Combining PDF files in DC

[DavidS2302]

When combining PDF files into one, I am getting a dialog box that says:  "You are currently using free Acrobat Reader. You also have Adobe Acrobat installed on your machine, which includes advanced tools.  Click OK to launch Adobe Acrobat to use this tool"

This issue started in the last few days.  Not aware of any updates that were downloaded or any change in the systems settings,

which still show to use Adobe Acrobat DC as the default when opening PDF files.

[Anshul_Nautiyal]

Hi @DavidS2302,

Thanks for reaching out. This message appears when PDFs are opening in Acrobat Reader while Acrobat is also installed; Windows or macOS may have reassigned the default PDF handler to Reader or a browser after recent changes. Set Acrobat (not Reader) as the default PDF owner: in Windows, use Open with > Choose another app > Adobe Acrobat DC and check “Always use this app,” or set it from Acrobat’s Preferences > General > Select Default PDF Handler. Please check the following documentation: https://adobe.ly/4mtoUGb and https://adobe.ly/4fM5VnQ.

Repair Acrobat installation: open Acrobat DC → Help → Repair Installation.

Check licensing: ensure you are signed in with your Acrobat DC license. If your account signed out or reverted to free mode, Acrobat may default back to Reader behavior.

Please try these steps and let us know if the issue persists. 

Regards,

^AN

[DavidS2302]

Thank you for your response.  I tried all of these before I posted, and again after your response, and I am getting the same result.

[Anshul_Nautiyal]

Hi @DavidS2302,

Thanks for the update. I’m directing this query to the appropriate product community, where experts can assist you more effectively.

Regards,
^AN

[DavidS2302 · Accepted solution]

Anshul--I think I've fixed the issue.   It appears the free Adobe Acrobat Reader was downloaded to the computer a few days ago.   Just now happened to notice it.    I uninstalled Acrobat Reader, and now Acrobat DC is working like it should--message dilogue box went away and files to combine show as before.

Thanks again for your help.

[JoUDC]

Hi, 

Our end users have also started to experience this same issue this week.

We have both Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader installed on the laptops as not everyone is issued with a license.

Those that do have a license open Adobe Acrobat and sign in. Those that don’t use the read version as they have no need for editing.

I can confirm that the default apps of these Adobe Acrobat users are set correctly to be Adobe Acrobat but now when they attempt to try and combine pdfs by right clicking to use combine option it keeps launching the dialogue box saying they are open in reader (but they are not).

 If you select the ok to launch Adobe Acrobat all it does is open Acrobat so now, they have both a reader version open and an acrobat version open and no  combination action happening.

We have had to revert to users launching acrobat and then dragging and dropping in the combine screen to complete the task.

We are using version 2025.001.20623 64-bit

Any advise on how we can resolve which does not require us to do any sort of uninstall of either of the versions?

Thanks Jo

[brigitta_6447]

Hello. I am also having a problem with this feature. I just got adobe this morning so that I could combine multiple files I have into a PDF and when I go to select that option in the desktop app, it is grayed or not able to be selected. 

Is there a reason this feature isn't availabe? I thought I had access to it with acrobat pro. Thank you.

[default0bid0k0al8x7]

Hi Anshul,

I work with @JoUDC, and we have found that the latest version 

25.001.20643 does fix the issue when Reader and Pro versions have the same architecture (32bit or x64).

When the architectures are mixed - we have half of the company on Reader (32bit) and Pro (x64), the fix in version .20643 does not fix this scenario.

[PravalJain]

The issue around Combine opening Reader, when both Reader 32-bit and Acrobat 32-bit are present on the machine has been fixed in the latest release. You can refer to release notes - https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/continuous/dccontinuousaug2025qfe2.... Please update both Acrobat and Reader to latest version and let us know if you still see issues. 

@default0bid0k0al8x7  - Can you provide more details on the issue with Acrobat 64-bit, since Reader and Acrobat 64-bit cannot be installed on the same machine ? 

[default0bid0k0al8x7]

Hi @PravalJain ,

I have attached a screenshot showing Reader(32bit), and Acrobat(64bit) installed on the same machine

[PravalJain]

@default0bid0k0al8x7 - This is not a supported config from our side. If you want to have both Acrobat and Reader on the same machine, our recommendation is to install 32-bit for both. 

[Ben321564717er3]

Hi Anshul,

Similar to @JoUDC, we too are expierencing this issue and require both applications being installed for users.

Please can you advise a fix? Perhaps a regkey to default the combine PDFs as Acrobat pro?

Thanks,

Ben