Skip to main content
Participant
February 8, 2021
Answered

Acrobat Pro DC Constantly Freezing

  • February 8, 2021
  • 7 replies
  • 94913 views

Hi all! I have been having an issue with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for the past month or so. It is constantly freezing and barely useable. As soon as I open the program by itself, it works for around 5 seconds and then freezes for a minute, then works again for a few seconds to a minute, and then freezes again. Same with opening any of my PDFs. It's just constantly freezing for minutes at a time making it very difficult to use the app. 

 

It is running version 2020.013.20014 (most up to date according to my creative cloud app), I have done a clean install already as some of the help documents have suggested, but it's still hanging up. Quite sure my apps are not set to auto-update, and I've had Acrobat functioning for years properly on my pc and all of a sudden just constant freezing (doesn't actually crash technically) within the past month or two. Anyone run into similar issues or have a potential solution? Thank you!

Correct answer Greg36631635xtb8

My problems were solved when I uninstalled grammerly! on my windows PC!

7 replies

Greg36631635xtb8Correct answer
Participant
April 9, 2024

My problems were solved when I uninstalled grammerly! on my windows PC!

Participant
August 20, 2024

Hello

 

Adobe know about this, but are not prepared to fix it. I Quote directly from a service tech :" Acrobat freeze is defiantly an issue with the acrobat application. to troubleshoot this issue we, sometimes, have to perform manual clean up. " ...  Adobe has recognized this issue and our engineering team is working on this"- ( for 4 years!?)... sometimes when an issue occurs with an application we have to uninstall and reinstall the application. however, sometimes the files which supports the applications to work will be corrupted, in such circumstances we have to remove all the files which supports the application to work and have to install back"

 

However, although Adobe knows about the problem, they don't tell their acrobat users- which would be very easy, as they have our details: instead they sit in silence while people are driven completely bonkers, wading around on community forums, and trying to get the AI bot to connect them to Tech Support ( which is not offered as an option) and then they make you jump through hoops 'explaining the problem,' like its limited to just you and its a problem with your machine/ operating system/ installation, before FINALLY telling you to the solution is  several hour of cleaning, deleting and reinstalling. Basically, punishing the User for a problem they created and know about.

 

In order to fix the problem, the 30+million users all have to download a bunch of adobe clean apps, and run them on their laptops, and then they have to go hunting though program files and delete all adobe, and then they have to go onto the C:\Users\Yourusername\Appdata\Roaming and delete all adobe files. 

Then you have to restart and re-install everything. 


I have asked my digital community how many others are experiencing this issue, and the bulk of the replys tell me they have moved to other service providers as a result of these issues (Foxit/ affinity/ Krita/ Davinci resolve).

 

It would help if EVERY user submits a complaint to Adobe regarding this- directly to Adobe.  You can try tcssup@adobe.com or customercare-chatsupport@adobe.com


Good Luck

 

Ps: these were the instructions, from Tech Support Bhshan, I was given, for Windows. I found the instructions on which adobe files to delete confusing, so i Didn't. However, it seems to have reduced the problem. Note: Adobe accept no responsibilty for this process ( they make you agree). Note: it will wipe all adobe and creative suite from your machine.

 

Bhushan
Here is the complete process to clean the the current version & install new, please follow all these steps from your end and let me know if it works or not after that.

Bhushan
Manual Clean and re-installation - Windows:

• Open appwiz.cpl and uninstall Reader DC and Adobe Genuine Service if present
• Please open this link and click on the Feb 9, 2021 - 64 bit installer All tracks link:
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html#downloads
• Run the cleaner tool and do not restart the computer
• Please download and run this tool:
https://swupmf.adobe.com/webfeed/CleanerTool/win/AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.exe
• Go for the options All and Clean all. Press e For English and then press Enter Then press Y for yes where ever needed.
• When you see a menu with options and numbers assigned, press the number for the option that says "ALL" or "CLEAN
ALL".
• Restart the computer
• Go to the following Locations and delete the Adobe folders at these locations:

 

C:\Program Files\

C:\Program Files (X86)\

C:\Program Files (X86)\Common Files\ If it doesn't let you delete this one, open the task manager and end task the


two adobe genuine processes and the creative cloud, CCX Process, CC Library and Core Sync.
4. C:\Program Data\ If you don't see this folder, click on View at the top and then check hidden items.
5. C:\Users\Yourusername\Appdata\Local

6. C:\Users\Yourusername\Appdata\Roaming

• Please use Shift + Delete on the keyboard to permanently delete the Adobe folders.
• Please press the Windows key and R key on the keyboard at the same time and then type in regedit and press ok.
• On the left go to Hkey_current_user/Software/Adobe and delete the Adobe folder under Software
• Please open this link and download the Acrobat Pro DC installer for Windows :
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-downloads.html
• Please go to your downloads folder and find the file called Acrobat_DC_Web_WWMUI.zip
• Right click on that file and then click on Extract and then extract all. Then open the Adobe Acrobat folder and run the
setup.exe, third from the last.
• For creative cloud: Please open this link and then scroll down to alternative downloads. Then expand the Windows
section and download the Creative cloud installer.
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-app-download.html

Participant
December 20, 2023

William227072114ccg - thank you for posting this.  Started experiencing this today and your instructions fixed it.  

