Adobe Acrobat Reader app app failure

Report · Apr 11, 2023

I am using Mac Book pro running on Mac OS Monterey version 12.6.5

However the Adobe Acrobat Reader app that I use won't convert pdf files any more to word or excel, this happened both pre and post the update to Mac OS Monterey version 12.6.5 I have a current subscription to be able to use the converson funtion I have removed and re installed Adobe Acrobat at least 5 times and logged in and out many times, I have completely cleared the cache and I have shut down and rebooted the laptop many times. Everytime I try and convert any pdf file, all I get is the conversion failure notfication.

Previously (for approx 5 years of using the Adobe Acrobat Reader app) I have never had this issue

Please help!

Report · Apr 11, 2023

Acrobat Reader is the free application that Adobe provides to let you read PDFs, fill in forms, do some commenting, and a few other basic operations. Acrobat Reader cannot convert PDFs to Word or anything else.

Since you are on a Mac, you cannot use Acrobat Standard. (Acrobat Standard is only available for PCs)

However, Adobe used to provide the full name "Adobe Acrobat Pro." Lately, they are just calling it "Adobe Acrobat." They do not make it easy on folks.

Please verify that you are using "Adobe Acrobat," not "Adobe Acrobat Reader."

Oh, one other thing to look for: you may have Adobe Acrobat on your computer, but you may have the Reader set to be the application that opens when you open a PDF, not Acrobat. To verify this, in the Finder, click on any PDF on your computer, and press Command-i. This will open a window to the right side of your computer. Look to see what it says is the default application (this should show up about halfway down the window). If it says "Reader," there's the issue. If it does, press the double arrow to the right, select the version of Acrobat you want, then be sure to click on the "Change All" button.

Please let me know if all this makes sense.

View solution in original post

Report · Apr 11, 2023

Acrobat Reader is the free application that Adobe provides to let you read PDFs, fill in forms, do some commenting, and a few other basic operations. Acrobat Reader cannot convert PDFs to Word or anything else.

Since you are on a Mac, you cannot use Acrobat Standard. (Acrobat Standard is only available for PCs)

However, Adobe used to provide the full name "Adobe Acrobat Pro." Lately, they are just calling it "Adobe Acrobat." They do not make it easy on folks.

Please verify that you are using "Adobe Acrobat," not "Adobe Acrobat Reader."

Oh, one other thing to look for: you may have Adobe Acrobat on your computer, but you may have the Reader set to be the application that opens when you open a PDF, not Acrobat. To verify this, in the Finder, click on any PDF on your computer, and press Command-i. This will open a window to the right side of your computer. Look to see what it says is the default application (this should show up about halfway down the window). If it says "Reader," there's the issue. If it does, press the double arrow to the right, select the version of Acrobat you want, then be sure to click on the "Change All" button.

Please let me know if all this makes sense.

Report · Apr 11, 2023

Hi

Thanks for helping and all your information. Seems like I have downloaded the wrong app each time recently, when I deleted the original app when I had some previous issues, as my renewal coming up confirms - Subscription plan: Adobe Acrobat Export PDF but the app I have been trying and signing in on is Adobe Acrobat Reader so the wrong one! So we download the right one now.

Report · Apr 11, 2023

Ah. If it's any consolation, you are not the first and will not be the last.

If you'd be so kind as to tap the "Correct Answer" below my comment, it will help others who fall into the miasma of Adobe naming conventions. (LOL)