Missing preflight profiles

[Edward Lipsett]

Before you jump on my case, let me point out that yes, I did search for this issue, and yes, I did find lots of responses, and yes, I did try them multiple times, and no, they did not solve the problem. 

Windows 11, Acrobat Pro.
I recently changed my subscription from lots of apps to only Acrobat Pro, and now I have this problem.
I've uninstalled, run the Acrobat Cleaner, reinstalled, turned off the security settings, and tried to run both of the preflight functions.  Multiple times, with hard reboots.
The only profile ever displayed anywhere is one that I made earlier, in an attempt to figure out what the issue was. That profile (library) cannot be deleted, BTW, even by an uninstall or the cleaner. I am only able to run Preflight by using this custom profile, since nothing else is displayed anywhere. 

Unless I can get that function working there is no reason to subscribe to Acrobat at all. Assuming the explanation provided (security lockout) is correct, it's pretty darn silly of Adobe not to just install the profiles when installing the app in the first place, when you have full admin rights.
In any case, if I can't utilize that function I will cancel my subscription.
Thanks. 

[Edward Lipsett · Accepted solution]

I chatted with Adobe tech help, and they resolved the problem. FYI here's the whole thread:
========================

I have apready tried the solutions discussed here, and none worked: community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/preflight-error-unable-to-copy-the-user-specific-settings...

Adobe:

Hello, I'd be happy to help you today, let me first pull up your account information and access your details.

Thank you for your time and patience with us, we appreciate it.

I can see that you are facing issues with pre flight profiles missing in Acrobat.

I notice you shared a support link which you tried. Just to check, did you try reinstalling Acrobat yet ?

Me: 

I uninstalled, rebooted, ran Acrobat Cleaner, downloaded the latest version via CC, and reinstalled, three times.

The test profile I created always remains, and it is the only profie that is ever displayed.

Adobe:

Do you have any Adobe apps apart from Acrobat installed on the computer which faces the issue?

Me: 

No other CC apps, but Digital Editions 4.5 is installed, along with the required CC items (Creative Cloud and Genuine Service)

Adobe:

There are Adobe folders within program files, program files(x86), program data and app data

If you didnt delete all the adobe folders in these locations, any damaged files associated with pre flight tool would still be present. I can help you perform a complete clean up of the back end adobe folders and then help you reinstall the app and test this if you would like

Me:

Should I delete CC and Genuine Service, too?

Adobe:

Sure, please uninstall all adobe apps from the control panel and let me know once done and I will guide you to the exact location for the Adobe folders

Me:

ADE also?

Adobe:

Yes, you can reinstall ADE once the isssue with the pre flight tool is fixed

Please delete the Adobe folders in the below locations :

C: Program files> Adobe

C: program files > Common files>Adobe

C: Program files (X86) > Adobe

C: Program files X86 > Common files> Adobe

C: Program Data> Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> Roaming > Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> local > Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> local low > Adobe

Then download the direct installer for Acrobat from the below link :

helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-downloads.html

Launch Acrobat and sign in and check if the Preflight profiles appear now.

====================

[Edward Lipsett · Accepted solution]

I chatted with Adobe tech help, and they resolved the problem. FYI here's the whole thread:
========================

I have apready tried the solutions discussed here, and none worked: community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/preflight-error-unable-to-copy-the-user-specific-settings...

Adobe:

Hello, I'd be happy to help you today, let me first pull up your account information and access your details.

Thank you for your time and patience with us, we appreciate it.

I can see that you are facing issues with pre flight profiles missing in Acrobat.

I notice you shared a support link which you tried. Just to check, did you try reinstalling Acrobat yet ?

Me: 

I uninstalled, rebooted, ran Acrobat Cleaner, downloaded the latest version via CC, and reinstalled, three times.

The test profile I created always remains, and it is the only profie that is ever displayed.

Adobe:

Do you have any Adobe apps apart from Acrobat installed on the computer which faces the issue?

Me: 

No other CC apps, but Digital Editions 4.5 is installed, along with the required CC items (Creative Cloud and Genuine Service)

Adobe:

There are Adobe folders within program files, program files(x86), program data and app data

If you didnt delete all the adobe folders in these locations, any damaged files associated with pre flight tool would still be present. I can help you perform a complete clean up of the back end adobe folders and then help you reinstall the app and test this if you would like

Me:

Should I delete CC and Genuine Service, too?

Adobe:

Sure, please uninstall all adobe apps from the control panel and let me know once done and I will guide you to the exact location for the Adobe folders

Me:

ADE also?

