Unable to Install Acrobat on Catalina 10.15.5

Report · Jun 10, 2020

Hi All,

I'm currently trying to install Adobe Acrobat on a machine running Catalina 10.15.5.

When opening the installer I get the "untrusted" prompt window with "Show in Finder" and "Ok" buttons. I click Ok, open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Open anyways.

Note: While opening these windows the installer opens up and appears to start before I complete those steps. It doesn't get far though because it says installtion failed with an option to Quit.

After clicking "Open Anyways", another "untrusted" prompt window appears with the same "Show in Finder" and "Ok" buttons. I click Ok, open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Open anyways.

Note: While opening these windows the installer opens up and appears to start before I complete those steps. It doesn't get far though because it says installtion failed with an option to Quit.

If it looks like there was an accidental copy/paste above, I assure you it wasn't. I am stuck in a loop where it seems to continuously untrust itself and opens another installer window(that fails) when I click "Open Anyways" in System Preferences. I also tried the other method of Right-Click > Open on the Installer but I run into the same issue.

I've tried downloading a new installer, tried rebooting, ran the AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool because before Catalina was put on the machine there was a working Acrobat prior. I was able to successfully run the same exact installer on another machine running the same 10.15.5 Catalina (I sent it from the machine having issues to the machine that works with no issue) Also worth noting is that I never got an "untrusted" box on the second machine and Adobe installed with no issue.

Any ideas would be awesome!

Report · Jun 10, 2020

I'm not sure I know which "untrusted" message you mean. I don't remember seeing a box with those exact choices. Perhaps it comes from the browser? Maybe show a screen shot.

Report · Jun 10, 2020

Apologies, I've been referring to this window with the same nickname ever since I started seeing it whenever installing software after the Catalina upgrade. Not sure why I assumed everyone else would just know what I was talking about.

Report · Jun 10, 2020

Thanks. That is Apple's weird way of saying "This app is not notarized - or I can't check the notarization". Notarization is something developers have to do for every app and installer. Apple check this. The reference to malware has caused a lot of confusion. It is the key reason you need all new software for Catalina (not the 64 bit thing the press have got hold of).

Now, you say the very same installer download has been OK on another system, even if you copy the download. So... if so... can this Mac reach the internet OK?

Report · Jun 10, 2020

Yes. The Mac having the issues is the Mac that actually downloaded the Adobe installer from the Adobe website.

Report · Jun 10, 2020

Try downloading from the link below:

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

Or install creative cloud first and then install Acrobat from within it.

https://helpx.adobe.com/in/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-app-download.html

Report · Jun 10, 2020

Also, you can go for this option and disable gatekeeping ( which this security notarization check feature is called )

1. In your MacOS Catalina, open the Terminal; you can do this by heading towards the Applications folder and then the Utility folder.

2. Add in the command sudo spctl –master-disable and press the enter button. Once done, you will be prompted to enter the admin password; click on Enter once you are done with the authentication.

3. Next, you have to open the ‘System Preferences.’ Head over to the ‘Security and Privacy‘ and then to the General tab. Here, navigate to the section ‘Allow apps downloaded from‘; you will see the option labeled as ‘Anywhere.’ Select the option and save all the changes.

Try and see if it works.