Skip to main content
A
Anais
Participant
July 20, 2026
Answered

Unable to make PDF/A

  • July 20, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 48 views

Hi!

We are unable to make a PDF/A. We follow the instructions: Open your PDF, navigate to All Tools > Apply PDF Standards, and click Save As PDF/A.

Then, there is a pop-up telling us some components are being installed. After a couple of minutes, we get another pop-up saying we need to install the components manually. When we click on install, it brings us on a page on Adobe that no longer seems to exist (404 error)

I tried to reinstall it completely and search which component I need to install but couldn’t find anything. 

See the following to see what we already tried. Thank you in advance for your help!

 

    Correct answer Anand Sri Bhattacharya

    Hello @Anais,


    I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out. We're sorry for the trouble you had.


    Could you please share more details about the issue?


    1. Which Acrobat version are you using: Acrobat Pro (Continuous) or Acrobat Classic (perpetual/2020/2023)?

    2. What is your OS (Windows/macOS), and are you on a managed corporate network (with firewall/security tools)?

    3. When you go to All Tools > Print Production > Preflight, do you get any prompt to install components there, or does it fail silently?

    4. Can you share the link that is giving a 404 error? Did you get the link within the app, or from the Google search?


    Suggestions:

    Please close Acrobat and other Adobe apps if in use. Restart the machine once. Go to the Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Adobe Acrobat > the three dots > Modify (choose Customize if prompted). In the installer, open Optional Features, find Preflight, and set it to "This feature, and all subfeatures, will be installed on local hard drive." Finish the installer and restart the computer, then try Save As PDF/A again. You can also refer to this link for more information: https://adobe.ly/4b2Z9sK


    Please note and confirm that you are on Acrobat Pro (Menu > Help > About Adobe Acrobat). Full PDF/A conversion via Preflight is a Pro feature; Acrobat Standard and Reader cannot do it.

    If your machines are on a managed/corporate network, the on-demand download may also be blocked by a firewall or proxy, which is a second reason it falls back to the broken link. Your IT team may need to allow Adobe's network endpoints. Installing Preflight locally via the steps above avoids that dependency entirely.


    Please try the suggestions, and let us know how it goes. And reach out if you need any assistance.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.


    3 replies

    A
    AnaisAuthor
    Participant
    July 21, 2026

    Hello,

    Thank you very much for your suggestion. I Have tried the first one and it is now working like a charm. Turns out we just forgot to install this precise feature. My head nearly exploded because of this problem.

    Thank you again and hope you have a great day ! 

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    July 21, 2026

    Hello!

     

    I am glad that the issue got fixed, and you are back on track. Please feel free to reach out if you need any assistance. Thanks for your cooperation on this.

     

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    July 21, 2026

    Hello @Anais,


    I hope you are doing well, and thanks for reaching out. We're sorry for the trouble you had.


    Could you please share more details about the issue?


    1. Which Acrobat version are you using: Acrobat Pro (Continuous) or Acrobat Classic (perpetual/2020/2023)?

    2. What is your OS (Windows/macOS), and are you on a managed corporate network (with firewall/security tools)?

    3. When you go to All Tools > Print Production > Preflight, do you get any prompt to install components there, or does it fail silently?

    4. Can you share the link that is giving a 404 error? Did you get the link within the app, or from the Google search?


    Suggestions:

    Please close Acrobat and other Adobe apps if in use. Restart the machine once. Go to the Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Adobe Acrobat > the three dots > Modify (choose Customize if prompted). In the installer, open Optional Features, find Preflight, and set it to "This feature, and all subfeatures, will be installed on local hard drive." Finish the installer and restart the computer, then try Save As PDF/A again. You can also refer to this link for more information: https://adobe.ly/4b2Z9sK


    Please note and confirm that you are on Acrobat Pro (Menu > Help > About Adobe Acrobat). Full PDF/A conversion via Preflight is a Pro feature; Acrobat Standard and Reader cannot do it.

    If your machines are on a managed/corporate network, the on-demand download may also be blocked by a firewall or proxy, which is a second reason it falls back to the broken link. Your IT team may need to allow Adobe's network endpoints. Installing Preflight locally via the steps above avoids that dependency entirely.


    Please try the suggestions, and let us know how it goes. And reach out if you need any assistance.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.


    Firefly Community Gallery
    Adobe Firefly

    Remix with Firefly Community Gallery

    Thousands of free creations to fall in love with and remix in Firefly.

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