Reader and Acrobat on same PC

[RayConnon]

I want to install both Acrobat and Reader on same PC.

How can I do this?

[thisisinsane]

....you shouldn't install it unless you need to check that certain features of your forms ...

Or if the computer is a shared hot desk used by both licensed Acrobat users as well as users who have no license and need to use Reader. 

[thisisinsane]

A 64-bit unified installer is available - it installs both.

[JR Boulay]

Using an old version is not satisfactory or reliable.

Please read this topic: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/cannot-install-acrobat-reader-with-acrobat-pro/td...

And vote for this feature request: https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/suggestions/44794654-install...

[thisisinsane]

A unified installer is now available - it installs both.

Windows Virtual Deployment Overview — Acrobat Desktop Virtualization Guide (adobe.com)

[sirvin]

I too would like the ability to keep reader and pro on the same machine.  I'm permitted to have 2 concurrent active devices with my Creative Cloud account, but have several machines that I might ocassionally use.  Therefore I have CC installed but inactive on most of my devices.  On these they have Acrobat Pro isntalled, but any time I try to read a PDF i'm forced to go through my enterpise login process, then deactivate one of my 2 active machines.  I never go through all that, so i eventually just manually open the pdf in Edge.  This is incredibly annoying. 

If Acrobat is installed but CC is not signed in, Acrobat Pro should just function as Reader.  

[Amal.]

Hi there

The 64-bit application is a unified application for Acrobat DC and Acrobat Reader DC. If you have installed Acrobat Reader DC 64-bit and you purchase an Acrobat DC subscription, the Acrobat Reader DC 64-bit application will upgrade to become a fully functional Acrobat DC 64-bit application. 

For more information please check the help page https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/about-acrobat-reader-dc-migration-to-64-bit.html

~Amal

[try67]

@Amal. 

Many people are reporting issues with the application not switching back to Reader once their Acrobat subscription has ended, though. What's the proper procedure for that?

[Amal.]

Hi try67

Post subscription expiry, Acrobat moves to reduce mode (login is mandatory) and all free functionality works. 

Please let us know if users are facing any issues in reading PDFs or using free functionality.   

Regards

Amal

[sirvin]

Whenever I launch Adobe Acrrobat Pro DC (64-bit) I get the error "You've reached your device activation limit" and the prompt to sign out of one of my existing devices, otherwise my only choice is to "Quit Acrobat DC".  I am not seeing any behaviour where it is functioning as Reader, and in fact I see no way to view PDFs using Acrobat without going through that process to sign out of my other devices and sign in to this machine.

I'd like to be able to set Acrobat Reader as my default PDF application, and only launch Acrobat Pro (and therefore be forced to go through the device activation process) when I specifically need Pro features (which is very infrequently.)

[try67]

This is no longer possible. They are the same application now, in effect.

When you need the Pro features log in to your account. When you don't need them, log out (although I don't see the advantage of doing that over just staying logged in all the time).

[sirvin]

But unfortunately logging out of Acrobat DC leaves me with no functionality.  I can't view PDF's when it is logged out, I only have the ability to sign in by deactivating another device, or quit. 

I have 3+ computers, and opening PDF's on all of them is a very common everyday task.  Using full Creative Cloud apps such as Photoshop/Premier/etc on them is not a common everyday task for me.  Having my ability to read PDF's with an Adobe product being married to my Creative Cloud's login state is frustrating.  

What I've done at this point is completely uninstall Acrobat Pro DC, and installed only Acrobat Reader.  

[Guayruro]

I fixed this by downloaded another free PDF reader like pdf24 Creator with excellent online support.

[ls_rbls]

You may also consider using Acrobat Reader but keep your subscription for when you need to use basic editing  features.

If you only need some of Acrobat's editing functionalities, such rotating pages, adding pages, editing content, importing, exporting, converting or merging  files, commenr, fill and sign, for example, then you can use your subscription with Adobe online services.

You may also use a free AdobeID ussr account with some limited features or restrictions.

All you need is to be online and a web browser (such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge browser).

Conveniently, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are not dependent of a particular operating system either;  works with AndroidOS and iOS mobile devices, Linux desktop operating system distributions, Apple macOS or Microsoft Windows operating systems.

[G256120258zd7]

So correct me if I'm wrong but what we're saying is that for all the clients out there who have 95% of users needing Reader and occasional use of Pro, we can't have both installed with reader as default and then users select to open in Pro when they need to edit something?  Instead we need to use 3rd party readers or 32bit adobe reader and 64bit acrobat pro?  This is such a headache

[ls_rbls]

I know, it seems like a headache.

I was trying to offer a work around to Sirvin in regards of this issue.

That response didn't  help from taking a deeper look at your feedback.

I should've said something more along the lines of  Acrobat Pro  licensing options.

However, a great amount of similar discusions in these forums have made the community aware that, sometimes, having Acrobat Pro DC and Acrobat Reader DC installed in parallel is the cause for other many issues and erratic software behavior.

Based on those discussions, I  learned to never install Acrobat through the Creative Cloud (CC) desktop app, for example, nor the regular links offered through the main download page or through the AdobeID account.

You may choose to use the Acrobat Reader offline installer instead:

• https://get.adobe.com/enterprise/#

NOTE:

Be aware on that page (at the bottom) that Adobe Reader is available for distribution beyond single-user installation and can be deployed with a volume license.

In addition, if I don't need other Adobe apps to collaborate or interact with Acrobat, I just disable the CC desktop app.

If it helps in any way with this topic, the main migration initiative from 32bit to 64 bit are mentioned in the following links:

• https://helpx.adobe.com/in/acrobat/kb/about-acrobat-reader-dc-migration-to-64-bit.html

To reiterate what Amal and Try67 already said,  if you already have Adobe Reader 32 bit version it will be automatically upgraded to 64 bit.

