Unable to download Adobe Reader (older version/offline)

[NeedHelpwithAcro]

Hello!
I was having a problem with my PC so I uninstalled Adobe Reader, thinking I can re-install it again later. Now I find I may not be capable of downloading and installing Adobe Reader because of my Operating System. Can I download an older version of Acrobat Reader on my machine?

Adobe Reader (older version/offline) Download

[AnandSri · Accepted solution]

Hi!

Hope you are doing well and thanks for reaching out.

Adobe always recommends downloading and install the latest available version of Acrobat or the freeware Acrobat Reader app to get the latest features and security updates. You can always download the latest version of Acrobat Reader from the URL: https://get.adobe.com/reader/enterprise/ 

However, if you still wish to install the older version, you may use the following URL to download & install the freeware Acrobat Reader: 

Win: ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/ 

Mac: ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/mac/ 

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/etk_deprecated/tools/ReleaseNotes/index.html 

For technical specifications of Acrobat Reader, please see this article: https://helpx.adobe.com/reader/system-requirements.html 

For an older version of Acrobat Reader, please see this article: https://helpx.adobe.com/reader/system-requirements-old-versions.html 

To know more about Acrobat Reader, see this: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/faq.html

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

(Edited response)

[Remy5CF2]

Hi Anand

I have tried to use the link in your answer above to source an older version of DC that works with my software. (Newer version of DC isnt compatible). 
Specifically the one I am after installs the version that runs the AcroRd32.exe

Has the link changed, or are you able to check and provide alternate link please

Many thanks

[AnandSri]

Hi @Remy5CF2 

Hope you are doing well and thanks for reaching out.

Try the following URL and let us know if you still experience any issues: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/index.html# 

Thanks,

Anand Sri.

[A. Baber]

Hi Anand,

I've been using Adobe Acrobat 9.5.5 Standard for quite a few years alongside Adobe Readers. Recently (in the last quarter of 2021) the Adobe Reader updated to the latest DC version and arbitrarily removed Acrobat Standard from my system. When I tried to re-install Acrobat Standard, the installer pops up a message saying "Setup has detected that you already have a more functional product installed. Setup will now terminate". Any idea how to fix the issue?

[A. Baber]

Just to add to my query above, I have a perpetual license.

[ronbkaplan]

Please create a restore point and back everything up before proceeding.  You will have to first uninstall the DC, then reinstall your older version of Acrobat.  I had installed an older version of Acrobat after reinstalling the Acrobat starndard.  

I had the same experience where Adobe removed the Acrobat Standard 6.0 program without authorization - esetinatially tresspasing and causing malicious damage.  My system had to eventually be rebuild because when Adobe removed the program, it caused cruption to the file system.  I am very upset by what Adobe did where they removed something I paid for.  I'm all in for a class action!

[Test Screen Name]

"Specifically the one I am after installs the version that runs the AcroRd32.exe"

Every version of Acrobat Reader or Adobe Reader for the last 20 years has run AcroRd32.exe. Including all of today's versions. If you face an issue, please tell us, rather than guessing you need an old version.

[James22213122c6id]

I am trying to download a form and get a message that I need to be using a 8.0 version of Adobe Reader or higheer the version on my computer is shown as Adobe Reader DC 2021.007.20099 which I assume version 7.  Was trying to find a newer version.

Thanks for any help that you might provide.

[try67]

No, Reader DC is much newer than version 8, so it should work fine.

Make sure you're opening the file using it, though, and not in a browser window or any other application.

[James22213122c6id]

Got it working by opening the file from within Reader. Thank you.

[Test Screen Name]

2021.007.20099 is version 21, brand new and up to date.  You need to download the form and open it in Reader.

[kou223819496517]

Hi

I have tried to download the older version of Adobe Reader from the link you privided.

However, all ftp links seems broken.

Have these ftp links changed recently? Where can I get the older version of Adobe Reader.

Thanks in advance.

[try67]

You must use a dedicated FTP client to open the link, it won't work in most browsers.

