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Joe42Adobe
Participant
Oct 21, 2026 12:02 AM UTC
Answered

Can't open Reader

I’ve been able to use Acrobat Reader fine for decades.  It’s currently on my Win 10 HP laptop, Win 11 Dell laptop & Win 11 HP Omen desktop.  The problem now is on the desktop.  When I try to open PDF docs they won’t open.  Then when I click on the shortcut for Acrobat the app opens & insists I rebuy Acrobat Pro.  Money’s too tight to mention these days so I tried just reinstalling the Reader thru both the Adobe website & the MS Store.  Neither worked; the .exe file was deleted on both occasions.  What the hell, man???!!!

    justlearn
    justlearnCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Oct 21, 2026 3:31 AM UTC

    ​@Joe42Adobe in addition to what ​@Manan Joshi suggested, I would also delete the shortcuts as that could be an old reference to a past trial or removed version. Always go back to original or in the Windows menu to create a new shortcut as well.

    Once you have uninstall Acrobat (both the Pro and Reader). Run Adobe Cleaner Tool to cleaning up any left over corrupt or old install files, https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html. Once that is done, delete the previous download that had Acrobat and empty your trash can or recycle bin.

    Then go and get Acrobat Reader: https://get.adobe.com/ca/reader only from Adobe website and not some third party website! 

    m
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    3 replies

    justlearn
    Community Expert
    justlearnCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Oct 21, 2026 3:31 AM UTC

    ​@Joe42Adobe in addition to what ​@Manan Joshi suggested, I would also delete the shortcuts as that could be an old reference to a past trial or removed version. Always go back to original or in the Windows menu to create a new shortcut as well.

    Once you have uninstall Acrobat (both the Pro and Reader). Run Adobe Cleaner Tool to cleaning up any left over corrupt or old install files, https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html. Once that is done, delete the previous download that had Acrobat and empty your trash can or recycle bin.

    Then go and get Acrobat Reader: https://get.adobe.com/ca/reader only from Adobe website and not some third party website! 

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    m
    Meenakshi Negi
    Community Manager
    Meenakshi NegiCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    Oct 21, 2026 10:37 AM UTC

    Hi Joe42Adobe,


    Thank you for reaching out, and sorry for the trouble caused.


    As mentioned, you have both Acrobat installed on the machine. If you are using the 64-bit version, it is not possible to install both Acrobat and Reader on the same machine, as they share a single installer. Please try to remove Acrobat and then install Reader. You can use the steps suggested below:

    Now try to open the PDFs.


    Let us know how it goes.


    Thanks,

    Meenakshi

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    Community Expert
    Manan JoshiCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 21, 2026 2:47 AM UTC

    Check out the following article if it helps

    https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/unable-to-launch-acrobat-on-windows.html

    Also you say Acrobat Pro is launched that means you have both reader and pro installed on this machine, right? I would say uninstall both and then reinstall only the reader and see if it helps.

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    -Manan
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