Cannot Install/Use Preflight Tool

[James_Rowley]

Clicking the "Preflight" button in Print Production mode just produces a message saying:

"Preflight is getting installed. Please wait to use this tool."

The first time I did this a little icon showed up next to feedback, help etc. indicating that something was happening. Eventually this said there was an error and Acrobat installation would be retried.

Now, no such thing shows up. Seemingly nothing happens at all other than showing that message. It's been 30 minutes so I really doubt it's a matter of impatience.

I have tried repairing Acrobat installation, and uninstalling/reinstalling through the Creative Cloud app to no avail. Any ideas on how to install/launch the Preflight tool?

[Mischa_ · Accepted solution]

This was what eventually worked for me. I'd tried it a number of times before and after reinstalls and eventually I tried the Edit Object button again and this time it prompted the restart to install the feature. Following that, Preflight started working as well. Ridiculous that it takes a day of troubleshooting for a key feature, only to have it resolved seemingly at random.

[arjun02 · Accepted solution]

I found a shorter solution. Go to windows apps where you see all the apps/software installed on your machine. Click modify option next to uninstall. The Acrobat installer will popup and there's an option of 'optional features' that's marked with a red cross. Enable it, and then proceed with the instalation. 

No uninstall required. Simple 2 minute repair!

[James_Rowley]

Ok, I don't have a "solution", but I eliminated the problem.

Some combination of the following things caused it to actually install Preflight (listed in the order I did them):

- Checking for updates (from within Acrobat)

- Opening "Print Production Help"

- Viewing "About Plugins" dialog

- Viewing "About Acrobat" dialog

[paulb66556498]

same here. come on Adobe, please can we have some support.

[Rhianna5E3A]

I have the same problem, but doing those things you listed did not work for me.

[julietw99713499]

Same problem.

[EricMS]

Same problem! 

[Umbo]

same problem. Now the list is void

[Elsie.Media]

same problem...

[Nicole27237103qab1]

Same problem here...

@_AdobeSupport_ please get this done...

[Mcnally5E8E]

The solution (for me):

Click "Optimize PDF > Pre-Flight"

You'll see the "Preflight is installing" message

Click "Print Production" 

You'll see a message "you need to restart this app to use the newly installed features" (paraphrased)

[feliper9252641]

It didn't work that solution.

[Mark25045282vuw1]

Not sure if this helps, but found the panel had minimised, to a thin strip at the edge of the screen. So, it was working, but hidden from view. Managed to click on it and it appeared. 

[Stacey, Girl on Fire]

Thank you, it has worked for me

[Sophie36742611mhfw]

This worked for me too!

[Amal.]

Hi there

We are glad to hear that. Marking a reply or response “Correct” will help future users with the same issue quickly identify the correct answer.

~Amal

[Nichalogica]

Same here, I need convert to outline all character. But didn't work without prefilght features.

[Sorontar]

Latest versions of Adobe software are early access beta versions that should not be available to public. My preflight is broken now. Also Acrobat is only sofware that has no other versions available. 

Solution: https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/acrobat-downloads.html

Install Acrobat 2020 Pro and everything works.
And turn off automatic updates of all Adobe software.

[solution4]

Same problem - is this the service of Adobe for the future? We paying your jobs, you not answering and not doing anything anymore, just waiting until those annoying customers are gone or run out of patience? We have to work with your tools, it's not that we entertain ourselves with your software.

It's getting unbelievable at this point.

[paulb66556498]

I had an Adobe live chat session to fix my issue. They/I had no idea why pre-flight wouldn't launch in Acrobat 64bit for Windows so they suggested I uninstalled and reinstalled the 32bit version instead. They did all the work via screen share and this fixed the issue although I guess it was more of a workaround. Anyway, no problems with pre-flight since the downgrade to 32bit. Hope this helps.

[solution4]

Hi Paul,

thanks, gonna try that.
Cheers!

[paulb66556498]

Great, good luck!

[Casey33946134n5ib]

I  went in print production and clicked on edit object and it told me I had to restart adobe so that this premium feature could be installed.  Then it also installed preflight.

[Mischa_ · Accepted solution]

This was what eventually worked for me. I'd tried it a number of times before and after reinstalls and eventually I tried the Edit Object button again and this time it prompted the restart to install the feature. Following that, Preflight started working as well. Ridiculous that it takes a day of troubleshooting for a key feature, only to have it resolved seemingly at random.

[PDFuser_hmm]

Same problem. Was able to use the preflight tool by switching back to the old UI. 

[default8a85v0t78g7n]

Amazing that Adobe is hellbent on wasting all their money on adding AI features that have literally no use due to how bad they are, but can't fix a bug that prevents us from using the most useful part of Acrobat.