How to activate Acrobat without joining the stupid Cloud?

[matthewj56468886]

I'm getting an error message that it cannot create a pdf because Acrobat isn't activated.  And yet the only way to activate seems to be by joining the Cloud which I hate and am trying to avoid doing.  Is there any way around it?

[Test Screen Name]

Of course you must activate, this has been compulsory for about 12 years now. What sort of license have you paid for? Permanent or subscription? What do you hate about this “cloud”, specifically?

[matthewj56468886]

I thought I HAD activated the Adobe Suite at the time.  Should have been a permanent license, I generally say no to subscriptions but I realize that's what everyone wants to sell these days.  But I'll never use the Cloud because it's not secure.

[Dov Isaacs · Accepted solution]

There is nothing other than the software download and activation mechanism of Acrobat DC that requires the Document Cloud. The Acrobat software itself runs on your computer and unless you explicitly invoke a “cloud”-based operation, such as Fill & Sign, Send for Signature, Send for Comments, or Send & Track or you explicitly store a PDF file in your Document Cloud storage!

And FYI, Adobe's Document Cloud and Creative Cloud facilities pass all industry standards for security, but again, its use is not required for running Acrobat.

          - Dov

[Test Screen Name]

So, coming back to the problem, exactly what did you buy? Please give the software name and exact version? And the full message. This might or might not be something we’ve seen before.