Unable to open multiple PDFs at a time

[mainu2300574]

I am working with a user using Adobe Acrobat Pro 64bit unable to to open multiple PDFs at a time recently. I have verified that Adobe, Windows, and their laptop firmware are up to date. I have disabled protected mode and that did not resolve the issue either. Restarting the laptop has not helped resolve this issue either. Are there any other steps I can try to help resolve the issue? This has been ongoing for a few days, before then, the user could access w/o any issue. 

[AkanchhaS]

Hi @mainu2300574 

When you say that you are unable to open multiple pdfs at a time, could you please elaborate on this statement a little more/

While opening a pdf file, is there any error message you receive? Does it open the first pdf file and then not open the other files after opening the one/

Also, from where are you opening the files? Is it through the Windows file explorer or Document Cloud?

• Close the application from the task manager once. And then restart the computer.
• After that, launch Acrobat, and try opening the file. If that doesn't work, then. 
• Navigate to Acrobat>Edit>Preferences>Security (Enhanced)>disable "Protected Mode at Start-up", "Protected View," and "Enhanced Security">OK>close and reopen Acrobat.

Note: these changes are only for testing purposes. Once tested, please change it back to the previous setting. 

Try opening the file again.

Let us know the result.

Thanks,

Akanchha 

[mainu2300574]

Hello, 

We are able to open the first PDF file. If we attempt to open a second file, we do not receive any error message or popup. The file will not open in Adobe. 
I am opening files thru file explorer. The user normally accesses files off a network, but we are having this issue on both network drives and locally saved files. 

I have edited the protected mode to disable, but that did not help in this case unfortuantely. 

Regards, J

[squaresalt]

I'm having the same issue started this morning, did you manage to find a solution?

Thanks.

[mikej78789394]

i am having the same issue. I have found if I contuously click on the document it will eventually open but it could take 10 or more clicks before it does. very frustrating.

[mikej78789394]

Very odd scenario. I have been having this issue for a week or so. I also checked for latest updates and did a computer restart with no success. Hoever, in responding to the post above I had to log into adobe. Since doing that I have had no issues opening multiple docs. We'll see if this continues or if it reverts back.

[KLChris406]

I -AM- logged into adobe and am still having this issue. Very frustrating.

[mikej78789394]

Have not provided an update for a while. unfortunately, after my short lived apparant somewhat victory by logging into adobe, i still continue to have the same problem along with others in our company.

[j�r�my_7843]

Hello, i have seemingly the same problem. When i have multiple PDF to open at once (by select all file then right click open) it's opening only few of them. It was working before. Very annoying because i have to open à lot of documents by group. I Have Adobe acrobat pro 2024.005.20320

[Markus35338700o9hw]

Same issue!

[trevort81343083]

Any update on this issue. Still an active issue for our end users. 

[Daish381304443yyt]

I'm having the same problem

[Dina34551228r93t]

Same issue here, multiple computers and logons.

Also performance is horendous!!!! did all the troubleshooting

steps in community discussions, still unbearable!!

I uninstalled the extra adobe programs, cloud updater etc... and that seemed to help the most for performance

[Roger36100664d5u0]

Same issue here, was not a problem up until about December, now I can only open 1 PDF file at a time so going to have to chage default app to another reader as Acrobat reader is broken with no apparent fix.

[Alex245131020a08]

I have been facing the same isue for my users and i have tried the below workround and it seems working so far:

• Navigate to Acrobat>Edit>Preferences>Security (Enhanced)>disable "Protected Mode at Start-up", "Protected View," and "Enhanced Security">OK>close and reopen Acrobat.
• Go to General and disable openeing multiple PDFs in tabs (so every PDF will be opened in separate window)
• close your Adobe and reopen it again

[squaresalt]

• Go to General and disable openeing multiple PDFs in tabs (so every PDF will be opened in separate window)

This seems to be working for me, I can open 10 PDFs in one go, but it also opened 10 separate windows.... 

Good that you found the problem, can Adobe fix this please.

[KLChris406]

Oh, this is FANTASTIC, thank you! I also hated it opening up multiple tabs
in one window - I often have to copy information from a pdf into a fillable
form, so separate windows are better anyway

[AnandSri]

Hello!

I hope you're doing well, and we apologize for the delayed response.

Glad to hear it worked for you! Please make sure you have the latest version installed (24.005.20421, Optional Update – Feb 24, 2025). For future reference, you can check this article: Adobe Release Notes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[GusA]

I am having the same issue - unable to open more than one file, be it in tabs or separate mode - no error messages, no warnings, no nothing. I must close one file to open another. I checked for updates and there were none. What's the problem?

[AnandSri]

Hello!

I hope you are doing well, and we apologise for the delayed response and trouble.

Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20458 Planned update, Apr 15, 2025. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and check. For more information, see this: https://adobe.ly/3GgUl6C

For testing purposes, Disable Protected Mode (Windows only): Protected Mode can sometimes interfere with opening multiple PDFs: Open Acrobat. Go to Menu > Preferences > Security (Enhanced). Uncheck the following options: Enable Protected Mode at startup, Enable Enhanced Security. Click OK and restart Acrobat. Only do this for testing purposes and re-enable them afterwards.

Navigate to the Preferences > General > check/uncheck the option of Open documents as new tabs in the same window. Click OK, and restart the app.

If the issue still persists, please use the Acrobat Cleaner tool to remove the app, restart the machine, and install Acrobat.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[GusA]

Thanks for your reply Anand.

I have the latest version as specified. I unistalled the app and reinstalled and applied the latest version to no avail. I then used the Cleaner tool which ran continuously for over 16 hours at which point I terminated the program.

I then had to go my web account to unistall and reinstall as it no longer appeared in Programs and Features. I again applied the latest version and disabled Protected mode and Enhanced security which soloved the problem. When I reinstated Protected mode and Enhanced sucurity, the problem returned. I also tried disabling Protected mode alone which solved the problem.

Finally I reanbled Protected mode and continue to have the problem. Any further thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks again.

[GusA]

As an additional note, opening multiple files used to work with protected mode enabled. Disabling protected mode is generally a bad idea, opening the door for potentially destructive code.