Skip to main content
shayb68441784
Inspiring
September 19, 2026
Answered

Adobe Express Photos installing Via Acrobat

I went to print a screenshot today, and all of a sudden my Windows print screen key has been taken over by an app that I did not install “Adobe Express Photos”. From what I'm reading, it's automatically installed as part of an Acrobat update. That is infuriating. How could you do this, Adobe? As I search for answers here, I'm finding I have to go into my Windows registry to stop it. That's ridiculous. I'm not a computer programmer, and I shouldn't be messing around with my own registry to delete something that you guys are auto-installing. Please fix this behavior, Adobe. This is maddening, really horrific. Unwanted programs that auto-install themselves are typically considered to be viruses, aren't they? This is not the professional behavior I would expect from a company like Adobe. 

      CORCTON34033231
      CORCTON34033231Correct answer
      Community Expert
      September 22, 2026

      Hi — totally understand. If you'd rather not keep it at all, you can uninstall Adobe Express Photos just like any other Windows app: open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find "Adobe Express Photos", click the three dots next to it and choose Uninstall. That removes the app completely, so your Print Screen key will go back to whatever it did before.

      View reply

      7 replies

      social_kid1697
      Participant
      October 19, 2026

      Absolutely ridiculous that Adobe is acting like this is acceptable behavior and software design. It is a nuisance at absolute best, and the fact this was intentional is even worse. 

      Translate
      CORCTON34033231
      Community Expert
      CORCTON34033231Community Expert
      Community Expert
      September 25, 2026

      You're right to flag that. Since Express Photos is delivered through Acrobat's auto-update (per the FAQ linked above — there's no separate download; it arrives with Acrobat), a future Acrobat update can indeed bring it back. Uninstalling removes it for now; if it ever reappears after an Acrobat update, just uninstall it again the same way. If you'd rather control when updates install, in Acrobat go to Edit > Preferences > Updater and switch to "Automatically download updates, but let me choose when to install them."

      Translate
      shayb68441784Author
      Inspiring
      September 25, 2026

      Thanks, I understand how to uninstall a program. But from what I’ve read here in the forums, it will continue to reinstall itself with Acrobat updates. 

      Translate
      CORCTON34033231
      Community Expert
      CORCTON34033231Community Expert
      Community Expert
      September 23, 2026

      Just to make sure it didn't get missed: my first reply above has the full removal steps — you don't need to touch the registry at all. Uninstalling Adobe Express Photos via Settings > Apps > Installed apps removes the app completely, which also gives your Print Screen key back. The "revert" steps in my second reply are only for people who want to keep the app but restore their previous screenshot tool.

      Translate
      CORCTON34033231
      Community Expert
      CORCTON34033231Community ExpertCorrect answer
      Community Expert
      September 22, 2026

      Hi — totally understand. If you'd rather not keep it at all, you can uninstall Adobe Express Photos just like any other Windows app: open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, find "Adobe Express Photos", click the three dots next to it and choose Uninstall. That removes the app completely, so your Print Screen key will go back to whatever it did before.

      Translate
      CORCTON34033231
      Community Expert
      CORCTON34033231Community Expert
      Community Expert
      September 21, 2026

      Hi — this is expected behavior, and Adobe documents exactly how to undo it. Adobe Express Photos installs automatically on Windows devices for eligible Acrobat users with auto-update enabled, and it takes over the Print Screen / Win+Shift+S screenshot shortcuts.

       

      To switch back to your previous screenshot tool, the official Adobe Express Photos FAQ ("How do I switch back to my current screenshot tool?") gives these steps:

       

      Revert from Settings:

      1. Open Adobe Express Photos.

      2. Select your profile icon in the top-right corner.

      3. Select Settings.

      4. Select the Screenshot Shortcut toggle button to disable.

       

      Alternatively, press the PrtSc (Print Screen) key and select Revert to disable the Print Screen shortcut.

       

      Reference: https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/express-photos/desktop/get-started/faq.html (see the "Screenshot shortcut" section)

      Translate
      shayb68441784Author
      Inspiring
      September 21, 2026

      Thanks, I appreciate your response. What you're suggesting is to leave the unwanted software on my computer and to turn off the function that it pirated. I'm deeply concerned when a company installs unwanted software onto my computer without notice and/or permission. I'm even more concerned when my default Windows shortcut keys are altered by that software. I do not want this software on my PC and it should not have been installed. And I should not have to alter my registry to stop it from coming back! No means no. Imagine one day you hit the enter key on your computer and McAfee antivirus starts up. Wouldn't that make you insane? You might ask, “why is McAfee starting up? I never installed this? Why is my enter button triggering it?” This is no different. It's a shock to hit a button on your computer and a program you never knew existed fires up and takes over your computer.  

      Translate
        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices