Adobe reader will not open Windows 11

[Collin5DC7]

I can not open Reader, either by opening a PDF or by opening the app directly. I am using Windows 11.

I have tried uninstalling/reinstalling. Running repair. Rebooting. I have also tried downloading from the windows store and from adobe's website, and no luck either way.

When I try to open Reader I get the blue loading circle, and never goes away. Help appreciated!

[radzmar]

Windows 11 is not officially supported yet.

https://helpx.adobe.com/reader/system-requirements-reader-2020.html

[troys79011870]

When will this be corrected?

[Skyler22189650mw0p]

Experiencing the same problem. Will there be a fix for this issue?

[S. S]

@Skyler22189650mw0p 

Hello,

I hope you are doing well. I am sorry for the experience with Acrobat Reader DC.

Please try installing the latest 64-bit version of Acrobat Reader DC from the link here: Adobe - Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Download | Free PDF viewer for Windows, Mac OS, Android

Let me know if this version runs fine or if you still experience issues with the launch.

If you still face issues, please share a screen recording of the same situation so that we would investigate further.

Thanks,

Souvik.

[Skyler22189650mw0p]

Hi Souvik, thank you for the quick response! I have done this already today. I even assigned an Acrobat Pro license to this user, downloaded the cloud app and tried to run it from there. The Adobe Cloud app said that it is not supported on Windows 11.

[#7]

Hello

19 April 2023:  new Samsung  Go Book NP545XLA, Windows 11.

The computer has gone through the motions of the installation several times.

The application is listed, and the shortcut is placed onto the desktop.

I followed your link, and I also just Googled my way to the Adobe Reader download.

It does not work:  I cannot open the application directly, nor can I open a PDF file.

Please advise.

Thanks

Richard

[cristian_2472]

I have reinstall my Adobe Acrobat Reader 64 and still not working.
I cannot open all PDF files. This happened yesterday, suddenly and I do not know what happened.

I have reinstall Adobe Acrobat Reader 64 several times and nothing happened / changed.

Can you help me ? 

Thank you very much for your understanding !

[S. S · Accepted solution]

Hi @cristian_2472,

Hope you are doing well. Sorry for your experience with Acrobat Reader not opening.

We would like to understand how you are launching the application. Is it by double-clicking the app icon, or double-clicking a PDF file on your explorer?

Can you try vice-versa and let us know how it goes?

Also, could you update the app to the latest version (2025.001.205xx) and let us know if the issue is fixed for you?

You can download the installer from here: https://adobe.ly/3I8hvNq

If the issue persists, please share a few more pieces of information for further investigation:

1. A screen recording of the event for better understanding.

2. Logs from your machine: https://adobe.ly/4l1gBRA. Please make sure Procmon is selected. You can upload logs using this tool and share your Unique log ID with us. 

Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Souvik.

[cristian_2472]

Dear Souvik,

Thank you very much for your answer and help.

Now I am happy ! I have reinstall Adobe Acrobat Reader yousing you link: https://adobe.ly/3I8hvNq

Now is working well and I am relaxed.
Thank you so much for your help.

Respectfully,

Cristian

[jackm47225180]

How to Fix Adobe Reader Icon not opening when clicked. 

1. Right Click on Adobe Reader Desktop Icon and select Properties.

2. Select Shortcut Tab. 

3. Click on the Advanced button.

4. Check the Run as administrator box.

5. Click OK, then click OK to close the Adobe Acrobat Properties box.

This works for other adobe programs that won't open when you click on their icon, e.g., photoshop.

[jackm47225180]

I fixed the problem clicking on the icon to open as described previously, but I couldn't right click on a pdf and use open with Adobe Acrobat, or right click on a photo and use open with Adobe Photoshop. The following step fixed the problem completely.

1. Uninstalled Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Photoshop.

2. Do an inplace upgrade of Windows 11.

3. Reinstalled Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Photoshop.

Now both apps respond as expected when I right click their icon or click on a pdf or photo and use open with.  

[Terez38779443lywi]

Or try to Restart Window Explorer. When you encounter the preview pane not working for PDF issue on Windows 11, you can also try restarting Windows Explorer. To do that, you just need to open the Task Manager window, right-click Windows Explorer from the running process list, and select Restart from the drop-down menu.

[S. S]

@Terez38779443lywi Thanks for writing in.

That would be the right course of action. Unable to right click on a file isn't something Adobe has control over. That is managed by the UI of your device's OS.

Restarting Explorer can eliminate a lot of such minor errors and get the menu functions to start working again.

-Souvik

[Sony29944891447t]

My Issue Got resolved by going through the Steps mentioned in this troubleshooting website:  Error - A running instance of Acrobat has caused an error (adobe.com)

[Terez38779443lywi]

Restart Window Explorer. When you encounter the preview pane not working for PDF issue on Windows 11, you can also try restarting Windows Explorer. To do that, you just need to open the Task Manager window, right-click Windows Explorer from the running process list, and select Restart from the drop-down menu.

[mteljeur]

Windows 11 user uptodate.

All above suggestions didn't solve problems incl. execute as admin.

For me Adobe Reader is useless at this moment I have installed a (temporary I hope) pdf reader from an other brand.

Awaiting a solution or further recommendations.

[S. S]

@mteljeur Sorry for the experience! 

Would you mind getting on a call with me? 

This will help me get a better understanding of the issue and try out a fix in real time.

If yes, plese let me know and I will share a link over email, so you can schedule a call at your convenience.

-Souvik

[mteljeur · Accepted solution]

Solved issue .

Sorry perhaps I forgot to properly check Antivirus program functions.

I am using Avast so I have  excluded in "File Shield" the Adope directory.

This solved the problem however it shouldn't  be that way to use Adobe Reader with an unshielded directory.

Anyway the problem is perhaps with Avast protective shields in this case.

Thx for the assistance so far.

[S. S]

@mteljeur Thanks for letting us know that it worked for you.

Meanwhile, let me check on this with the team.

-Souvik

[patinde329698491d0d]

Installing 32 bits version on the system worked for me even though the system is a 64 bits system.

[S. S]

Thanks, @patinde329698491d0d, for letting us know what worked for you.

-Souvik