Acrobat Classic 2024 "Edit a PDF" tool - contact your IT admin

Report · Jul 26, 2025

Well, I am my own IT admin.

When I started using Adobe Acrobat 2020 today, a popup warned me that it was no longer supported and I needed to upgrade. I bought Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024, which lets me use Adobe Acrobat locally on the computer for three years. I uninstalled Adobe Acrobat 2020, downloaded Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024, and installed it. Now, I can't edit PDF files.

I am signed in to my adobe.com account, so I should be able to use all of the features, right?

Windows 11

Thanks for any suggestions.

Report · Jul 27, 2025

@bryan_8511 first of all, did you buy direct from Adobe themselves? I would make sure you are indeed log-in to the adobe account that you made your purchases. I have two separate accounts, one for work, and one for Adobe. I know, why two accounts (different story!);

Next, sometimes, after an upgrade, your system might still default to opening PDFs with Adobe Acrobat (which is primarily for viewing and commenting, not full editing) instead of your newly installed Acrobat Pro 2024. Right-click on any PDF file on your computer. Select "Open with" (on my Mac it's "Open with" on). Find Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 in the list and select it. Make sure to check the box that says "Always use this app to open .pdf files" (or similar phrasing) to set it as the default.

Worst case scenario, do a clean install. Use the Adobe Cleaner from Adobe website, https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html and completely uninstall Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 (and confirm Acrobat 2020 is gone too). This will hel removing old Adobe software and cleaning corrupt installation files. Restart your computer. Log-in with the Adobe ID that you used to purchased the new Adobe Pro 2024 and download a fresh installer for Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 directly from Adobe's website (from your account or the official download page) and Install it again.

Good luck

View solution in original post

Report · Jul 27, 2025

@bryan_8511 first of all, did you buy direct from Adobe themselves? I would make sure you are indeed log-in to the adobe account that you made your purchases. I have two separate accounts, one for work, and one for Adobe. I know, why two accounts (different story!);

Next, sometimes, after an upgrade, your system might still default to opening PDFs with Adobe Acrobat (which is primarily for viewing and commenting, not full editing) instead of your newly installed Acrobat Pro 2024. Right-click on any PDF file on your computer. Select "Open with" (on my Mac it's "Open with" on). Find Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 in the list and select it. Make sure to check the box that says "Always use this app to open .pdf files" (or similar phrasing) to set it as the default.

Worst case scenario, do a clean install. Use the Adobe Cleaner from Adobe website, https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html and completely uninstall Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 (and confirm Acrobat 2020 is gone too). This will hel removing old Adobe software and cleaning corrupt installation files. Restart your computer. Log-in with the Adobe ID that you used to purchased the new Adobe Pro 2024 and download a fresh installer for Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024 directly from Adobe's website (from your account or the official download page) and Install it again.

Good luck

Report · Jul 27, 2025

@creative explorer Thank you for your suggestions.

I was able to remove Acrobat Pro 2024, reboot, and run the Adobe Cleaner that you linked. Then I ran Acrobat Pro 2024 installer again. This time, it is working. I am not sure exactly what the problem was, but it is now gone. The only thing that I noticed was some Start Menu shortcuts hanging around from Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 after the uninstall, but Cleaner got rid of those. I have three other computers that need this to be done, so I'm hoping it all goes smoothly. I will post back if there is more to report.