Very slow opening large files with newest update to Acrobat

Report · Jun 27, 2022

Our company works with large PDF files on a regular basis, 250MB-1.5GB. This past week files are taking 10 minutes or more to open. This behavior is only showing up on our users that are on the latest update. Opening the PDFs with an older version of Acrobat 2022 or even Acrobat 2020 and the files open instantly.

Same machine - 280MB file:

Acrobat Reader DC 2022.001.20117 - file opens instantly

Acrobat Pro DC 2022.001.20142 - 10 minutes to open

Going thru the preferences between the apps and they look the same. Disabling security had no effect on the opening speed.

Report · Dec 18, 2022

I have had difficulty with Acrobat DC being slow to open (my Mac beachball twirling for 30+ sec.), especially when the program is first opened and attempts to open the first file.

You mentioned disabling the "Protected Mode at Startup" and "Protected View" settings (as well as the "Enhanced Security" setting). I found the "Enhanced Security" Setting under the left sidebar heading "Security (Enhanced)". It was not checked, so wasn't enabled. I never found the "Protected Mode…" or "Protected View" under any of the sidebar headings. Where did you find those two setting?

Report · Jan 10, 2023

Hi Roger,

The "Protected Mode…" & "Protected View" settings are also on the "Security (Enhanced)" page and are located immediately above the "Enhanced Security" checkbox (see attached screenshot).

Regards,

Donald

Report · Jul 21, 2023

Any updates on the problems with large files? I had to install latest Acrobat Pro with new laptop. Files worked fine on old laptop with older version. I have a 25M file with 29 small comments -- takes an eternity to load the comments. I tried disabling security options as mentioned elsewhere and also unstalling/reinstalling. I had disabled the "new look", but performance is the same with it enabled or disabled.

Report · Jul 21, 2023

Never heard anything back. I uploaded demo files to the requested location that we were having problems with and never got any feedback other than to continue asking me to troubleshoot their application for them. Our production teams have had to work on outdated versions for over a year now.

Report · Jul 21, 2023

I heard the same from a colleague at another company, that they are staying backlevel because of these issues.