Exit
  • Global community
    • Language:
      • Deutsch
      • English
      • Español
      • Français
      • Português
  • 日本語コミュニティ
  • 한국 커뮤니티
1

Adobe reader changing itself to 64bit when we need 32bit for the preview handler in outlook.

Community Beginner ,
Sep 20, 2021 Sep 20, 2021

Due to other software 32bit office is a necessity.
Adobe seem to think if you manually install 32bit office that means you want it to automatically change to 32bit 5 mins later.

Anybody know how to stop this since it breaks compatability with 32bit apps.

TOPICS
Download and install , General troubleshooting
53.4K
Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines

correct answers 2 Correct answers

Adobe Employee , Sep 24, 2021 Sep 24, 2021

Hi,

Steps to revert to 32-bit Reader are as follows

1. Uninstall 64-bit Reader installed on the machine.

2. Restart the machine (optional step)

3. Create the key to block the upgrade

  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown]
    "bUpdateToSingleApp"=dword:00000000
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown]
    "bUpdateToSingleApp"=dword:00000000

4. Install 32-bit Reader from https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/ 

...
Translate
Community Beginner , Oct 14, 2021 Oct 14, 2021

Looks like the PDF preview at least has been fixed in the latest update.

If you just need the pdf preview on 32bit outlook the new update will fix this even though it's 64 bit.
If you need it for other things I'm not sure if this will hlep or not.

https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/ReleaseNotesDC/continuous/dccontinuousoct2021.html#dccontinuousocttwentytwentyone

"Viewer

  • 4341634: PDF preview is not visible on 32bit outlook"

Translate
Community Expert ,
Sep 12, 2021 Sep 12, 2021

What's the problem with 64 Bit? What has your Office 365 to to with Acrobat Reader?

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Explorer ,
Sep 12, 2021 Sep 12, 2021

Very Simple.

 

Acrobat reader installs a Preview Handler for Outlook for PDFs so you can view PDFs in outlook.

 

This ONLY works if Office and Actobat both have the same bits.  32 and 32 or 64 and 64.  If office if 32 bit - the most common, seeing that you have to go out of your way to install 64 bit - and Acrobat is 64, bit the PDF Preview Handler is not available.

 

So because on this machine I have a 32 bit office, I need the 32 bit Acrobat.  The problem is that when Acrobat does an update it automatically updates to the latest version that matches your machine architecture, NOT the one the matches your current version.

 

Therefore the PDF Preview handler gets broken and I am not happy.  The only solution is to deliberately install the 32 bit version, and then use a registry hack to prevent Acrobat from auto updating.  It works, but it isnt desireable given Adobe's track record of security holes in Acrobat etc.

 

Does that make sense?

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Expert ,
Sep 12, 2021 Sep 12, 2021

Okay, do you use the Creative Cloud Desktop app to managing Adobes software and updates on your computer?  I do and got the latests version 2021.005.20060 in 32 bit. There have been no switch to 64 bit to me, so there might be something different to you. How are you upgrading in detail?

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Explorer ,
Sep 12, 2021 Sep 12, 2021

No, no, this is just the free Acrobat Reader. I don't do anything to update, it just does it itself.

 

 

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Sep 29, 2021 Sep 29, 2021

Radzmar, you must have 32-bit Windows 10?  This incompatibility only occurs in 64-bit Windows 10, where the Adobe installer now installs 64-bit Reader by default.  If you have 32-bit Office then your Outlook PDF preview will be broken by this.  Hopefully Ankit's workaround below will solve the problem, although I am reluctant to try it since everything is fine for me now after disabling automatic updates.  

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Sep 22, 2021 Sep 22, 2021

Hi DrBob,

 

I am experiencing the exact same issue.

Would you mind sharing the registry hack you are referring too?

 

Thanks.

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Explorer ,
Sep 22, 2021 Sep 22, 2021

Sure.

 

See https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/PrefRef/Windows/Updater-Win.html?zoom_highlight=u... 

 

The second section, Mode.

 

In HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Reader\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AC0F074E4100} 

 

and set mode to one of:

0: Do not download or install updates automatically.
1: Do not download or install updates automatically. Same as 0.
2: Automatically download updates but let the user choose when to install them.
3: Automatically download and install updates.
4: Notify the user downloads are available but do not download them.

 

I set mine to 0.

 

DrBob

 

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Adobe Employee ,
Sep 23, 2021 Sep 23, 2021

Hi @morb!d  @DrBob 

I have DMed you a workaround to fix this problem of outlook preview not working with 64bit Acrobat. Can you please try that solution and let us know if that works?

Ankit,

Adobe Acrobat Software developer

 
 
Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
New Here ,
Sep 23, 2021 Sep 23, 2021

Would you please message me the workaround too? 

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Adobe Employee ,
Sep 23, 2021 Sep 23, 2021

@default5zpcveok22o6 @done, please let me know if that works?

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Sep 26, 2021 Sep 26, 2021

Can you please send that workaround to me too?
We have tons of issues with this at present.