And if you already have Reader installed with an Acrobat Pro paid subscription, the 64 bit migration is now a unified version of both Reader and Acrobat.

If you don't want that, you can disable such upgrade as described in the link above.

[G256120258zd7]

Hi - thanks for the info.  Maybe it's just filtering at work but I get 403 forbidden from that enterprise link?
So far I don't see a solution for devices where users want to test in reader while designing in pro, or where some users have a pro licence and others don't.  I should imagine this covers a vast amount of acrobat users?
Since 32bit upgrades to 64bit and 64bit is integrated, it seems there is no way to even split it like that anymore?
Yesterday I tried to install pro for someone who had reader, but even after it installed it still showed reader in the title bar.  I had to remove it all and install pro from the CC app and then it did indeed install pro and said pro in the toolbar - luckily he had no desire for normal reader, but others will and right now it seems like the acrobat town is on fire and adobe are just admiring a new paint job they gave the town hall  😐

[ls_rbls]

Try this other link : https://get.adobe.com/reader/enterprise/

[Tiffany29313582fkev]

it doesnt SEEM like a headache. it IS a major migraine!  I attempted multiple times to "deactivate" the upgrades. that was an epic waste of time and i still have no functionality unless i log in for pro, which i have no need for and dont want to have to log out of one of the other devices to do this either, just to have to redo it all again tomorrow on the other computer. Listen to the customers and give them BASIC FUNCTIONALITY no matter what program is installed on the computer.

Whoever suggested and whoever agreed that this migration was a good idea, should be fired.

[ls_rbls]

@Tiffany29313582fkev ,

Just for clarification I am an Adobe customer who happens to listen and help other Adobe Acrobat users through voluntary contributions.

You may have a greater chance to voice your observations directly to Adobe using the link below:

• https://www.adobe.com/products/wishform.html

[Tiffany29313582fkev]

it is one of the most infuriating Downgrades adobe has done to us yet. There is ZERO logical reason for us to not be able to simply read a pdf without having to log into anything. On top of the "2 device limit" which is absurd, like you said most of the pro tools are rarely needed. Either they think this will make them more money or they are just completely ignorant to the needs of its consumers. As someone indicated below, they quite obviously DO NOT CARE. i hope every pen they try to use runs out of ink after 4 letters for the rest of their lives.

[JPino]

Hey Adobe!!! Allow users to switch to standard Adobe Reader when they sign out or switch to a non-subscription account. Don’t just close the program or force them to try sign up for a free trial/7 days of Pro. I already pay for Acrobat Pro/Creative Cloud. It’s now very frustrating testing fillable forms for end users or really anything that you expect users to be running standard Reader. We used to be able to run Reader and Pro as standalone apps but with them being one and the same now; I can't change over to stander Reader or back into Pro without uninstalling and reinstalling. This is tremendous loss of productivity and revenue. I'm not sure you all understand the impact this is having for creatives and developers. 

[Ko Za]

Agreed! I build forms out for the organization and need to check against what others who only have Adobe Reader can and can't do... I'm no longer able to do this if I can't easily toggle back and forth between reader and pro.

[Amal.]

Hi @Ko Za 

If you have installed the 32-bit Acrobat Reader application, you will be automatically upgraded to the 64-bit version of Acrobat Reader gradually. If you have installed Acrobat Reader 64-bit and you purchase an Acrobat subscription, the Acrobat Reader 64-bit application will upgrade to become a fully functional Acrobat 64-bit application. 

For more information, please go through the help page https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/about-acrobat-reader-dc-migration-to-64-bit.html

Regards

Amal

[Michael Trout]

Thank you, Amal. This does not address the use case where someone with a subscription wishes to confirm that users with the Reader only will be able to access forms created using the full version and saved appropriately. Prior to this change, users could have both versions installed concurrently for testing purposes. After this change, this is no longer possible without going through unwarranted extra steps. Running a virtual machine just to install Reader and using a separate computer just to access Reader are examples of unwarranted extra steps.

Although everything SHOULD work out and the tools should function as advertised and designed, the design users are unable to confirm that the forms will work as intended. If an issue happens to occur, the first notice of this will be when their recipients report back to them of a problem. Which they now cannot see or diagnose before hand.

Please consider re-enabling the concurrent installation of Reader and the full version of Acrobat Pro for those that elect to do so.

[RayConnon]

Hello Michael

Whatever we collectively want from Adobe is unlikely to occur.

Being the instegator of this question I am resigned to having Adobe Acrobat DC subscription on one PC, and Acrobat Reader on another for testing.

Adobe also installs a couple of tasks on the PC containing DC subscription. They appear in the Task Manager as 'Adobe Update Service', 'Adobe AcroCEF' and 'Adobe Collaboration Synchronizer 22.3' - for now.

These tasks can be removed and deleted but will reappear the next time you log onto your Adobe account. I have performed the removal task 3 or 4 times, and some time shortly after accessing my Adobe account the apps are visible in Task Manager. (There is a Adobe executable to remove them)

These processes update the DC subscription in the background and depending what other applications you have installed can affect the operation of those applications - particularly if they are able to output PDF format documents.

I opened this enquiry more than 12 months ago. The Adobe line has been to use Acrobat DC. They don't offer any constructive advice how to resolve the issue.

All in all, the best option is to recognise that Adobe doesn't care about its customers, so install Reader on another laptop or move away from Adobe. We have started using PyPDF2 and python to resolve most of our requirements for installing Acrobat DC.

Regards

Ray Connon