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Cannot disable Reader DC IE Plugin

New Here ,
Jul 12, 2015 Jul 12, 2015

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I am trying to disable Adobe Reader DC Internet Explorer plugin on about 100 computers. I need Adobe Reader to run inderpendantly. I can do this with other apps via Group Policy but not with Adobe Reader.


If I disable the ActiveX pluging manally like so (as per Acrobat Help | Display PDF in browser | Acrobat DC, Acrobat Reader DC😞

plugins.jpg

...PDF documents still open from within the browser. I can see Reader is running within Internet Explorer:

How can I disable the plugin?

processexplorer.jpg

Version details:

I am running Windows 8.1 64-bit but I am having the same problem on other Windows 7 SP1 32-bit PCs.

Adobe Reader version 2015.007.20033

Internet Explorer 11.0.9600.17842

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correct answers 1 Correct answer

Community Beginner , Nov 18, 2015 Nov 18, 2015

Downgrade isn't an option with their licensing unfortunately

What is an option is adjusting the following registry key:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}

There is a value under there called Flags. Toggling that to REG_DWORD 0x00000001 (1) seems to disable the plugin in IE.

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Adobe Employee ,
Jul 13, 2015 Jul 13, 2015

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Hey duncanw98209516,

Could you please choose All add-ons under Show label on the left hand side and then disable Adobe PDF Reader from the list of add-ons.

screen2.png

Let me know how it goes.

Regards,

Anubha

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New Here ,
Jul 14, 2015 Jul 14, 2015

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Thanks for the suggestion Anubha.

Unfortunately, Adobe PDF Reader is not listed in the 'All add-ons' list which is why I selected 'Run without Permission'. This is what Adobe's article instructed.

I was able to see the add-on via third party utility, ActiveX Compatibility Manager. I can disable it but Adobe Reader still runs.

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Adobe Employee ,
Aug 12, 2015 Aug 12, 2015

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Hey duncanw98209516,

Sorry for the delay in my response.

Let me know if your issue is resolved.

If disabling Adobe Reader plugin manually did not solve your problem, then please try adding the following key in the registry editor and see if that helps.

Open the Windows registry and go to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\Originals]

"bBrowserIntegration"=dword:00000000

Let me know.

Regards,

Anubha

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New Here ,
Aug 27, 2015 Aug 27, 2015

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Hey Anubha,

I just tried doing that and it didn't work.

With version X (as referenced over here: Adobe Reader X - Disable "Display PDF in Browser" via Registry) it worked great but the same thing doesn't work with DC.

Do you know of an alternative registry key to use with this version?

Thanks & Cheers,

Johannes

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New Here ,
Nov 17, 2015 Nov 17, 2015

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Hello,

I have the exact same problem. I changed the registry key as mentionned, The add-on is marked as disabled on IE add-ons list but the pdf files keep opening in the browser.
Any update, or even better, solution regarding this problem?

Thanks.

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Community Beginner ,
Nov 17, 2015 Nov 17, 2015

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+1 on experiencing this issue. I was told to follow the exact same step which did not resolve the issue. I think because it's being whitelisted somewhere in HKLM it doesn't matter what is input under HKCU. That's just a theory though.

I should say I'm having a similar issue, I suppose. I'm not seeing it marked as disabled in IE.

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Guest
Nov 17, 2015 Nov 17, 2015

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Disabling the IE plugin still works in Reader XI v. 11.0.13 (at least for me). If this functionality is critical, you could probably downgrade quicker than Adobe can get their rear in gear.

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Community Beginner ,
Nov 18, 2015 Nov 18, 2015

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Downgrade isn't an option with their licensing unfortunately

What is an option is adjusting the following registry key:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}

There is a value under there called Flags. Toggling that to REG_DWORD 0x00000001 (1) seems to disable the plugin in IE.

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Community Beginner ,
Jan 16, 2017 Jan 16, 2017

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That is a User based key though. For those of us who managed Adobe DC at a corporate level, there needs to be a place where it can be set to be enforced OFF at a Computer level so users can't change it.

I set the Adobe PDF Plugin as DISABLED in Group Policy IE Add On Management and it is disabled in the users Add-ons but the PDF STILL displays in browser even with the Add-On disabled. There is something wrong with the coding of Adobe DC. We never had this issue with Adobe Reader 11.x

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Guest
Jan 30, 2017 Jan 30, 2017

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I'm having the same thought, and the same problem (Continuous & Classic Track).

Hoping for a STAFF-Answer on this.

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 27, 2017 Mar 27, 2017

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Look in either C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX or C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX

for any .dlls whose product version is >15.x (DC)

If you note the security settings on the files, you'll need SYSTEM privs to delete the files.

Open a command prompt as SYTEM (using Microsoft's Sysinternals tools, "PSEXEC -i -s cmd.exe") and delete the DC .dlls

The plugin was no longer there in IE!

