Participating Frequently

Answered

All PDFs don't open. I have Adobe Acrobat and account is active. Adobe not running in the background. Clean reinstallation done.

Forum|Forum|2 days ago
September 27, 2026
10 replies
47 views

All of my PDF documents won’t open.

I use Mac. When I go to the Adobe account online, my account is active. Checked System Settings and Adobe is not running in the background. This happened about a month ago also but when I uninstalled Creative Cloud and Acrobat, then reinstalled them, the problem was solved, but with “Background Items Added” notification coming up every time I open my laptop.

Then a month later, 2 days ago, PDF stopped opening again.

I did the Command+Shift+G, then Library/Launch, delete some of the plst files. Uninstalled Creative Cloud and Acrobat. Ran Adobe Cleaner Tool, Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool. Reinstalled Acrobat, which automatically reinstalled Creative Cloud too. Nothing worked.

When I shut down my laptop and restart, then try to open a PDF file, it shows “Verifying Adobe Acrobat” window with a bar run from left to right very quickly, then it goes away. But the PDF won’t open.

I need to work on PDFs every day basis and it is very inconvenient.

Correct answer Randy Hagan

How many Creative Cloud apps have you got installed besides Acrobat on your system?

Also, if you have a M1 chip, you should be able to install the latest operating system, currently MacOS 26.6.x. Is there any particular reason why you’re still running on MacOS 13 Ventura? Do you have any software that requires you run on the older operating system? Because if not, that will cure a bunch of the compatibility ills you seem to be having.

I suspect that if you run on the latest software, straight across the board, life would be easier for you.

Hope this helps,

Randy

S

Sayaka35607202crmoAuthor

Participating Frequently

Randy thank you so much! I upgraded the OS and Adobe is now working!!! Also your suggestion about the Acrobat only option will help me a lot. I really appreciate your help, thank you!

Saya

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

I am very glad for you! I know you’ve been through it.

Can I ask a favor of you? Could you please mark that last post I made for you as the “Best Answer” that works for you? That alerts the moderators to categorize it so it shows up in the Bold List of answered problems for folks who have similar problems. With luck, we can get other folks past this issue if they have it themselves.

And if you have problems in the future, don’t hesitate to come back here and sound the alarm. There are lots of sharp folks around here who can lend a hand.

Again, I’m very glad you’re past your problems.

Randy

S

Sayaka35607202crmoAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thank you so much, Randy!

I followed your steps --

Uninstalled Creative Cloud, uninstalled Adobe Acrobat, then run Creative Cloud Cleaner (there were two files, “Adobe ID Credentials” and “Fix Host File”. “Fix Host File” never went away).

Then shut down, restarted, and installed Adobe Reader. However, even I downloaded the Reader, it installed Adobe Acrobat DC automatically. I thought it is because I was still logged in to Adobe.com.

So I uninstalled that Adobe Acrobat, ran the CC Cleaner again, restarted, and made sure I’m signed out from Adobe.com before I installed the Adobe Reader this time.

But when I checked, it did install the Adobe Acrobat DC again… And PDF files won’t open.

Your info about releasing the CC2026 makes total sense. It was sometime between August 28th and September 3rd when I started having a problem.

I wonder where to find the CC2025. Probably downloading the CC2025 and somehow stop letting it automatically update is the best solution.

By the way my MacBook Air only says “Apple M1” under the Chip and Memory is 8GB.

I really appreciate your help.

Saya

Randy Hagan

Correct answer

Community Expert

How many Creative Cloud apps have you got installed besides Acrobat on your system?

Also, if you have a M1 chip, you should be able to install the latest operating system, currently MacOS 26.6.x. Is there any particular reason why you’re still running on MacOS 13 Ventura? Do you have any software that requires you run on the older operating system? Because if not, that will cure a bunch of the compatibility ills you seem to be having.

I suspect that if you run on the latest software, straight across the board, life would be easier for you.

Hope this helps,

Randy

S

Sayaka35607202crmoAuthor

Participating Frequently

I will update right now. I was not aware that my OS is that old. The only Creative Cloud app I’ve installed is Acrobat Pro.

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

What type of Mac, with what operating system are you using?
What version and type of Acrobat (Reader/Standard/Pro/Studio/Premium, etc.) are you using?
Is Acrobat set to be the default application for opening your PDFs?
Can you open those PDFs in the Preview application for your MacOS?

Answers to these questions will help us help you get past your issues. Please supply these answers and we can help you try to get things fixed the way you like them.

Randy

S

Sayaka35607202crmoAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hello! Thank you for your reply!

What type of Mac, with what operating system are you using?

It is MacBook Air, and OS is Ventura 13.1

What version and type of Acrobat (Reader/Standard/Pro/Studio/Premium, etc.) are you using?

My account says my plan includes Acrobat Pro

Is Acrobat set to be the default application for opening your PDFs?

Yes

Can you open those PDFs in the Preview application for your MacOS?

Yes. When I uninstalled Adobe and Creative Cloud, those PDFs open straight with Preview. But now that Acrobat is reinstalled, I need to “Open With” Preview to open it with Preview. “Open With” Acrobat won’t open anything.

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

OK.

Acrobat DC Pro is compatible with MacOS 13 Ventura. But Creative Cloud 2026 is not officially supported, and there are several reported issues with CC 2026 applications. CC 2025 are not officially supported by Adobe on Ventura either. Adobe will tell you they should work, but you’re on your own. You’ve deleted/used CC Cleaner Tool/reinstalled Creative Cloud 2026, and Acrobat is still not working for you. But Apple Preview is, whether Acrobat is installed or not.

You’re running on a MacBook Air. Does it have an Intel processor or it using an M-series silicon chip? If it’s running Intel, what model is it? If that Intel MacBook Air is running 16GB of RAM you’re at the practical minimum for running Creative Cloud. If you’re running the stated minimum of 8GB you’re really at the absolute lower edge and will have more problems with Creative Cloud. Running less? You’re really pushing your luck. You likely already know, if it’s an Intel chip, that you’re on the verge of obsolescence with Creative Cloud as well as Apple. So time is short to set yourself up for the long haul.

Let’s start with troubleshooting your Acrobat setup first:

That involves uninstalling/using the Creative Cloud Cleaner tool again. I know that stinks, but we’ve got to do it to test.

Install the free Adobe Reader application and nothing from Creative Cloud. After installing Adobe Reader, can you open PDF files in Reader? If so, we’re ready for the next step. If not, the next course of action is further below.
Install Acrobat DC Pro. In and of itself, the latest version of Acrobat DC Pro is reportedly still compatible with MacOS 13. But that’s not guaranteed, and Adobe may not support it on Ventura. Working with Acrobat DC Pro alone installed, can you open PDF files? If so, we’ll go on to the next step. If not, and it did work with Adobe Reader, we have a fallback position — not a great one, but a probable one.

If things are working with Acrobat now, let me know. If they’re not, let me know if they didn’t work with the second step or either step. we can go on from there. But time is short for making what will essentially be the final call for running Creative Cloud and your system.

Whether Acrobat is working or not, you may want to consider falling back to installing older versions of CC applications across the board. Most all CC 2026 apps were updated in the last month or two. That’s the timeframe when your Acrobat stopped working, and you’re likely going to have about one more month where you can get previous versions of the software. Adobe MAX will be in about a month, and the company will doubtless introduce a new version of Creative Cloud. You may not be able to install a previous version of CC at all that could work for you after that.

But let’s focus first on getting you past your immediate Acrobat issues. Let me know results for the first two tests listed above, and we’ll try to go on from there.

Good luck,

Randy

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.