Participant
June 30, 2023

I have been using Adobe Pro for years - for the last several months it is constantly freezing.  Having to Shut down using task manager so many times I've lost track. I've tried several things - it will fix it for about a week and then I'm back to freezing up again.  This really needs to be fixed!  Trying to not throw my computer today as I've rebooted it 3 times and I've only been at the office 1.5 hours today.  So much for coming in early to a jump start on a big project.

Meenakshi Negi
Community Manager
Community Manager
June 30, 2023

Hi Brenda26521190bu27,

 

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

 

As the application freezes, try the troubleshooting steps suggested in the following help document for a crash: https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/troubleshoot-system-errors-freezes-windows.html

If the above suggestion does not work, try reinstalling the application using the following steps:
-Remove the application and run the cleaner tool (https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html).
-Reboot the machine
-Install Adobe Acrobat from the following page: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-downloads.html.

 

If the issue still occurs, share the Acrobat and OS versions.

Try creating a new user account on your machine, and install Acrobat there. Check if you are experiencing the same behavior when using the application.

 

Let us know ow how it goes.

 

Thanks,

Meenakshi

 

MSVRVisual
Inspiring
May 2, 2022

Same problem here. It's dreadful. I keep it always up to date, it's not the pdf file as I use different files. 

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
May 10, 2022

Hi there

 

We are sorry to hear that.

 

Please go through the help pages listed below and see if that works for you.

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/troubleshoot-system-errors-freezes-mac.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/troubleshoot-system-errors-freezes-windows.html

 

Regards

Amal

Participant
September 22, 2022

FIX

 

No thanks to the Adobe experts, but thanks to users who spend time trying to fix Adobe's mess, I found the solution. Deleting the settings in the registry made my Acrobat Reader respond normally again.

I changed
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC
to
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC1

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-default/m-p/11814377#M296907


I've been experiencing the same issue for about a week.  I tried uninstall/reinstall, change program through control panel, acrobat cleaner tool, installing optional MS updates I don't need.  I am not IT, and was nervous figuring out how to change the registry, but did it anyway, AND IT WORKED.  Thank you for saving me another week of lost time.

Participant
January 18, 2022

 

    [website link removed by moderator]  

 

Participant
January 18, 2022
i didnt' get a response
Participant
January 17, 2022

same exact problem. have tried all steps to no avail

 

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
January 18, 2022

Hi there

 

Hope you are doing well and sorry to hear that.

 

Would you mind sharing the version of the Acrobat/Reader DC you are using? To check the version go to Help > About Acrobat and make sure you have the recent version 21.11.20039 installed. Go to Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once.

 

Also, please go through the help pages listed below and see if that helps:

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-crashes-on-windows-os.html

https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/troubleshoot-system-errors-freezes-mac.html

 

Regards

Amal

Participant
January 18, 2022
[image: image.png]
Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
February 9, 2021

Hi there

 

Hope you are doing well and sorry for the trouble. As described the application is freezing frequently

 

Is this a behavior with a particular PDF file or with all the PDFs? Please try to open a different PDF file and check. Also, if the PDF file is stored on a shared/network computer, please try to download and save it to your computer first and then try to open it and check.

 

Please try to repiar the installation (Windows Only) and reboot the computer once. Go to Help > Repair Installation. Also, the version 20.13.20064 is not the latest version. Please try to update the application manually using the patch here : https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html

 

If it still doesn't work, please try to turn off the protected mode for testing (Windows Only) Go to Edit > Preferences > Enhanced Security > Uncheck 'Enable Protected mode at start up' , Turn Off the Protected mode  and uncheck 'Enhanced Security' > Click OK and reboot the computer.

Note: Please turn on the security after testing to avoid security risks.

 

If it still doesn't work, please try to reset the Acrobat preferences to default as described in the help page: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/how-to-reset-acrobat-preference-settings-to-default/td-p/4792082

 

You may also try to create a new test user profile with full admin rights in Windows or enable the root account in Mac and try using the application there and check.

 

Also you may try the steps suggested in the help pages listed below and see if that helps

- For Windows https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/troubleshoot-system-errors-freezes-windows.html

- For Mac https://helpx.adobe.com/in/x-productkb/global/troubleshoot-system-errors-freezes-mac.html

 

Regards

Amal

 

 

Participant
February 22, 2021

Hi there!

Thank you so much for your response, I appreciate it! (apologies for the delayed answered)

 

So I did try the repair solution and also manually installing the latest patch, with unfortunately no help. I did however notice though now that with no documents open and just on the home screen, every time the program repeatedly hangs up, it loads a new image thumbnail for one of the PDFs in the "Recent" list. Since there were about 50 or so documents in that list, it would explain the freezes every minute if it's trying to pull one thumbnail each at time. A lot of the documents are being accessed through a dropbox account, even the files I'm accessing are still stored locally, I guess acrobat is still trying to pull the latest version of the file causing it to hang up. Is there a way to disable the recent files list? or better yet a way to disable the thumbnail previews for each recent file?

 

Thank you for any help! 🙂 

Amal.
Community Manager
Community Manager
February 23, 2021

Hi there,

 

To disable the recent file list please check the steps shared in the correct answer here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-reader/disable-recent-files/m-p/8077347 

 

Hope it will help.

 

Regards

Amal