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Explorer ,
Mar 20, 2019 Mar 20, 2019

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I'm going to give this a try and see if it's something I can delete after the automated install via cmd or powershell...

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Explorer ,
Mar 20, 2019 Mar 20, 2019

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Exactly right, they really need a better way to do this.

I have the same issue.  We use Acrobat Reader DC for our free program that everybody uses, and then we use Nitro Pro for people who need to edit and sign documents.  It's not quite as good as Acrobat Pro, but it's way cheaper and does 95% of what Acrobat Pro can.

The issue that I am running into is that all of my CRM users open quotes from IE, and they want them to open in Nitro, so they can edit, save, and sign, without having to save it to their computer and then "Open with" Nitro.

I had to do all this crazy shenanigans in my script to make Nitro stay as the default PDF reader after an Adobe upgrade, and now it's constantly re-enabling the Adobe Add-in.

I get that Adobe created the PDF standard and that they're the leader in the industry, but guess what - not everyone wants to use your program for everything - you have competitors and you are expensive, and you making things difficult isn't going to make people move toward your products.

I am going to go try a few things and report back.  As lforbes said, current user registry would be useful for a small organization where one user only uses each PC, but that doesn't happen in today's mobile workforce.  Applications need to be able to be installed and uninstall in an automated manner, and these options need to be available to administrators.  I am going to double-check the admin option editor one more time, and then I am going to dig around in the Program Files as Mr. Linear Line (y=mx+b) has suggested...

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Community Beginner ,
Jul 26, 2018 Jul 26, 2018

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Hi erice44104833,

regardless the age of this discussion I want to thank you! I did a lot of searches on the Internet but your solution was the only one which worked for me. Everything (really EVERYTHING) else doesn´t work.

Thank you very much!

Best regards,

Michael

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New Here ,
Aug 11, 2017 Aug 11, 2017

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Has anyone been able to solve this? 

I am having this issue with multiple systems.  I have tried all of the registry entries reccomendations.  None of them solve this issue.  My internet explorer plugin is disabled but I still cannot get pdf's to open outside the browser. 

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New Here ,
Feb 07, 2020 Feb 07, 2020

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Under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000} is a key called "iexplore". I found deleting this key to be the solution of keeping Adobe Disabled, actually completely gone from Internet Explorer add-ons.

 

You might want to back up your Registry before trying this.

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New Here ,
Jul 07, 2020 Jul 07, 2020

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 looked up that path in the registry and that CLSID doesnt exist - is there another CLSID for 2020.009.20067?

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New Here ,
Jul 27, 2020 Jul 27, 2020

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Hello, I've only managed to get IE to stop using itself to open .PDFs by renaming the ActiveX folder.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX.old

Horrible work around but it worked for me and can't seem to find an answer anywhere else.

Using DC and Interent Explorer 11. (requirement of vendor)

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Community Beginner ,
Dec 29, 2020 Dec 29, 2020

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It works for me 2020.  Registry is not a option for me.

thank you.

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Community Beginner ,
Feb 02, 2021 Feb 02, 2021

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Works for me 2/2/2021

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Community Beginner ,
Feb 02, 2021 Feb 02, 2021

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There's no edit button so I'll reply to myself.

 

  1. I attempted to disable the addin using local group policy however the next day PDF's were magically opening in the browser again despite the addin being disabled. I tried this second to last.
  2. I was attempting to avoid a registry edit as well.
  3. I attempted to rename a different folder than what DL380 mentioned however had no luck. I tried this second.
  4. EVERYTHING I found on the internet said that disabling the addin should've worked but it was renabled the next morning for no discernable reason. I tried this first twice.
  5. Using DL380's post above I'm confident will work but it hasn't stood the test of "overnight" yet and I'm not going to remember to update this post if it works. renaming the activex folder to .old C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX.old

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New Here ,
Feb 14, 2021 Feb 14, 2021

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LATEST

Hello,

Thank you everyone who has taken the time to reply in here. This has been an issue for me as i have a program which ties into windows explorer and thus internet explorer.

I did a combination of a few things i have found on the internet.

Locate the msi package. If you are using just plain old acrobat reader try searching for the file acroread.msi on your hard drive.

If you cant find it it might be something like AcroPro.msi. (ultimately if you are windows saavy try going into the control panel find the exact spelling of the adobe product you are using and search in the registry for the name under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\
Under SourceList you should be able to find the "Package Name". Then search for the package on your hard drive.

Then run the the following command line, substituting in the corresponding location of your msi package (you can also add /q to the end of it for a quiet install).

msiexec /i C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Setup\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AC0F074E4100}\AcroRead.msi REMOVE=ReaderBrowserIntegration

Good Luck.
Now i just have to work out how to get internet explorer to save the file to hard disk instead of automatically opening it externally in adobe reader, although if you have another PDF viewer set as default it wont try to automatically open it automatically and gives you the save option.

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