Skip to main content
G
glenng105
Participant
May 15, 2018
Answered

Adobe Reader DC won't open files on network drives

  • May 15, 2018
  • 4 replies
  • 33947 views

Since the last update (2018.001.20040), Adobe Reader DC has been acting oddly. It now requires UAC approval upon opening every document, even if the reader is already open and displaying other documents. It also won't open any PDF's that are located on network drives saying, "There was an error opening this document. This file cannot be found." If the same files are copied to my hard drive, they open just fine. It does not appear to be a permissions issue as my account is set for full control for these files and directories. I am also the administrator account on my PC as well as the network and server.

Adobe reader is set to run as administrator (which I have no recollection of setting), and if I turn this setting off, it will not open ANY documents. It gives no error, they just don't open and the reader shows the recent file screen.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the program multiple times, downloaded a slightly older version (2018.001.20035), with no change in behavior. I tried using the AdobeAcroCleaner_DC2015 tool, which seemed to run successfully, but resulted in no improvement upon reinstalling.

This is a Windows 7 Pro computer.

Thank you.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer glenng105

    Finally resolved this issue. For whatever reason, when reinstalling Adobe Reader it was automatically setting the program to "Run as Administrator". I had to close all instances of Adobe Reader and go to Properties - Compatibility - select "change settings for all users" - and deselect "Run this program as an administrator" under the "Privilege Level" area, then hit the Apply button. I had tried this multiple times unsuccessfully before, but I must've had an instance of the program still running, so it wouldn't stay deselected. Now the program runs normally without asking me for UAC permission upon opening each document, and I can open documents that are located on the server. Not sure why the program installed with the "Run this program as an administrator" option selected, but problem solved.

    4 replies

    D
    dsfhgdfg
    Participant
    December 8, 2020

    Finally found this solution and it worked.  Thanks 

    smack2527
    smack2527
    Participant
    April 23, 2020

    @Glenng105 you are a genius! I was unable to open any PDF files in Acrobat Pro DC until I changed the setting from "Run as administrator" for my PC.  Thank you!!

      G
      glenng105AuthorCorrect answer
      Participant
      May 24, 2018

      Finally resolved this issue. For whatever reason, when reinstalling Adobe Reader it was automatically setting the program to "Run as Administrator". I had to close all instances of Adobe Reader and go to Properties - Compatibility - select "change settings for all users" - and deselect "Run this program as an administrator" under the "Privilege Level" area, then hit the Apply button. I had tried this multiple times unsuccessfully before, but I must've had an instance of the program still running, so it wouldn't stay deselected. Now the program runs normally without asking me for UAC permission upon opening each document, and I can open documents that are located on the server. Not sure why the program installed with the "Run this program as an administrator" option selected, but problem solved.

      J
      JAMAN5E8D
      Participant
      March 3, 2021

      i have tried ,,but now its asking for admin credential everytime whenever I open pdf files

      V
      vadim-nik
      Participant
      January 28, 2023

      All users must be set to be compatible with Windows 8.

      K
      Adobe Employee
      Kshakti
      Adobe Employee
      May 15, 2018

      Hi glenng105,

      Sorry for the inconvenience caused to you.

      Let me know if my below understanding is correct:

      • Issue does not look to be Adobe Reader version specific as you are experiencing the same issue for earlier Adobe Reader versions too.

      Can you please verify the behavior of Non PDF files at your end.

      • Like try opening MS Word files

      Thanks,

      Shakti

      G
      glenng105Author
      Participant
      May 16, 2018

      Hello Shakti,

           All other files work fine from the network drives; Word files, Autocad, Solidworks, images, Excel, etc. Sorry for the delayed response - I was out of town yesterday.

           Thanks!

      K
      Adobe Employee
      Kshakti
      Adobe Employee
      May 16, 2018

      Hi glenng105,

      You mentioned below things:

      Since the last update (2018.001.20040) which means that issue started appearing from the latest release.

      downloaded a slightly older version (2018.001.20035), with no change in behavior. which means that the behavior can is also reproducible for earlier versions of Reader as well.

      Please let me know:

      1. Can you please confirm that you started seeing the behavior after the Adobe Reader update ?
      2. Is there any OS update also on your machine around the same time as Adobe Reader update?
      3. Can you send the UAC setting on your machine for both internet and intranet.

      Thanks,

      Shakti

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices