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Martin28970237xnkw
Participating Frequently
March 20, 2023
Answered

Unable to install Acrobat Reader DC. Newer Version Already Installed. Windows 10. Cleaner Tool run

  • March 20, 2023
  • 4 replies
  • 19160 views

I have previously used Acrobat Reader DC and had previously uninstalled it.  I am now trying to reinstall, and am continually getting the message "newer version already installed".  I am using Windows 10 and am downloading via Chrome.  Javascript is enabled in Chrome. Activex scripts are enabled.  I have run the Acrobat Cleaner utility.  It seems everything that can be tried has been tried.  I would be grateful for any assistance on this issue.

    Correct answer Karl Heinz Kremer

    The cleaner tool is 4.0.0.  When run, the cleaner tells me that it cannot find Adobe Acrobat installed on the computer.  It offers to clean it from the non-existent c:\program files\Adobe\Acrobat directory.  I tell it to additionally look for the c:\program files (86)\Adobe directory which is empty but does exist.  However, it warns me that it will ignore that directory, since a valid Adobe Acrobat installation was not found at that location.  I am then told that Acrobat has been succesfully removed, and asked to reboot.


    Here is one more potential fix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cBjBgrujWo

     

    This is for an old version of Windows and also for a three year old version of Acrobat Reader, but it may still work. 

    4 replies

    GIOACCHINO
    GIOACCHINO
    Participant
    May 31, 2026

    Non funziona 

    Anand Sri Bhattacharya
    Community Manager
    Anand Sri BhattacharyaCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    June 1, 2026

    Hello ​@GIOACCHINO 

     

    I hope you are doing well, and thank you for reaching out. We’re sorry for the trouble you had.

     

    Could you please share more details about the issue? Are you getting any error message while installing the freeware Acrobat Reader app? Are you on a Mac or Windows machine, and what is the version? Have you tried the suggestions shared in this thread?

     

    Use the Acrobat Cleaner tool to remove the installed app, and restart the machine. Download and install Acrobat Reader from the direct URL: https://get.adobe.com/reader/enterprise/

     

    Ensure that the operating system is updated to the latest version.

     

    Let us know how it goes, and share your observations.

    Regards,

    Anand Sri.

     

     

    D
    defaultp4jv8b62oy28
    Participant
    September 6, 2024

    Having this issue trying to reinstall Adobe Reader.

    Says it's still installed but have already uninstalled and ran the acro cleaner.

     

    Looks like Adobe has scrubbed all the previous adobe reader cleaners and instructions, not sure what else to do. have already tried removing all traces of Adobe but it still says it's installed when trying to run the installer.

     

    C
    coert_1612
    Participant
    September 10, 2025

    After many attempts, I found that installing Adobe Reader DC, and uninstalling it fixed my problem.

    JR Boulay
    Community Expert
    JR BoulayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 21, 2023

    [MOVED TO THE ACROBAT READER DISCUSSIONS]

    Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe
    Karl Heinz Kremer
    Community Expert
    Karl Heinz KremerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 20, 2023

    When do you get this error message? Is it during the download, or when you try to install the downloaded software? The Cleaner should definitely remove anything that the Reader installer could potetnially identify as a newer version.

    M
    Martin28970237xnkwAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 20, 2023

    The message is displayed by the Acrobat Installer at the end of the installation.  During theinstallation, the progress bar moves across the screen and reports progress.  However, when the error message is displayed, it shows an empty progress bar.  No error number is reported.

    Souvik Sadhu
    Souvik Sadhu
    Legend
    April 24, 2025

    months later, I am also having the same problem but the videos are unavailable. How do I find similar tutorials/ helpful videos?


    Hi @Beyzbeyza,

     

    Hope you are doing well. Sorry for the trouble, and the delayed response.

     

    In case you are still looking for a solution, you might want to download the offline installer from here: https://adobe.ly/3Ru2qqZ.

     

    Once done, go to File Explorer > Downloads > proceed with installing the application.

     

    Hope this helps.


    Regards,
    Souvik.

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