Acrobat opening but not displaying PDF

[AllieT316]

When I try to open a PDF, Acrobat opens but does not display a window. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling but same issue. It shows up in the menu at the top so I know it's open and I can print the pdf I opened... just can see the actual document, which is very frustrating for me. Any idea what I can do?

[janetm11343302]

I'm having the same issue and have reinstalled 5 times...beyond frustrating. I have been using the program for years and have not encountered this issue.

[mollyg1943]

I also am having the same issue, and it just started within the past week. Acrobat opens but does not display any document. This makes Acrobat Reader DC useless!!

[AkanchhaS · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

Sorry to hear the inconvenience caused to you and the delay in response to your queries.

You may use the cleaner tool to uninstall the application completely-

Windows-

http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/acrobatcleaner.html

Mac- Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs

Download it from- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Install for all versions

Regards,

Akanchha

[annem645]

Thank you - this finally fixed my problem!  Spent HOURS trying to resolve until I found this forum thread!

[AkanchhaS]

That's great to hear it worked for you.

Let us know if any further assistance is required.

Regards,

Akanchha

[tylerh26953179]

What is the cause of this issue? Because I can't have everyone in our entire company go through this process.

[Test Screen Name]

Some people find Window > Tile > Horizontal fixes it.

[tylerh26953179]

Thanks, but I tried that on 3 different Macbooks and it did not solve anything. Only way I was able to fix it was uninstall Acrobat completely with the cleaner tool and reinstall it.

I am really looking for what is causing this issue, because I can't have our entire organization go through downloading the cleaner tool and then reinstall Acrobat. Its really frustrating that it seems to be a random error.

[jordan.loves.red]

this worked!

[hwak62815595]

That fixed mine! Thank you!

[tr45013723]

This fixed it for me - thank goodness. I reinstalled it 4 times to no avail. BEYOND frustrating. I would have been FURIOUS trying to deal with a cleaner app. I've used this app for over a decade without issue and suddenly this. So whoever figured out this simple solution - thank you as you are a genius.

[Test Screen Name]

You need to use Window > Tile when a file is shown as open in the Window menu. If that doesn't fix it, that isn't the same problem as I'm familiar with.

[Jill.edu]

Thank you Test Screen name! This worked.

[ninag70571711]

Same issue here. Tried to the cleaning tool, still the same issue.

Gave it up, really annoying for a paid tool...

[shirleym74123960]

similar/same issue here

reader will not open

uninstalled/reinstalled multiple times

used cleaner & reinstalled, no change

every time I try to launch (this was also happening before the no-start issue) I get a user-account-control alert "do you want to allow this app to make a change to this computer?" as if I were trying to install or update it

windows 10

latest version of reader dc

domain user account with appropriate user rights to both install and use this app

I'm the IT mgr sending this message from the end user's workstation

[default83u0r4wksuv5]

These links don't work. Our company is having the same issue. I can see the text on the pdf when I preview in my email provider, but when I try to open the Acrobat acts like the PDF is blank. We pay for enterprise level. This isn't acceptable.

[Carlos Mario5CA3]

Sorry to open a old thread, but after many diagnoses and "cleaning" of installations (doesn't work at all)  I may be get the answer:

My problem started after I connect a secondary monitor and display a PDF in that monitor, then got to work on a only monitor configuration,   when I double click a file on windows explorer, the two AcroRd32.exe process are visible on Task Manager, but no window displayed at all, I have to force close the process and manually open the Acrobat Reader Shortcut on start menu, then the main window is displayed and I can open the file or even double click a file on exploer and the file is open on the visible window.

now I did connect a secondary monitor again and voaila,  when I double click a file on explorer, guess:  the window for acrobat reader was open on the secondary monitor.  manually move the opened window to primary monitor, maximize it and close,  remove secondary monitor and now every time I double click a file on explorer the file is open and visible!!

for some reason Adobe acrobat remember the monitor last open but doesn't change if there is no secondary monitor.

[joryellen]

Yeeesss!, exactly the same problem, thank you.

[Shankar356030134msp]

It's 2025 and I'm still getting this issue that was first reported in 2017. Pretty core aspect for a software to be seen. How about Adobe use the money we pay for subscriptions and finally fix this? Is that too wild of a thought?

[AnandSri]

Hello @Shankar356030134msp!

I hope you are doing well, and we are sorry for the trouble you had. 

Could you please share more details about the issue? Do you have a dual/multi-monitor setup? Are you on a Windows or a Mac machine, and what is the version? Have you tried the suggestions from the thread? Please ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app, and the machine.

If you have the same issue mentioned in this old thread, try the following suggestions, and let us know if that works for you: 

Disable Protected Mode & Enhanced Security for testing purposes: 

• Menu→ Preferences → Security (Enhanced)

• Uncheck “Enable Protected Mode at startup.”

• Click OK and restart Acrobat.

• Enable the security settings after the test.

Turn Off GPU Acceleration (If available): 

• Menu→ Preferences → Page Display

• Under Rendering, uncheck “any graphics acceleration option.”

• Click OK and relaunch.

If the issue still persists, please share the current version of the operating system installed, the version of Acrobat installed, a sample PDF that is causing the issue, if possible, a quick screen recording showing the issue, and the logs from the affected machine. Download the Log collector tool, run it, ensure all the log options are selected, try to reproduce the issue, and close the Log collector tool. It will generate the logs and a log ID. Please share it with us for further investigation.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[kathy_1856]

Mac OS Sequoia , V 15.5 is NOT on the drop-down mentu to upgrade or repair Acrobat.   ???????

[AnandSri]

Hello @kathy_1856!

I hope you are doing well.

Navigate to Acrobat > Help> Select the option to check for updates, install any available updates, and restart the app and the machine. Could you please share a screenshot of the section you see? Also, please tell us more about the issue.

You can also try the suggestions from this article: https://adobe.ly/3FN27oM

We're here to help, just need more info.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.