Skip to main content
ajuso
ajuso
Participating Frequently
September 13, 2016
Answered

The SAVE icon is grayed out and SAVE AS option is not working in my Acrobat Adobe Reader DC

  • September 13, 2016
  • 3 replies
  • 163615 views

The save command is grayed out when I open a .pdf document in the Acrobat Adobe Reader viewer. I used to "save as" once opened, but now this command is not working properly, I think it happened after an operating system update (windows 10), so I thought this was related to it, but I can say...

The keyboard short Shift-CTRL-S is not working either... but it used to work and it works with other files like .odt or .doc

The point is: why could I do save and save as when already have the pdf document opened (pdf viewer) before and now this button is grayed out and cannot do save or save as anymore? I'm not doing nothing wrong using Acrobat Adobe Reader DC, because I do exactly the same of what I used to, and it always worked, so now it's something different...

Please help!!

Thanks in advance!!

Correct answer infosteelv15053154

I tried everything in this thread, when I had exactly the same problem... couldn't save pdfs at all (disk icon greyed out, save and save as on menu also greyed out) my pdfs weren't 'read only' either.

 

Tried updating, uninstalling, Adobe acrocleaner tool, reinstalling again.  -didn't work-

 

In the end just going to preferences - general - and then unchecking both 'show online storage when opening files'  +  'show online storage when saving files' fixed the entire problem, hey presto.

 

Another thing I noticed during my minor ordeal was that until you've edited/changed something in a pdf you can only 'save as' on the menu and the save disk icon will be grayed out.


I had the same problem by trying converting spot to process colors. (ADOBE ACROBAT PRO version 2024.001.20604)

With or whithout the checkboxes  'show online storage when opening files'  +  'show online storage when saving files' checked, I cloud not save.

For me the solution was:

When I tried to convert going via  'USE PRINT PRODUCTION / OUTPUT PREVIEW / INK MANAGER / CONVERT ALL SPOTS TO PROCESS' it did not work.

Goin via  'USE PRINT PRODUCTION / CONVERT COLORS / INK MANAGER / CONVERT ALL SPOTS TO PROCESS' it works.

I presume it was the fact that the first is only an OUTPUT PREVIEW

3 replies

D
dean_6977
Participant
September 25, 2025

Unchecking in General preferences the "show online storage" preference cured the problem. The online storage option will now appear in 3 dot (...) dropdown option and the download downward facing icon button will be operational now. Acrobat did this to promote use of their online storage which is a revenue producing option. Horrible and corercive method of marketing to lock one out of local storage option. 

coryg85234731
coryg85234731
Participating Frequently
September 22, 2016

I have done all of the things listed to fix this - and the save button is still gray, and the save as button works once or twice, then it disappears again - it will even sometimes bring up the save as box - but when I click on choose a different folder, nothing happens! I have done repair installation, updates, and re-installed - nothing has had a lasting fix!  The 2 boxes unchecked in preferences will not stay unchecked! Please help - I use this constantly - all day, and my work is paralyzed without being able to save pdfs to my computer!

BBauer

Adorobat
Community Manager
AdorobatCommunity Manager
Community Manager
September 23, 2016

Hi coryg85234731

Try resetting preferences for Reader, close Reader DC, go to C:\Users\your username\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Acrobat\DC, move entire DC folder to some other location like temp folder.

To view temp folder, press Windows+ R key on your keyboard, type temp in the run dialogue box then press enter.

If App data folder is not visible under your user name, launch Windows Explorer then click Organize in the top left corner of the screen>then click Folder and search option>under View>Hidden files and folders,click Show hidden files, folders and drives>then click Apply and OK

Try launching Reader again and check the issue is fixed

Thank You,

Shivam

infosteelv15053154
infosteelv15053154Correct answer
Participant
March 18, 2024

I tried everything in this thread, when I had exactly the same problem... couldn't save pdfs at all (disk icon greyed out, save and save as on menu also greyed out) my pdfs weren't 'read only' either.

 

Tried updating, uninstalling, Adobe acrocleaner tool, reinstalling again.  -didn't work-

 

In the end just going to preferences - general - and then unchecking both 'show online storage when opening files'  +  'show online storage when saving files' fixed the entire problem, hey presto.

 

Another thing I noticed during my minor ordeal was that until you've edited/changed something in a pdf you can only 'save as' on the menu and the save disk icon will be grayed out.


I had the same problem by trying converting spot to process colors. (ADOBE ACROBAT PRO version 2024.001.20604)

With or whithout the checkboxes  'show online storage when opening files'  +  'show online storage when saving files' checked, I cloud not save.

For me the solution was:

When I tried to convert going via  'USE PRINT PRODUCTION / OUTPUT PREVIEW / INK MANAGER / CONVERT ALL SPOTS TO PROCESS' it did not work.

Goin via  'USE PRINT PRODUCTION / CONVERT COLORS / INK MANAGER / CONVERT ALL SPOTS TO PROCESS' it works.

I presume it was the fact that the first is only an OUTPUT PREVIEW

    Adorobat
    Community Manager
    AdorobatCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 13, 2016

    Hi ajuso  ,

    Could you please let us know the version of Adobe Reader installed on the machine?

    Is this happening with a single pdf file or with other pdf files as well?

    Try to follow below mention steps:

    1- Restart the computer.

    2- If step 1 doesn't work, check if there is an update available for Reader, launch Reader>navigate to Help menu>click Check for updates.

    3- If step 2 doesn't work, repair Reader, navigate to Help menu and select Repair installation.

    4- If step 3 doesn't work, remove Reader using Cleaner tool found here: Download Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool - Adobe Labs , restart the computer and then download and install Reader DC from here: Adobe - Adobe Acrobat Reader DC Distribution  (select your operating system, language, and version accordingly)

    Let us know if it worked.

    Thank You,

    Shivam

    ajuso
    ajusoAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    September 15, 2016

    Thank for reply!

    My versión is Reader DC 2015.017.20050 for windows

    This problem is happenig with all pdf files.

    When I open the file I don't have any problem, and when I want to save it, I realize the save icon is grayed out and the save as option is not working, is not grayed out, but when I want to use save as, it opens a new dialog window wich keeps hunging on and never finsih to complete showing the new window, wich is the window that shows the options where to save the file.

    I've follow all the steps you suggest but I still have the same problem...

    Thanks for any help!!

      Adorobat
      Community Manager
      AdorobatCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      September 19, 2016

      Hi ajuso

      Save option is grayed out until you make any changes to the document.

      And for "Save as" option, you may try out the steps given in this link : "save as" pop up box does not allow me to save the document.

      Let us know if it worked.

      Thank You,

      Shivam

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