repeated "Adobe Acrobat has encountered an error and needs to close" referencing "error code 205"

[tracyf35133019]

I've uninstalled Acrobat and reinstalled multiple times (and restarted my machine), because error code 205 appears to be an issue with the downloaded file, but I'm still unable to launch Acrobat. There are NO firewalls and I'm not on a network – I'm a freelancer working from home and on the same desktop (system updates all current) the past six years without any issues with Creative Cloud until recently. Any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated. I'm unable to work without access to Acrobat!

[denise_2485 · Accepted solution]

Hello, I have a MacBook Pro 15-inch (2018) and have been facing the same dilemma for months. I'm a college student, so my school gives me access to Adobe. 

I logged my Creative Cloud out and signed back in and that got my Adobe Acrobat working again, thank god!

[tracyf35133019]

Dropping back in to say I saw elsewhere someone solved the same issue with Illustrator by logging out of CC and logging back in, but I just tried that and it did NOT work for me. Still got the same error on Acrobat. 😓

[AkanchhaS]

Hi @tracyf35133019 

Sorry to hear about the trouble caused. 

Cause of this error:

Sometimes Adobe apps cannot store your profile and licensing information in secure storage (Credential Manager in Windows and Keychain in macOS). When you try to open an Adobe app, you might get the error code 205.

Try the troubleshooting steps suggested here https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/fix-licensing-error-205.html 

If it doesn't help, then. 

• Close CC desktop app completely
• Run this cleaner tool to remove the existing installer and application’s file traces:
• https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html
• Do not launch the Creative Cloud desktop app
• Download the Acrobat direct installer from here:

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

Hope this works.

Thanks,

Akanchha

[DANIELLE34894035k3xo]

Hi Akanchha, 

I had the same issue and did the exact thing you reported and the same 205 error is popping up. 

Please help! 

Thanks

[Abambo]

Hi Akanchha, 

I had the same issue and did the exact thing you reported and the same 205 error is popping up. 

Please help! 

Thanks

By @DANIELLE34894035k3xo

What is your OS and version? Are you part of an IT managed computer pool, or is this your private machine?

[JakeWelch]

Hi, I've had the same issue for a while now. Have followed every possible troubleshooting tip with no luck. MacOS 14.4.1 .

[rolandos12886249]

My fix was to logged out from Adobe app and log back in with Acrobat first.

[Liam35154029fez8]

This worked for me too. Log out of Adobe and then reopen and open an Acrobat file first.

[Cintia344070466rz5]

It worked for me too. I am happy that it's sorted. 

[denise_2485 · Accepted solution]

Hello, I have a MacBook Pro 15-inch (2018) and have been facing the same dilemma for months. I'm a college student, so my school gives me access to Adobe. 

I logged my Creative Cloud out and signed back in and that got my Adobe Acrobat working again, thank god!

[AnandSri · Accepted solution]

Hello Denise!

I hope you are doing well, and thanks for sharing the steps which worked for you. 

For future reference, if you encounter any similar issues with Acrobat activation, please refer to this article, which provides detailed information on troubleshooting activation problems: https://adobe.ly/3YaqnHr

Feel free to reach out if you need any assistance.

Regards,

Anand Sri.