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Adobe Employee ,
Sep 26, 2021 Sep 26, 2021

 

If you are facing outlook pdf preview issue. Followings are the registry entried which needs to created:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}]
"DisplayName"="@C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat DC\\Acrobat\\pdfprevhndlr.dll,-101"
"AppID"="{6d2b5079-2f0b-48dd-ab7f-97cec514d30b}"
@="Adobe PDF Preview Handler for Vista"
"DisableLowILProcessIsolation"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\InprocServer32]
"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"
@="C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat DC\\Acrobat\\pdfprevhndlr.dll"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\ProgID]
@="PDFPrevHndlr.PDFPreviewHandler.1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\TypeLib]
@="{0F6D3808-7974-4B1A-94C2-3200767EACE8}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\VersionIndependentProgID]
@="PDFPrevHndlr.PDFPreviewHandler"

 

You can alternatively download the .reg file shared below and double click on it and registry entries would be automatically created.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:e94a84df-fa43-4b26-99bf-c1906c783c2b 

 

Please note that running .reg files changes the system configuration, so please ensure to verify the source and content of the file before running it on your system.

Thanks,

Ankit 

Adobe Acrobat software engineer

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Oct 02, 2021 Oct 02, 2021

This works.. 

Only solution on the internet that does

 

See attached .zip file that is renamed as .pdf. 

Rename to .zip after download - remove the .pdf off the end unpack and run the reg as supplied above 1 click fix. restart outlook

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Oct 02, 2021 Oct 02, 2021

.Since adobe will not let me attach

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}]
"DisplayName"="@C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat DC\\Acrobat\\pdfprevhndlr.dll,-101"
"AppID"="{6d2b5079-2f0b-48dd-ab7f-97cec514d30b}"
@="Adobe PDF Preview Handler for Vista"
"DisableLowILProcessIsolation"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\InprocServer32]
"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"
@="C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat DC\\Acrobat\\pdfprevhndlr.dll"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\ProgID]
@="PDFPrevHndlr.PDFPreviewHandler.1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\TypeLib]
@="{0F6D3808-7974-4B1A-94C2-3200767EACE8}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}\VersionIndependentProgID]
@="PDFPrevHndlr.PDFPreviewHandler"

 

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Explorer ,
Sep 26, 2021 Sep 26, 2021

Hi @Ankit K Gupta (and @morb!d)

 

that registry patch worked just fine for me.

 

What is the history of this, and is it going to be integrated into Acrobat and Acrobat reader?

 

DrBob

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Adobe Employee ,
Sep 26, 2021 Sep 26, 2021

Thanks for confirming @DrBob. Yes, this would be integrated with the next quarterly update of Acrobat/Reader and users won't have to run this file manually.  

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Explorer ,
Sep 26, 2021 Sep 26, 2021

Oh, wonderful!!

 

DrBob

 

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Oct 02, 2021 Oct 02, 2021

@Ankit K Gupta why did adobe make this mess but... lots of love for the devs FAIL

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Oct 02, 2021 Oct 02, 2021

The registry patch works fine for the preview component but does not resolve compatibilty with other applications (e.g. MYOB). Nor does it resolve the auto update issue.

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Community Beginner ,
Oct 13, 2021 Oct 13, 2021

Agreed, this is a complete joke.

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
New Here ,
Feb 10, 2025 Feb 10, 2025

My Case Number: ADB-38452501-V5H0.  Was closed before the problem was solved, can it be reopened?

Seems your 'updater' is not smart enough to realize you can't update 32-bit Reader with 64-bit Reader in a 32-bit computer.

Starting from the begining;  I HAD 32-bit Reder installed on a 32-bit computer and everything was working fine untill I started getting  numerous notes that the updates for Reader were NOT working.  I finally caught the 'Updater' in the act andwas convinced to uninstall Reader (mistake).   I made three trys to reinstall and then contacted the help desk.  I  foughtt my way past the 'virtual agent' and got a person/ we used his 'cleaner' and tried to install Reader'. Lost connectiom after I told him 83%, but before it got to 90% & stopped, with NOTHING installed. I have hit a few dead ends since then, but still NO reader or way to view/print my bank statements next week.  I blame this on your AI Updater so how do we fix it? ? ? ? ?

allen.r.wheeler@imajis.com or foxinternet.com 

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Adobe Employee ,
Feb 12, 2025 Feb 12, 2025

Hi @allen_Wheeler 

 

Have you tried installing 32-bit Reader from https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/ 

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
New Here ,
Feb 12, 2025 Feb 12, 2025
LATEST
Not yet.  Will the 32bit computer stop it from auto updating or do I
need a 'KEY'?

I will go ahead, It didn't get uninstalled until I took the "up-dater's"
suggestion.  A mistake I won't make twice.

Allen Wheeler
Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
New Here ,
Sep 23, 2021 Sep 23, 2021

Hi,

 

We are seeing cases of adobe auto upgrading from 32 bit to 64 bit. We need to stop this as applications that hook into reader are not 64 bit.

I have tried the Registry key "Key:  bUpdateToSingleApp  , Value = 0 , type = dword

Location : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown" recommended on another post, this has NOT worked.

 

Please advise how we can stop this occuring as this is a Citrix environment this is happening which causes Adobe to not launch following your forced "upgrade".

Reader Version: 2021.007.20091.

 

Thanks,

Ryan

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines
Explorer ,
Oct 19, 2021 Oct 19, 2021

Dear user, the fixes for this issue have been applied in the latest release so that Reader will not upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit machines on Sever OS machines.

You can get the latest version of 32-bit Reader from:
https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/

Translate
Report
Community guidelines
Be kind and respectful, give credit to the original source of content, and search for duplicates before posting. Learn more
community guidelines