Why does Acrobat Reader suck so hard and crash so often?

Signaler · Aug 16, 2020

Hello everyone,,

It's considered the premiere pdf software, but it has trouble just opening files, let alone more than one. Scrolling leads to system hangs. The program crashes periodically even when you're not really doing much that stresses it [Spam link removed by moderator.]

Is the issue a simple bit of code that IT pros are familiar with, or is it just buggy for no good reason???

Signaler · Dec 04, 2021

Honestly, been realizing how BAD of an app acrobat is lately. I have installed it on 3 seperate systems (PC, laptop, VM all with different configs/specs) just to see if anything changes. Nope, slow/buggy on all accounts, even my workstation that has an abundance of resources.

Ironically, this has finally given Microsoft Edge a purpose on my computer, opening .pdfs.

I find it unfortunate that a software company like adobe would have a product with such negative feedback and not have any fixes. Searching back on the internet, it seems like people have been thinking this for over a decade now..

Seems like not everyone has this issue though, and may be linked to the installer or some other esoteric processs

Signaler · Nov 08, 2023

Same here. If I'm reading pdfs, printing anything, filling out a document, I just use edge. It's snappy, simple, and gets the job done. Unfortunately, it does not do everything. For optimizing pdfs, adding in signatures, reflowing pages, making any major edits in general, I still have to use Acrobat.

Signaler · Mar 24, 2022

You are absolutely right. Acrobat is unstable, infuriating to use, and just gets worse with every release.

I've been having to put PDFs into InDesign just to print them bc Acrobat is crash happy.

The UI is also trash, trying to duplicate form fields requires that you zoom in over 200% just to be able to option/drag? None of this should be acceptable for a company as big as Adobe, but they don't seem to care. They just keep pushing Acrobat in the cloud instead of getting this pile of crap useable.

Signaler · Jun 22, 2022

Everyone on the discussion thread is correct, Adobe Acrobat DC sucks. The "DC" must stand for Disfunctional Components, because there is more wrong with that software than there is that's right. I never thought I would like Microsoft Edge, but until Adobe gets its act together, that's my new default for opening pdfs. I can't fathom how a company like adobe is hoping to stay in business producing crap like this.

Signaler · Apr 23, 2022

Posting here to vent my frustration. I used to be able to use Adobe Acrobat Pro to actually get work done. Now with Adobe Acrobat DC it crashes constantly, features are buggy & glitches out non-stop. It's pretty much impossible to use anymore. Way to go Adobe. Recommend burning this development department to ground and start over with new team. I don't know how they sleep at night charging good money for this rubbish.

Signaler · Aug 29, 2022

Agreed. It's impossible to get a good work flow going anymore all due to Acrobat. I'm consistently having to reboot due to hard crashes and it's making work so furstrating espeically when on deadline and attempting to best utilize my client's budget. I'm spending more time dealing with software issues and it's curting into my billable hours. ADOBE please get it together! Spend some time getting your core products in a useable and stable state!

Signaler · Sep 18, 2023

PDF Xchanger will fix your problems... I'm not a sales person... just somone who is infuriated by Adobe's lack of care for all of us who have supported them through the years !!

Signaler · Nov 22, 2022

glad I'm not the only Windows/Mac user who abhores the functionality of Acrobat.

Signaler · Dec 11, 2022

I think it's cause of the amount of money they spend on advertising. Almost every ad I get (besides political ads, I'm from Georgia) on YouTube is for Adobe Acrobat. First of all, I already have your product, Adobe, and secondly, I think it really sucks

Signaler · Jan 27, 2023

I agree with everything said here (and notice that nobody has anything good to say about Acrobat.) I could add to the list of grievances, but why waste time if Adobe doesn't care?

Signaler · Jan 27, 2023

Ooh, I earned my first reply bad for that post!

Signaler · Mar 31, 2023

Amen to everything that's been said here. Acrobat DC is bad enough to inspire a class-action lawsuit accusing Adobe of out-and-out fraud for claiming that the program is capable of functioning.

Signaler · Mar 31, 2023

We sincerely apologize for not being able to address your issue on time.

