Adobe Collaboration Synchronizer

When the Adobe Collaboration Synchronizer is running in background, my moniter will freeze and black out momentarily, and the entire system slows down. It's pretty annoying when you are working with a client and your monitor just blacks out. 

 

Is there any way to prevent the Adob Collab Sync thing from messing with the computer and monitor?

 

I go to the Task Manager and End Task for that app, but it will restart later with more black outs.

By prepaidcardstatus com @kevink64702036

Hello,

The "Adobe Collaboration Synchronizer" (AdobeCollabSync.exe) is a known culprit for these kinds of issues with Adobe Acrobat/Reader. It's designed to facilitate collaboration features and sync documents, but it often causes more problems than it solves for users who don't heavily rely on those features.

Here's a breakdown of why this happens and several methods you can try to prevent it from messing with your computer and monitor:

Why it happens:

• Background Activity: The synchronizer constantly tries to sync files, check for updates, and maintain connections to Adobe's cloud services. This continuous background activity can consume system resources (CPU, RAM, disk I/O), leading to slowdowns.
   
• File Locking: It's notorious for locking PDF files, even after you've closed them in Acrobat. This can prevent you from deleting, moving, or renaming files, and can interfere with other applications that need to access those files.
• Resource Spikes: The blackouts and freezes you experience are likely due to sudden spikes in resource usage by AdobeCollabSync, which can overload your graphics card or CPU, causing temporary display issues.
• Updates: Adobe updates often reinstall or re-enable the synchronizer, even if you've previously disabled it.

How to prevent it from messing with your computer and monitor:

You'll need to be a bit persistent, as Adobe often tries to re-enable this process. Here are the most effective methods, ranging from simpler to more advanced:

1. Update Adobe Acrobat/Reader: Sometimes, these issues are due to bugs in older versions. Ensure your Adobe Acrobat or Reader is updated to the latest version. Go to Help > Check for Updates within the Adobe application.

2. Disable "Sync preferences across devices and document services" (if applicable): This is a good first step if you don't use Adobe's cloud syncing heavily.

• Open Adobe Acrobat/Reader.
• Go to Edit > Preferences.
• In the "Categories" list on the left, select "Adobe Online Services" (or similar, it might be under "General").
• Look for an option like "Sync preferences across devices and document services" and uncheck it.
• Click "OK" and restart the application.

Note: Sometimes this option is greyed out. If so, you might need to sign in to your Adobe account within the application first to enable it, then uncheck it, and then sign out again. This is a workaround to gain access to the setting.

3. Rename the AdobeCollabSync.exe file (Most effective for many users): This is often cited as the most reliable way to stop it permanently, though updates can re-create the file.

• Close Adobe Acrobat/Reader and any related Adobe processes in Task Manager (ensure AdobeCollabSync.exe is not running).
• Navigate to the Adobe installation directory. This is typically:
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\ (for Acrobat Pro/Standard)
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat Reader DC\Reader\ (for Acrobat Reader)
• Locate AdobeCollabSync.exe.
• Rename it to something like AdobeCollabSync.exe.OLD or AdobeCollabSync.exe.DISABLED.
• Restart your computer.

Important: Adobe updates might re-create this file. You may need to repeat this step after major Adobe updates.

4. Disable from Startup Apps: While less effective as it often restarts, it's worth checking.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Go to the "Startup" tab.
• Look for "Adobe Collaboration Synchronizer" or "AdobeCollabSync."
• If found, select it and click "Disable."

5. Modify the Registry (Advanced): This method attempts to prevent the synchronizer from starting by changing a registry value. Be careful when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can cause system instability.

• Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
   
• Type regedit and press Enter.
• Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\Workflows
• In the right pane, look for a DWORD value named bNeedSynchronizer.
• If it exists, double-click it and change its "Value data" to 0 (zero).
• If it doesn't exist, you can try creating a new DWORD (32-bit) Value named bNeedSynchronizer and set its value to 0.
• Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

6. Use the Adobe Cleaner Tool and Reinstall (Last Resort): If none of the above work, there might be a deeper corruption in your Adobe installation.

• Download the Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool from Adobe's website.
• Follow the instructions to completely uninstall Adobe Acrobat/Reader.
• Reboot your machine.
• Reinstall Adobe Acrobat/Reader from the official Adobe website.

Recommendations:

• Start with the simplest solutions (updates, disabling sync preferences).
• If those don't work, renaming AdobeCollabSync.exe is often the most effective for immediate relief.
• Be prepared to repeat the renaming process after Adobe updates.
• Consider if you truly need the collaboration features. If not, disabling them is unlikely to impact your core PDF viewing/editing functionality.

Hopefully, one of these methods will help you get rid of those annoying monitor blackouts and system slowdowns!