Thank you for the detailed follow-up and we’re sorry for the trouble this has caused. You’re right that the file you tested is the installer meant for individual users, which is why it doesn’t extract or install silently. The latest Continuous release is now 26.002.22031, released on October 14.

Here’s how to deploy Reader silently with your settings pre-configured:

Get the enterprise installer. Apply for the free Reader Distribution License here, and you’ll receive an email with a link to the full offline installers: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader/volume-distribution.html
Extract the MSI. Run <installer name>.exe -sfx_o"C:\ReaderExtract" -sfx_ne to get the MSI and setup.ini.
Create your MST. Use the latest Acrobat Customization Wizard to suppress the EULA, disable upsell and disable product updates.
Update to the current version. Download AcroRdrDCx64Upd2600222031.msp (or the _MUI.msp for the MUI installer) from the release notes: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/continuous/dccontinuousoct2026qfe.html
Slipstream it into an Administrative Installation Point with msiexec /a <MSI> /p <MSP>, then assign it to computers through GPO with your MST.
Manage settings with GPO. The 64-bit Reader shares Acrobat’s registry, so use the Acrobat Continuous track ADMX template and set policies under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown. Examples written for the 32-bit Reader use the Acrobat Reader path instead. The template and GPO steps are here: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/DesktopDeployment/gpo.html

For a managed environment, these REG_DWORD settings run the app in Reader mode without sign-in and turn off in-product messages and upsell:

FeatureLockDown
  bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx = 1
  bAcroSuppressUpsell        = 1
FeatureLockDown\cIPM
  bShowMsgAtLaunch           = 0
  bDontShowMsgWhenViewingDoc = 0

The 64-bit app is a single Acrobat and Reader application, so the “Adobe Acrobat” name is expected. To confirm a machine is running as Reader, check that HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\Installer\SCAPackageLevel is set to 1. Reader also supports certificate-based digital signatures.

If you still see any prompts after this, please share a screenshot and the version from Help > About, and we’ll check it on our end.

Thanks,
^AV

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jfsimon13Author

Participating Frequently

I'm installing the registry setting using the customisation wizard and confirmed they are set on the client PC. However they have no effect. SHort after first launch I get

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jfsimon13Author

Participating Frequently

This is the kind of thing I am getting at. I've already located and looked at these resources. I think the download link is for a consumer version of Reader and is in-fact a stub for a downloader not the app install files themselves. It doesn't expand using 7zip to provide an msi or setup.exe or setup.ini as indicated in the ETK. When run it downloads and installs. When run it installs reader and then try's to install a photo editor, which fails, but I don't want anyway. The install needs user interaction to complete so would not be suitable for deployment to my users. When first run it open a web site offering a free 7 day trial. Again unsuitable for deployment in an enterprise. Reader itself offer several other trials that are not applicable in our situation. I need to be able to customise the install to remove all this. The ETK suggests its possible, but I cant see how.

The version of Reader installed is 26.002.21931.0. This is one version behind the current release which I believe is 26.002.21996.0 . I need to be able to install the current version, without having users update it themselves.

The program install itself as Adobe Acrobat. That will confuse users who are expecting Reader although Reader does indeed run. I need shortcuts etc to accurately name the product that has been installed.

Its very difficult to find specific examples in the ETK that refer to the 26. version of the products. All examples seem to be for much older versions.

I hope that sheds a bit more light on my issue.

regards

Fraser

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T

Tariq Ahmad Dar

Community Manager

Hi @jfsimon13,

You can go to this link: https://get.adobe.com/reader/ click on “More Download options”, and choose OS and language and follow on screen instructions.

~Tariq

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T

Tariq Ahmad Dar

Community Manager

Hi @jfsimon13,

Thanks for reaching out. You can download Reader from here: https://adobe.ly/3TxuONB
For customization and deployment, you can visit Adobe Acrobat ETK(Enterprise toolkit for Deployment): https://adobe.ly/4zw51Vi

Let us know if you have specific questions.

Thanks,
Tariq

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