@Grant2623522145q2 and @tj_robinson

As the title said, Is your Acrobat Reader continue to crash upon launch? If yes, please try the following steps:

Go to Acrobat> Help > Check for updates and reboot the computer once (you must save all the work before restarting)

To download the patch manually, more information about this release is here: Release Notes | Adobe Acrobat, Reader

Run this cleaner tool to remove the existing installer and application’s file traces:

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/cleaner.html

Download the Acrobat Reader installer from here:

https://get.adobe.com/reader/enterprise/

If it still doesn't work, then

Please collect the Adobe CC logs https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-log-collector.html share them by uploading them to cloud storage (any)

Procmon Logs: [Windows only]

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/acromonitor.html

Thanks,

Akanchha

Signaler · Nov 02, 2023

All probably useless workarounds. How about just fixing it. Constant "updates" indicates you have an unstable product. Does Adobe really care???

Signaler · Apr 03, 2023

I agree. The new version is crashing too many times. On top of that, I am not able to use the licesnse I bought to use hte software. This is really too bad!

Signaler · Apr 04, 2023

Hi @Nayeff28986304fs44 and all.

If you continue to experience the same issue with the latest version even after following the troubleshooting steps suggested. Please help us with the following logs to further investigate the issue

Please collect the Adobe CC logs https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-log-collector.html share them by uploading them to cloud storage (any)

Procmon Logs: [Windows only]

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/Labs/acromonitor.html

Thanks,

Akanchha

Signaler · Sep 18, 2023

OK!, I have had enough of the newest version of Adobe, which I thought was the "premier" . Turns out they can call themselves whatever they want. Necessity is the mother of invention! I've searched out other PDF readers and came upon one that truly rocks the socks off of Adobe, may they rest in pieces!

For my needs now, I have officially switched to PDF XChanger. There is a free version that completely wipes out Adobe, (even when it was on top of it's game.) This reader sizzles with large files, I run some pretty intensive, multi page Archetectual plans through it and it is so fast I have to be careful which page I hover over. I don't know about you, but Adobe lost me completely. I switched sides and am on board with PDF Xchanger for good. Adubie can go smoke it.

Signaler · Oct 12, 2023

I have found my people. Adobe Acrobat DC is the bane of my existance. I have to use it for alot of different tasks. Usually there is only a 50/50 chance I will be able to complete a task without it crashing. Its hot garbage of a software platform. I don't know how its been almost 30 years since Adobe Acrobat was created and their software still doesn't work. I want to take over their software dev team pro bono just so I don't have to deal with this crap anymore. Get your together Adobe you are failing. Fix your product and fire your software dev leadership.

Signaler · Oct 30, 2023

It is terrible. And the latest update of the "free" version doesn't even allow you to rotate a page! I also now use Microsoft Edge even though it has limited capabilities at least you can open many pdfs simultaneously without the whole thing crashing and you can rotate a page. Luckily my workplace has another program with a few extra features if I need to edit etc...

Signaler · Nov 14, 2023

It is utter garbage. I had to create a series of "certificate" for teachers to give out to students. Sounds easy right, printable pages on the web. Oh but now we have to a make them accessible. Ha that is sooo painful in Acrobat. Gave up, talked those that be, just to do it in HTML.

Signaler · Dec 11, 2023

FoxIT Pro is the answer. Im so fed up with adobe I am going to make it my life purpose to move my entire company away from all adobe products.

Signaler · Feb 22, 2024

Its a pile o Sh!t these days - whats an alternative as Ill be moving our entire business over!

REally frustrated with it crashing out - get you for years using reader and all are reliant on it - then start charging! Seriously sick business model!

Signaler · Jul 01, 2024

I've been running on a newly built PC that could run laps around most of my other programs (Clip Studio, Toon Boom) but Adobe Acrobat DC happens to be its Kryptonite.
What makes me die a little harder inside is that the company is more focused on having you utilize its AI "assistant" and reminding you of their hip and wacky tools and options through their relentless pop-ups, instead of troubleshooting the core issues that cause horrible slow downs, text merging with other paragraphs constantly, and making simple tasks like importing graphics turn into an all out war. Like I just finished editing a resume that took me over an hour, and most of it was editing and sliding around text. Simple task work like that should only take around twenty minutes or less!
Hey Adobe! Maybe clean up the ancient, bloated , time sinking, and buggy dev coding that's likely still hiding dormant in your latest iteration of Acrobat before you go touting your A.I 'services'.

Signaler · Jul 01, 2024

Does seem to be unanimous. Why isn't Adobe taking the hint? The problem is simple. Keep trying to enhance and update any software. But it rarely makes it better, just different, bloated and less reliable. There was a time long long ago, when programs were limited by memory (remember 128k). So programmers had to be parsimonious and efficient. No longer.

Acrobat just keeps crashing over and over or just freezes. If you have to update all these Adobe programs twice-weekly, it tells me you are not making it better.