Error embedding a .pdf in Microsoft Word

Report · Jul 16, 2014

I am using MS Word 2013 on Windows 7. I have Adobe Acrobat XI Pro installed as well, which is set as the default reader for .pdf files on my machine. (I also have Adobe Reader XI installed).

When I attempt to embed a .pdf file as an object inside of a Word doc (or an Excel spreadsheet), I receive the following error:

This functionality used to work fine in earlier versions of Adobe tools. From what research I have done on the web, it looks like this became an issue sometime around Adobe Acrobat/Reader v9, and it may be security-related. I tried some of the suggested fixes (e.g., removing various security settings at startup of Adobe Acrobat or Reader), but unfortunately, none have fixed the issue. I am able to embed any other file types (e.g., .doc, .txt, etc.) with no issue. I have found that if I completely uninstall both Acrobat and Reader, then I can embed a .pdf file into a Word doc with no issue. Then, if I reinstall Acrobat and/or Reader, the .pdf file type is once again recognized inside of the Word doc, and I can successfully open the embedded .pdf from the Word doc as well. However, I still cannot embed any more .pdfs in a Word doc afterwards (since Acrobat and/or Reader have been installed again), and I'm back to square one.

This may be a Microsoft issue, so I'm not sure if Adobe was the proper place to start, but I'm starting here anyway.

Thank you.

Report · Aug 14, 2014

Hi Bri68,

Thank you for posting on the Adobe forums, kindly try the steps mentioned below, hope it helps.

1. Open Adobe Reader X. On the Edit menu, click on Preferences.

2. In the Preferences dialog box, select General in the Categories list.

3. Click to uncheck ‘Enable protected mode at start up’, and then click on OK.

Thanks,

Vikrantt Singh

Report · Aug 19, 2014

Hello Vikrantt, and thank you for the response.

A few things:

1) I am using Abobe Reader XI, not version X. I believe that the XI Preferences user interface is slightly different from X, as there is no Enable protected mode at start up under the General category. However, when I look around, I do see the Enable Protected Mode at startup option under the Security (Enhanced) category, so I cleared that check box and clicked OK. I also manually restarted Adobe Reader XI, as per a message box that popped up after I cleared this option:

2) I closed all instanced of MS Word 2013, and opened up a fresh instance, but unfortunately, when I try to embed a .pdf document, I now get the following error:

I have Adobe Acrobat Pro XI installed and registered on my machine, so I'm not sure what the issue is. I have already tried uninstalling both the Reader and Acrobat and reinstalling them, bu that didn't fix the issue.

Report · Oct 27, 2023

I am having the same issue when trying to embed a PDF file into a Word document, this was working until the new Adbobe version came out. i have tried using insert object, I have tried going back to the old version still no change.

It is important for my work i can do this and now i cant and its just a complete pain

Report · Jul 22, 2024

We are still getting customer for the same issue

Report · Jul 23, 2024

Hi Shyam23738108kzbb,

Thank you for reaching out.

Could you please share the details about the issue over the private message? Also, share the system environment details. You may initiate a private message using the envelope icon at the top right corner of this community page.

Thanks,

Meenakshi