[Omar Jesús28081645kepz]

The latest version of acrobat adobe reader, subtly put, is horrible. 1) it crashes. 2) it takes 30 seconds to make a copy. Couldn't they be friendlier and put a page where to download an older version? what? we have to be system engineers? Come on guys, think of the people.

[greg_3117]

The Adobe Reader old version links do not work with  64 bit Microsoft windows 11 pc. please provide. The new version shows the bookmark side panel on the right and prefer the older version. 

[hugoSAP]

Greg, Please see my comment with the solution below .

In reponse to my own question: the way to get the 32 bit version of Acrobat Reader DC on a 64 bit Windows PC is : https://get.adobe.com/reader/ at the bottom of the initial window it says : 

Your system:Windows 10,English (or 11 nowdays)

Do you have a different language or operating system? 

Enter your version of OS and language and then pick the current version NOT the one with (64 bit)  at the end.

That's not all! At the first opportunity Adobe will force the 64 version upon you and delete the precious 32 bit version ! The way to stop this update is explained at length in my post "Reader printing garbled text "   (also the reason why we need the AcroRdr32 DC and not Acrobatreader DC exe) and , believe me, it is NOT SIMPLE

[steveSRF]

Thanks for letting us all know about the FTP server versions. 

Once in the folder  ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/   there are choices that include Acrobat 2020. Within the Acrobat 2020 folder ther are more folder choices, 2000130002, 2000130005, 2000130010, Misc.  I blindly chose 2000130010 assuming a latest version within these choices. I downloaded the file AcroRdr2020Upd2000130010_MUI.msp.  I clicked on it and it said it was just an updater but it needed a program installed to update. Folder 2000130005 also had an .msp file in it. I then chose folder 2000130002 and downloaded AcroRdr20202000130002_MUI.exe which was the program. (Couldn't they make the folders a little more descriptive?) 

When I tried to use it to open a .pdf document I got the same message that every other Reader download has given: "An Internal error occurred."

Like many others I gathered the idea that I needed a new download of Reader as there were new problems whit the current one I had (probably because of an update). Now I have no Acrobat Reader at all.  

Could you give al little more guidance on how to choose an older version of acrobat reader?

I am now going to try  ////ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/9.x/9.5.5/ar_AE/AdbeRdr955_ar_AE.exe

Turns out this is a patch for Arabic.

What is the solution?

Regards

[try67]

Did you maybe consider the problem is with the file, not the application? Especially if it happens with multiple versions, that would suggest the file itself is corrupt.

[steveSRF]

This is a problem urelated to any specific pdf file. When I click on the program itself in Start I get this error message.

I would just like to have a working version of  Reader. At present I have none.

[steveSRF]

A new error message (apptoximately): a running error has caused Adobe Reader to close down.

[Eunice5CB5]

Oh man you saved me big time, may the Owner of The Universe (The Big Being) Bless you.

[try67]

I don't know which link you used, but be aware that Adobe since stopped updating the FTP server with the latest versions of Reader, unfortunately.

[hugoSAP]

So the morality of the story is: you can't get the older version of Acrobat Reader DC via le link. After fumbling a bit with the prehistoric filezilla I got into the Adobe ftp server. 

I picked a version number at random. There is no way to find out which one will work without the Adobe bug that garbles every backside page when printing two sized on an HP 500 Laserjet printer  - see my post "Reader printing garbled text "      (this happens only with the 64 bit version of Acrobat reader DC on Windows 10).

I picked 201801120058 and it works ! This version prints two sided.

But the sign document feature is no longer there....

How do I get the 32 bit version with the signature feature?

[hugoSAP]

In reponse to my own question: the way to get the 32 bit version of Acrobat Reader DC on a 64 bit Windows PC is : https://get.adobe.com/reader/ at the bottom of the initial window it says : 

Your system:Windows 10,English

Do you have a different language or operating system? 

Enter your version of OS and language and then pick the current version NOT the one with (64 bit)  at the end.

That's not all! At the first opportunity Adobe will force the 64 version upon you and delete the precious 32 bit version ! The way to stop this update is explained at length in my post "Reader printing garbled text "   (also the reason why we need the AcroRdr32 DC and not Acrobatreader DC exe) and , believe me, it is NOT SIMPLE !