Adobe Acrobat shuts down a few seconds after launching

[Steve Kellaway]

Hi, i have an account with Adobe Acrobat Standard. I can login online and use it that way but if i open Acrobat locally it shuts down after a few seconds. I have a feeling it's not letting me Sign In, as i can see the Sign In button at the top before it shuts down. I has been running this on my computer for some time before this started to happen. I did also have this problem previously (months ago) and an uninstall, clean and reinstall worked to fix it.

This time around, I uninstalled Acrobat, ran the cleaner https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html restarted my PC, downloaded the 64 bit version of Acrobat Standard here https://helpx.adobe.com/au/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-downloads.html installed it and the identical problem still exists.

Can someone please help?

[dwcarlson]

This worked for me as well! Thank you!

[S. S]

Hello Everyone, 

We are live with the next release(2024.003.20112).

Please update the app to the latest version and let us know if the issue is fixed.

Thanks,

Souvik

[Jonathan38497920j612]

I'm also having the same issue. This is extremely frustrating as I need this for work. Hopefully this is resolved soon.

[Amal.]

Hi there

Hope you are doing well.

This is work under progress, we will share the update as soon as we get any information from the engineering team.

Thanks for your patience.

~Amal

[William38662473yi93]

I am having the same issue, adobe closes within seconds of opening it.  I am up to date on all updates

[marcela_2608]

Hello Amal,

I have the same problem. Did the engineering team find any solution?

Thanks in advanced!

- Marcela

[samitysamx38798696aux8]

For anyone finding this issue (Acrobat instantly exits shortly after opening, or after attempting to sign in), try this:

Close Acrobat if its open.
Find the Acrobat application file on your PC (usually under C:\Program files\Adobe\Acrobat AC), it should be called Acrobat.exe (you can right click the Acrobat shortcut and 'open file location' if you aren't sure.)
Right click the Acrobat.exe application file, and select properties. In the properties window, select the 'Compatibility' Tab and check 'Run as Administrator', also select 'Run this application compatibility mode' for Windows 8.

Then try again.

For Adobe Support:
My guess is the 'sign in' pop up is making a call out to the OS to open the Sign in page, which windows is preventing, and whatever is handling that pop up is causing an unhandled exception, or force exiting.

[S. S]

@samitysamx38798696aux8 Thanks for sharing this.

I have forwarded it to the team for verification.

Best!

Souvik

[bret38877396tim5]

I'm having the same issue (Acrobat instantly exits shortly after opening) and tried the method you suggested.  I am getting the following error message (using windows 10).   

I hope this helps Adobe Engineers since it appears this problem has gone unsolved since February 2024.  It shouldn't take this long to fix given the resources available to Adobe.   I am as frustrated as everyone else with this issue.  Come on Adobe!!!!!!!!

[marcela_2608]

I still have the same problem. I tried your suggestion but the problem is still there.

[S. S]

Hi @Paul389464698zvo @bret38877396tim5, Sorry for the experience! 

The team is already working on getting this fixed.

Would you mind sharing crash logs with us to expedite this?

Please use this link: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-diagnostics.html to collect crash logs and share the unique ID of the log.

Thanks,

Souvik

[bret38877396tim5]

I have found that if you use Google Chrome as your default browser pdf files will only open for a few seconds before disappearing.  I tried using Firefox as my browser and I am able to at least access the pdf files and they do not disappear .  There doesn't seem to be a sign in screen, the file just opens.  

[kglad]

chrome is my default browser and i don't see a problem.  what exact steps trigger the problem.

[creative explorer]

I am using Acrobat Pro, but don't seem to be having the same issues many of you are experiencing with Acrobat Standard. I wonder if a clean install will elevate the issues. In this case, I probably use Adobe CC Cleaner, to make sure the Adobe Acrobat files are completely removed

Once the computer is completely clean, I suggest to reinstall Acrobat Standard by downloading it from the Adobe Cloud account. It seems strange that Acrobat Standard would cause this issue. I'm using a Mac, but it's possible that Windows 10 or 11 might be involved as well. 

[Paul389464698zvo]

I tried removing Acrobat, with and without the cleaner.  I am a 30 year IT vetern and spent the better part of a day last week working on this.  I posted elsewhwere but it is a memory issue when it is trying to launch the auto login sequence... others have reported they can log out and login with a different account and not have any issue.  But since I paid for the account I'm trying to use I figured the ones who take my money each month should fix it.

[S. S]

Hi @Paul389464698zvo,

Sorry for your experience! 

You might want to try running the app in compatibility mode: 

1. Find your Adobe Acrobat program.

2. Right Click --> Properties.

3. Select the Compatability tab.

4. Click on Run Compatability Troubleshooter.

5. Select Try Recommended Settings.

Hope this helps.

-Souvik

[Basil32893969do7l]

I had that issue for a long time, I ran the app in compatibility mode as Windows 7 and it gave me error 205.

I followed the instructions on how to fix error 205 from this page and it worked! For the first time in months, It worked. 

I hope this helps

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/fix-licensing-error-205.html

[Basil32893969do7l]

I used Solution 2 from the link above to Run the command in Command Prompt:

It clears the Credential Manager storage for all the Adobe apps. It fixed the issue.

[S. S]

Hi @Basil32893969do7l,

Thanks for your input. 

So, when you disable the compatibility mode, do you still see the error? 

The team is already aware of the issue and is working on a fix.

Meanwhile, the team and I would like to call you to gather additional details and information on the issue and expedite the fix.

If you are up for it, please let me know so I can share a link with you over private messages so you can schedule the call according to your preference.

Thanks,

Souvik

[Basil32893969do7l]

Hello,

Here are the detailed steps, After seeing the error in Compatibility with Windows 7 setting, I did the command prompt code from the 205 solutions. Then I was able to open it up normally, with no errors, then I was able to sign in back to my account on Acrobat, and for some reason, I was not signed in to it; then I removed the compatibility mode, and it is all working. 

I think, for some reason, my sign-in was corrupted or whipped out, and whenever it was trying to show the error, it was auto-closing and not allowing me to log in. However, inside Chrome, Acrobat was working normally, I had to sign in back into it too, but that originally did not help until I did the fix mentioned above. 

Now it is all fixed. 

[marcela_2608]

Hi there,

I´ve share the crash log and I used the link. I still have the problem after I run the program under Administration mode. I have the 24.2.20991.0 version. I used Windows 10 with 64bit operating system. 

Thanks in advanced.

[S. S]

Hi @marcela_2608,

Hope you are doing well. Sorry for the experience! 

Would you mind updating the app to the latest version (2024.002.21005) to see if the issue is fixed?

-Souvik

[marcela_2608]

Thanks @S. S ! It helps!

[Christophe29804756cptc]

FWIW, I just tried to run it as compatible with Windows 7 and it solved the problem (no need to run as administrator).

YMMV.

I find it shocking that I (no IT expert) have to randomly try to troubleshoot this piecve of junk software, with no support from Adobe themselves.

This is a very well published issue that plagues many many users, but you guys do not care.  Sigh.

[Steve Kellaway]

I changed Acrobat.exe to Windows 7 Compatibility Mode as well and was instantly able to resign in and now it works perfectly again. Sigh, long winded, tedious road for such a simple fix.