Adobe:

Yes, you can reinstall ADE once the isssue with the pre flight tool is fixed

Please delete the Adobe folders in the below locations :

C: Program files> Adobe

C: program files > Common files>Adobe

C: Program files (X86) > Adobe

C: Program files X86 > Common files> Adobe

C: Program Data> Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> Roaming > Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> local > Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> local low > Adobe

Then download the direct installer for Acrobat from the below link :

helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-downloads.html

Launch Acrobat and sign in and check if the Preflight profiles appear now.

====================

[ronaldo_1401]

didn't work any more this solution.

try one more time do fix my acrobat and this time with this solutions and...

[Shawn Loomer]

I am having this issue as well and have tried all the steps here - did you ever find a solution that worked?

[tobij39213645]

Hi Shawn, hi Ronaldo, did you try my combination, mentioned in this post yesterday?
Did work fine. (Wrote it in German, but that shouldn't be a prob, I hope)

[leonardjfrench]

Sasme issue, April 15, 2025.

[tobij39213645]

Hallo Alle, 

für mich funktionierte nach langem Versuchen diese Kombination:
- alle Adobe Apps deinstallieren, incl. CC-App
- danach manuell alle Adobe Ordner (wie oben beschrieben) löschen

C: Program files> Adobe

C: program files > Common files>Adobe

C: Program files (X86) > Adobe

C: Program files X86 > Common files> Adobe

C: Program Data> Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> Roaming > Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> local > Adobe

C: User> Username> App data> local low > Adobe

- dann Acrobat einzeln installieren, von
https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/acrobat-dc-downloads.html
starten, anmelden 
- Preflight aufrufen, das wird dann erst extra installiert (mit Vollzugsmeldung)
- Preflight ist nach Programmneustart verfügbar, immer noch MIT Fehlermeldung, und OHNE Profile
- Preflight schliessen, und in > Einstellungen > Sicherheit (erweitert) Geschützten Modes & Erweiterte Sicherheit deaktivieren
- Acrobat neu starten, Preflight aufrufen, und alle Profile sind da!!! Juhuuubel!!
Danach Sicherheit wieder aktivieren, und alles läuft.
Ich wünsche viel Glück & Erfolg!!

[TL321]

I also lost all the Preflight Profiles in Adobe Acrobat. I re-installed Acrobat but it didn't help. And I don't have the authority to delete the folders mentioned in the other solution on this page. Also, I have a lot of Adobe apps installed with many personal settings and things, so I really don't want to uninstall everything and delete their folders.

I found another solution/workaround to this problem:

1. I opened the Preflight window in Adobe Acrobat.

2. I opened the dropdown list at the top, where it says "Essentials" (or one of the other librarys's name).

3. In the dropdown list I clicked on "Create new Library".

4. In the Window that appears, I first gave my new library a name, and in the "Initial set of Profiles" I choose one of the four original librarys (that had lost their profiles): "Prepress...", "PDF Standard", "Acrobat Pro..." or "Essentials".

5. The original profiles will then appear in my new Library:

Source:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/missing-preflight-libraries-from-print-production...

[timo_0928 · Accepted solution]

Hi there, an important note here, which I think is ultra important. Also for the developers at Adobe. This might be the reason why TL321 and  tobij39213645 might not be working for you!

I think what happens: When you start Adobe Acobat and install the preflight stuff and start it the first time, you probably get a warning that certain things could not be copied. When this happens, the Profile groups are already broken and cannot be fixed. I believe, that adobe creates empty files somewhere. When they are there, it won't try to create them ever again! (Unless you do clean install)

So what you ALSO need to do is to prevent the safety stuff / modes that you have probably read everywhere too. So as extension to the previous answers:

1.  Make a clean install
2.  Disable the safety stuff
3.  THEN install the preflight tools
4.  Hopefully it works then

I did it differently because i noticed this too late, but i would try the other stuff first. What I did:

1. Install adobe and preflight tools

2. Then i bricked my profile groups when I started preflight with safety stuff turned on

3. Then i disabled safety stuff

4. And THEN I did what TL321 said, basically creating a new own profile group which derives from another group.

5. Then it was done.

Hopefully this helps someone. And get this stuff fixed. It costed me 3 hours!

[menemuh]

Thank you! Works!

[themrgshow]

This solution worked for me. Much better than having to uninstall ALL Adobe apps and start from scratch.

[Piotr5CC5]

that worked for me!

[AnandSri]

Hello @Piotr5CC5!

We are glad to know that the suggestion worked for you, feel free to reach out if you need any assistance.

Thank you.

Anand Sri.