Acrobat DC crashes when combining files

[hlwilli]

Hi - I am running Windows 11 Home (22000.795) and Acrobat DC (2022.001.20169). I often combine individual PDFs into a single PDF. A few weeks ago, this started causing a crash. I open one PDF and then select combine and when Windows Explorer opens to allow me to select the other document to combine, Acrobat crashes with no error report. I have also tried combining using the Organize Pages function but had the same result. It is not just specific PDFs, but any PDF I try to combine with another. I have tried the reinstalling and the repair tool with no success. Sometimes I get as far as combining the two files, but it crashes before I am able to save. The only way I am able to combine is if I use the web-based Acrobat in Creative Cloud.

I do use Carbonite, but I have paused it to see if that is the problem and it is still happening. 

Any ideas?

[Meenakshi Negi]

Hi Hlwilli,

Thank you for reaching out.

Could you please confirm if you are combining files from a particular folder?

Try combining test files saved on desktop and check if the same issues occur.

Try repairing the application installation. Go to Help menu > Repair installation.

Use the troubleshooting steps suggested in the following help document: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-crashes-on-windows-os.html.

Check if that helps.

If the issue persists, it would be helpful if you could share the screen recording of the issue and the crash logs with us using the steps suggested in the following document: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/collect-logs-crash-freeze.html.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

[hlwilli]

Hello,

I have repaired the installation and tried all the steps in the troubleshooting guide without success. I tried to attach the .dmp file as you suggested, but .dmp is not an accepted file type to attach.  How can I send that to you? I did attach a screen recording of the issue.

Thank you,

Heidi

[hlwilli]

Hello - Can anyone help me figure out this issue. I have noticed it happening anytime I need to open File Explorer. For exmaple, if I have a PDF open and I want to add a photo, as soon as I select Add Image and File Explorer opens, it immediatley crashes Adobe with no error message.

[ttocsnitsuj]

I have this same issue, but it lets me combine, but as soon as I try to save it. That's when it crashes like that without a message or error.

[DrGpro]

Same Problems

[C33964622pcpa]

I have the same problem.  Has anyone received an answer?

[Robyn338204323qqx]

I have same issue if one of the files is encrypted using Microsoft Information Protection. 

[cosmin_4490]

I'm experiencing the same issue. The program either crashes when I press the "Combine" command or successfully combines the files but crashes when I try to save it.

[AnandSri · Accepted solution]

Hello!

I hope you're doing well, and we apologize for the trouble.

Does the app crash when combining any specific files, or is it with all the PDFs? Try with a different set of PDFs, and check. Ensure, you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20428 Planned update, Mar 04, 2025. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and check. For more information, see this: https://adobe.ly/3DvfNni.

If you can launch Acrobat, navigate to Preferences and temporarily disable security settings for testing:

• Windows: Menu > Preferences > Security (Enhanced)
• Mac: Acrobat > Preferences > Security (Enhanced)
• Uncheck "Protected Mode at Startup" and "Enhanced Security", then click OK.
• Try combining files and re-enable security settings after the test.

If Acrobat crashes and won’t launch, use the Acrobat Cleaner Tool to remove the installed app, restart your machine, and reinstall Acrobat.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[cosmin_4490]

It happened when combining pdf files; any pdf files. Anyway, I have updated the latest version and now it seems to work fine. Thanks!