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namuwood
New Participant
January 27, 2017
Answered

Acrobat Reader DC Won't Launch

  • January 27, 2017
  • 6 replies
  • 173134 views

I recently installed Acrobat Reader DC and it won't launch.  I'm logged on as Administrator, I click on the icon to launch to program, it asks if I want to allow it to make changes to my computer, I say yes and -- nothing!

What do I need to do to make this work?  A large number of my files are pdf and I need it to work!

    Correct answer miskom47084855

    2. step worked for me. i could not start adobe from tcup (total commander) in administrator mode. but after unchecking that enhanced security two ticks.... it works, thank you

    6 replies

    T
    t_guy_nxt_door
    New Participant
    June 3, 2022

    Hi everyone.

    FYI, i had this same issue. After going through this articale and performing the below 2 steps it worked:

    1. changing the registry entry as mentioned by shaktikeshri:

    At the following registry key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\Privileged]

    create dword bEnableProtectedModeAppContainer and make it value 0

    ==> Finally, it opened Adobe Acrobat DC (latest ersion as of 3rd Jun 2022)

    2. Disabled the Protected mode as mentioned by Amal.:

    turn off the protected mode. Go to Edit (Windows), Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Mac) > Preferences > Enhanced Security > turn off the protected mode and uncheck the enhanced security > Click OK

     

    Hopefully, this lasts.

      4
      49erJohn
      New Participant
      September 23, 2022

      t_guy_nxt_door

      unfortunately this option will not work for me on the registry edit due to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\" after this step my option given in the registry editor doesn't have Acrobat Reader as an option. After "Adobe" I see "Acrobat" which will lead me to "PDFMaker". I have "Adobe Acrobat" as an option that will give me "DC" but after I click on "DC" I have no "Privileged" option under that selection. I have tried Uninstalling and reinstalling 4 times in a span of 24hrs. It installs, but when I try to open it, it doesn't open. I see it trying to, but it just goes away. 

      I have Win10 with Adobe Acrobat DC Subscription. I am at a loss...........

      O
      oceanalliance
      New Participant
      April 8, 2022

      Didn't work for me either. Tried a bunch of these different supposed solutions. Nothing worked. Downloading Foxit instead. Using Parallels Windows 11 on a Macbook Pro - perhaps there is something incompatable with Parellels?

      Amal.
      Community Manager
      Amal.Community Manager
      Community Manager
      April 11, 2022

      Hi there

       

      What happens when you try to use the Acrobat DC application? Do you get any error message? If yes please share the screenshot of the same. Also try to use the application n Windows OS and see if that helps.

       

      Regards

      Amal

      J
      juliant37812174
      New Participant
      November 17, 2020

      Same here... If I run as admin, it asks to allow changes then doesn't start.  If I dont run as admin, it just doesn't run.

      Brand new version, just tried re-install today.  Also tried repair, and tried 2 different languages on install.

      I can see it appears in task manager twice when I run it, but quickly shuts down.

      The .exe file has product version 20.13.20064.405839

      J
      juliant37812174
      New Participant
      November 17, 2020

      Forgot to mention I also tried the Registry key, no difference.  Just installed Foxit, no change.

      Amal.
      Community Manager
      Amal.Community Manager
      Community Manager
      November 18, 2020

      Hi Juliant

       

      Thanks for sharing the information.

       

      Please try to create a new test user profile in Windows or enable the root account in Mac and try using the application there and check.

       

      If it still doesn't work, please remove the application using the link https://labs.adobe.com/downloads/acrobatcleaner.html  , reboot the computer once and reinstall the application using the link https://get.adobe.com/reader/enterprise/

       

      Regards

      Amal

      P
      PeterHuntforideasPERTH
      New Participant
      November 9, 2020

      I have the problem being discussed, but the Windows solutions are of no help to me. Can someone tell me what to do to get DC to launch again on my MAC. Thanks

      Regards,

      Pete

      prateekbandoni_19996161
      prateekbandoni_19996161
      Participating Frequently
      May 27, 2017

      Hi,

      If repair does not work try to uninstall and reinstall the Acrobat Reader DC

      Uninstall:

      1,  Press and hold window key+Rkey > type appwiz.cpl > uninstall the Acrobat Reader DC

      OR

      1. Close Acrobat/Reader and all open web browser windows.
      2. Click the Start button at the bottom-left of your screen.
      3. Go to Control Panel or Settings then Control Panel.
      4. Click on Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista/Windows 7).
      5. Click on Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

      2.  Again open run command Win+R> type %temp% > delete all the files there.

      **Then try to reinstall the Acrobat Reader DC

      K
      Adobe Employee
      Kshakti
      Adobe Employee
      May 18, 2019

      Hi namuwood/amandas18482035,

      Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

      Please create the following registry and verify:

      At the following registry key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\Privileged]

      create dword bEnableProtectedModeAppContainer and make it value 0

      Please relaunch your Reader and verify if its able to launch now.

      Confirm to me once you experiment this out.

      This is a security preference, so ideally it should be enabled to protect Reader from exploits and vulnerabilities.

      If your are able to launch Reader after disabling the registry value, I would like to get to the root cause of this issue after enabling the registry back . It could be due to some configuration in your system or some antivirus software conflicting.

      Thanks,

      Shakti K

        S
        stewpot64
        New Participant
        June 13, 2020

        I'm having the same problem and tried everything suggested so far except the registry key, I dont know how to do that. Thanks for your help!


        I too am having trouble running Acrobat rdeader. I have unistalled twicer, I keep getting the same message ....cannot find Acrd32.exe. try again. Unable to find the file on my computer. I wonder if the latest windows update is conflicting, or whether it is missing from yourlatest download.  Help please, I have no knowledge to the internal workings of my computer but use pdf files regularly.

         

        Thanks

        Adorobat
        Community Manager
        AdorobatCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        January 27, 2017

        Hi namuwood,

        Could you please try restarting the computer, launch Reader again and see if application starts.

        If it doesn't, try closing process related to Reader in task manager and launch Reader again.

        Also, try to right click on a pdf file>select Open with>select Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

        Please confirm the version of Reader installed on the machine?

        Which Operating System is installed on the machine? 

        A
        amandas18482035
        New Participant
        May 26, 2017

        I am having this same problem. I tried all of your suggestions and my Adobe Acrobat Reader DC application still will not open.

        Adorobat
        Community Manager
        AdorobatCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        May 27, 2017

        Hi amandas18482035,

        Assuming you have Windows OS installed on the computer, try repairing Reader and see if that helps.

        Go to Start>Control Panel>select Adobe Acrobat Reader DC>right-click>Change.

        Click the radio button "Repair installation ........" if it isn't already>click Next.

        Once the Repair is complete, reboot the machine and try launching Reader again.

        Which Operating System is installed on the machine?

        Keep us posted with the results.

        Shivam

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