Skip to main content
P
peobjorn
Participant
December 11, 2018
Answered

Compatibility with future OS

  • December 11, 2018
  • 1 reply
  • 794 views

I suddenly get this message when starting Acrobat XI, vers. 11.0.23: "This software will not work with future versions of MacOS and has to be upgraded to improve compatibility. Contact the developer for further information.” I’m on Mac OS 10.14.1. Why isn't this taken care of through the automatic Acrobat upgrade function? How do I contact the developer - this is the only contact route I find? What am I supposed to do?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Dov Isaacs

Very simple. Apple is discontinuing support for 32-bit applications going forward. Acrobat 11 was a 32-bit application in the newest MacOS versions. When released in 2015 (nearly four years ago), Acrobat DC was updated to be a 64-bit. There is no “automatic upgrade” from the 32-bit Acrobat 11 to any version of Acrobat DC, now 64-bit on MacOS.

You will need to either license Acrobat DC 2017 (perpetual version) or Acrobat DC subscription where you pay monthly, but all updates / upgrades to meet OS changes and to provide new features are provided at no extra cost.

Regrettably, you need to assume, especially with MacOS but increasingly with Windows as well, that an OS upgrade (including buying a new computer that only works with a new OS version) may require new application software versions as well due to the operating systems not maintaining backwards application compatibility.

          - Dov

1 reply

Dov Isaacs
Dov IsaacsCorrect answer
Legend
December 11, 2018

Very simple. Apple is discontinuing support for 32-bit applications going forward. Acrobat 11 was a 32-bit application in the newest MacOS versions. When released in 2015 (nearly four years ago), Acrobat DC was updated to be a 64-bit. There is no “automatic upgrade” from the 32-bit Acrobat 11 to any version of Acrobat DC, now 64-bit on MacOS.

You will need to either license Acrobat DC 2017 (perpetual version) or Acrobat DC subscription where you pay monthly, but all updates / upgrades to meet OS changes and to provide new features are provided at no extra cost.

Regrettably, you need to assume, especially with MacOS but increasingly with Windows as well, that an OS upgrade (including buying a new computer that only works with a new OS version) may require new application software versions as well due to the operating systems not maintaining backwards application compatibility.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
P
peobjornAuthor
Participant
December 13, 2018

Thanks for your answer. I’m aware of the procedure due to technical development. I only objected to being informed by an error message from my OS, and very late (Adobe tells me ”the servers have been shut down”). I would have expected that Adobe, whom I payed for the old version, should have told me as soon as this development was a fact, and offered me a discounted upgrade. I’m also shocked by how difficult it is to get in contact with Adobe - again, I’m a paying customer - and how utterly confusing their replies have been (you would not believe…).

What do you mean by ”at no extra cost” in your last paragraph? Will Acrobat DC be considered an upgrade to meet OS changes, so I will get it for free? If so, how do I proceed? Adobe is only providing me with the regular product page, as if I was a completely new customer,

Regards,

Pär

12 december 2018 kl. 00:26 skrev Dov Isaacs <forums_noreply@adobe.com>:

Compatibility with future OS

created by Dov Isaacs in Installing, Updating, & Subscribing to Acrobat - View the full discussion

Very simple. Apple is discontinuing support for 32-bit applications going forward. Acrobat 11 was a 32-bit application in the newest MacOS versions. When released in 2015 (nearly four years ago), Acrobat DC was updated to be a 64-bit. There is no “automatic upgrade” from the 32-bit Acrobat 11 to any version of Acrobat DC, now 64-bit on MacOS.

You will need to either license Acrobat DC 2017 (perpetual version) or Acrobat DC subscription where you pay monthly, but all updates / upgrades to meet OS changes and to provide new features are provided at no extra cost.

Regrettably, you need to assume, especially with MacOS but increasingly with Windows as well, that an OS upgrade (including buying a new computer that only works with a new OS version) may require new application software versions as well due to the operating systems not maintaining backwards application compatibility.

          - Dov

Dov Isaacs
Dov Isaacs
Legend
December 13, 2018

What I meant by “at no extra cost” is that with the subscription model, with OS changes and new features as well as with new hardware support, the updated code is included in the regular software updates that are included with the subscription. You don't pay anything beyond the monthly subscription cost.

It is also unreasonable to expect that Adobe knows when you upgrade your hardware or operating system and somehow proactively notify you that the software you are currently running may not run correctly or at all due to the calculated decisions of the operating system developer. Also, there is no free upgrade from Acrobat 11 to Acrobat DC (either to the perpetual license or the subscription). You must make the assumption that if you willingly accept an operating system upgrade or buy a new computer with a newer operating system version or hardware not supported in the past, that you will need a newer version of some or all of your applications. Again, the subscription model allows Adobe (and other software developers) to offer updates to support these environmental changes without running afoul of accounting regulations.

I don't know what you are referring to in terms of your claiming that Adobe told you that “the servers have been shut down.” No servers supporting Acrobat 11, the version you have, were shut down. The only servers that were decommissioned were those supporting activation of Acrobat 7 and 8 which aren't the subject of this discussion.

          - Dov

- Dov Isaacs, former Adobe Principal Scientist (April 30, 1990 - May 30, 2021)
Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices