I am trying to open a pdf embedded in excel, but I am getting an error stating " cannot start the source application for this object" Can anyone help please?

[scottf94920644]

any help would be appreciated.  I already tried turning off protected mode, but that didn't fix it.

[AadeshSingh]

Hi Scott,

Please let me know the version of Adobe Reader/Acrobat & MS office installed on your computer?

In the mean time try the below steps :-

In your Adobe Reader/Acrobat

• Goto EDIT -> PREFERENCES...
• On the GENERAL Category.
• UNCHECK the 'Enable Protected Mode at startup'
  * you will get warning telling you that you will have to manually restart Reader before it takes effect.
• Then go into EXCEL & check if it works.

Regards,

Aadesh

[scottf94920644]

I am using Acrobat pro 10, and excel 10.  I do not have the UNCHECK the 'Enable Protected Mode at startup' in general in pro x.  I turned off the security in the security field.  That didn't help either.

[scottf94920644]

I installed reader, and now I can view, but if I want to edit I now have to open acrobat, and search for the document.  While I can do this, I would like to get it back to being able to do it all through acrobat.  I greatly appreciate any help you can give.

[AadeshSingh]

Hi Scott,

Try the below steps :-

• Right click on any of the PDF file & select Open With -> Choose the Default program.
• Default program window will pop up, then select Acrobat as the default program.
• At the bottom you will see a check box "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" make sure it is checked.
• Click OK to confirm the changes.

Now all your PDF files will open in Acrobat by default.

Regards,

Aadesh

[Umar26365833unqx]

It was really helpful, thanks.

[bethanya17720283]

I am having this issue.  I notice that this post has over 3000 views, has anyone found a fix?  I have 300 items embedded in an excel file and suddenly I can't view any of them.  I am using Excel 2016 and Adobe Acrobat DC and Adobe Reader X. 

[gerardd48628261]

This option can be found at Preferences --> Security (enhanced) 

[Suzy808]

I have had this problem for a couple years now and I fixed it today 🙂

This is what finally worked for me:

I have acrobat installed and none of the fixes worked.

So, in addition to acrobat I installed adobe reader dc

Now in excel I can use the option - insert - object - adobe acrobat document 

Reader pops up for a second and then does it's thing and now I have an embedded PDF with no errors.

[karla1719]

Buenas Día presente el mismo problema,  utilizando un excel que mantenia PDF, insertados como objeto.  Me salia en pantalla "no se puede activar la aplicacion de origen de este objeto", pense que era alguna configuración del excel que le cambie, ya que estaba configurando unas macros. Pero el excel funcionaba en otras pc y ya no era el archivo si no el mismo excel en cualquier documento no me  lo permitia. Dicho problema lo presente justo despues de actualizar la pc,  agregando que no tengo adobe pro pense que tambien era eso. Cambie seguridad, protegido, repare errores entrando a configuracion, actualize adobe, actualize excel, configuracion de confianza y objetos en excel. La unica solución fue desintalarla totalmente, me mando advertencia,  lo realize de todos modos. Entre a microsoft store busque adobe me salio adobe reader dc, lo instale y santo remedio. Es un hilo de hace años atras pero hoy en 2025, espero les sirva.