Disabled auto updates in Reader DC, but it still auto updates

Report · Apr 28, 2021

Installed Reader DC (continous) on Windows 7 (64 bit) about 3-4 weeks ago. I followed all these insructions to disable auto updates. But today, when Reader DC was running, it auto installed an update anyway. (It displayed a message that it was doing so.) Completely unacceptable. Below are the things I did after installing Reader DC to disable auto updates. What am I missing? (Note: no manual updates for reader or any other Adobe product have been applied since these settings were set. There are no Creative cloud applications installed. There is only one Windows user login on this machine, me, and it is an adminstrator login. Nobody else has used this machine.)

Open Windows Registry Editor

For 64-bit systems, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Reader\(product code)

Under the key, set the Mode value to 0 (REG_DWORD)
0: Do not download or install updates automatically.

Also in registry:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\(product name)\(version)\FeatureLockdown\cServices

bUpdater (DWORD value REG_DWORD) Set to 0

Disables both updates to the product's web-plugin components as well as all services.

0: Disable services and service component updates.

In Windows Task Scheduler, set Adobe Update Task to Disabled

Under Windows services, set Adobe Acrobat Update Service to Disabled (after stopping the service). Reboot

Made sure any auto start programs with Adobe in the name are disabled.

Report · May 05, 2021

Hi there

Hope you are doing well and sorry for the trouble. As described the Auto updater keeps on enabling by itself.

Acrobat's Auto-update setting can be managed by its Preferences setting. Exactly as you did.

In you case, while changing the preferences setting, it requires your Admin password. I believe either you have got it installed on work computer, which requires administrator password or its an Enterprise license?

When changing preferences setting, Edit>Preferences>Updater> unchecked>Automatically Install updates>entered password(as requested)> make sure you press OK> and Reboot Acrobat
Reopen Acrobat and check back.
If it still reverting to check the Automatic install updates then you probably need to check with your IT Admin to get the permission, in order to make such changes.

Note: Adobe doesn't recommend to disable the auto updater.

Regards

Amal

Report · May 05, 2021

Amal, "Acrobat's Auto-update setting can be managed by its Preferences setting" This is true, but the question is about Acrobat Reader, which does not have an Updater preference setting. It is designed to auto update whether people like it or not!

Someone (original poster), please link to the instructions you are trying to follow. The registry keys I see in Adobe's instructions do not exactly match what you post.

Report · May 08, 2021

Hi,

In the windows registry (regedit):

From https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/PrefRef/Windows/Updater-Win.html?zoom_highlight=u...

Mode

Data type integer: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 3
Version # DC
HKLM Path HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\(product name)\(product code)
Summary Specifies the Updater's update mode; for example, manual or automatic.
Details The update mode is a machine level setting that cannot be set on a per user basis. The update interval is controlled by Check. An example path: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Acrobat\{AC76BA86-1033-FFFF-7760-080F0F000400}. Possible values include:

0: Do not download or install updates automatically.
1: Do not download or install updates automatically. Same as 0.
2: Automatically download updates but let the user choose when to install them.
3: Automatically download and install updates.
4: Notify the user downloads are available but do not download them.

Set to 0.

Then to disable web / cloud components and their auto updates:

From https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/PrefRef/Windows/FeatureLockdown.html

bUpdater

Data type boolean: DWORD value > REG_DWORD
Default 1
Version # DC
HKLM Path FeatureLockDown\cServices
Summary Disables both updates to the product's web-plugin components as well as all services.
Details For product versions after 11.x, this new preference replaces the now deprecated HKCU services master switch bEnableAcrobatHS . It disables both updates to the product's web-plugin components as well as all services without exception, including any sign-in screen. The setting is not the same as bUpdater which resides directly under FeatureLockdown and disables product updates. Possible values include:

0: Disable services and service component updates.
1: Enable services.

Also from:

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/AdminGuide/services.html#services

cServices\bUpdater prevents web service plugins from updating and also disables all services. The setting is not the same as FeatureLockdown\bUpdater (same name but different location). A value of 0 disables web service plugins updates and services.

HKLM\Software\Policies\Adobe\<product name>\<version>\FeatureLockdown\cServices

Created key cServices under FeatureLockdown, created REG DWORD bUpdater under cServices, set bUpdater to 0. The sign in button and the cloud components in the program's menu disapperared, so it appears to be reading that setting correctly.

I also disabled the Windows Task Scheduler Adobe Updater entry. I also stopped the AdobeUpdate Service under Windows Services, set it to disabled. I even rebooted right after doing that. Been doing that for years for other versions of Reader/other Adobe software with no problems. Also made sure any autostart programs with Adobe in the name were disabled before reboot.

Since that first post, I reverted back to the version of Reader I had before the Auto Update. Then I, in addition to the above, set the other bUpdater for main program updates to disabled. This has been working for the past 5+ days (no auto updates, still at the prior version). However, this does remove the manual Check for Updates option in the program, making an extra step to reenable that when I apply updates manually. That's why I wanted the Mode setting to work, since it leaves the manual update control in the program's menu.

Report · May 08, 2021

Someone..

It loks like you have done everything correctly based on your description.

To confirm-

1. Set Mode value to 0 in the registry below, export this registry key and send me reg file privately

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Reader\(product code)

2.

Enable Updater verbose logging (search for iLogLevel registry value).

Delete " other bUpdater for main program" and make sure "Check for Updates" menu item is enabled.

Delete tLastT_Reader registry value in registry HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe ARM\1.0\ARM

Launch AdobeARM.exe from C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0

Wait a few seconds, collect and send me AdobeARM.log file from User Temp folder

Do not post any file content here in the forums.

Report · May 21, 2024

It is ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE that Adobe so UTTERLY disrespects its own customers that it refuses to create an EASY way in **SETTINGS** to permanently and COMPLETELY turn off auto-updaters and provide a simpe obvious button to check for upates MANUALLY. Adobe needs to FIX this **NOW**. We don't want your lame ass excuses or convoluted nearly impossible instructions for updating registries, we want you to f*cking FIX the f*cking problem!!!