However it's here in Windows 10, as a built-in PDF viewer in the Edge browser. Putting a PDF viewer in a browser makes sense; there's a lot of PDF content out there on the web, with forms, e-books. Moved Permanently. The document has moved here.
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- Windows 10 Acrobat Reader Problems
Is Adobe Acrobat Reader DC failing to open in Windows 10? That can happen for any number of reasons. For instance, the program may not have sufficient permissions to run properly. Or, there could be compatibility issues at play.
A corrupt Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation can also prevent the program from launching on your desktop. Thankfully, several fixes can help you get Acrobat Reader DC up and running again. Let's dig in and check them out.
Run as Administrator
Try running Acrobat Reader DC with elevated rights. To do that, right-click the Acrobat Reader DC shortcut on your desktop and click Run as Administrator. On the User Account Control dialog box that shows up, click Yes.
If Acrobat Reader DC launches properly, you can always configure the shortcut to run the program with administrative rights. Start by right-clicking the Acrobat Reader DC shortcut. Then, select Properties.
On the Properties dialog box that shows up, switch to the Shortcut tab, select Advanced, check the box next to Run as Administrator, and then click OK.
Also on Guiding Tech How to Hide or Remove the Adobe Reader DC Tools Pane Permanently Read MoreProblems With Adobe Acrobat Reader Windows 10
Run in Compatibility Mode
To eliminate compatibility issues with Windows 10, run Acrobat Reader DC in Compatibility Mode.
Start by right-clicking the Acrobat Reader DC icon on the desktop. Then, select Properties. On the Properties dialog box, switch to the Compatibility tab, check the box under Compatibility Mode, and select Windows 8. Click Apply and OK.
If you keep facing the same issue, try setting Compatibility Mode to Windows 7. You can also use the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter (click Run Compatibility Troubleshooter) to detect and troubleshoot compatibility issues in Acrobat Reader DC.
End Background Processes
Is Acrobat Reader DC still failing to open? Ending all background processes related to the program can help.
To do that, right-click the Start menu and select Task Manager. Then, click More Details to expand the default Task Manager view.
Switch to the Processes tab, select each Acrobat Reader DC-related background process (as shown in the screenshot above), and then click End Task.
Once you've done that, try opening Acrobat Reader DC again.
Disable Protected Mode
Acrobat Reader DC uses a feature called Protected Mode to secure your computer against malicious PDF documents. In rare instances, Protected Mode can also prevent the program from loading. Hence, try disabling it.
Since you obviously can't open Acrobat Reader DC to disable Protected mode, you must use the Registry Editor for that.
Step 1: Press Windows+R, type regedit, and then click OK to open the System Registry.
Step 2: Copy the following path into the address bar of the Registry Editor window and press Enter:
Step 3: Double-click the registry entry labeled bProtectedMode.
Step 4: Set the value to '0' and click OK.
Step 5: Exit the Registry Editor.
Try running Acrobat Reader DC. If it launches properly, you can keep using the program with Protected Mode disabled. However, that makes Acrobat Reader DC less secure. Consider proceeding with the rest of the fixes to resolve the issue fully.
In case you want to check whether reactivating Protected Mode causes the issue to recur, go to Edit > Preferences > Security (Enhanced), and then check the box next to Enable Protected Mode at Startup.
Update Windows 10
Have you updated Windows 10 recently? Running outdated Windows builds often causes issues with applications such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
Also on Guiding Tech #windows updates Click here to see our windows updates articles pageTo install the latest Windows 10 updates, open the Start menu, type windows update, and then press Enter. Click Check for Updates and install any pending updates. Restart your computer afterward and try launching Acrobat Reader DC.
Remove and Reinstall
If you still have issues, you must reinstall Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Before you do that, it's best to use the Adobe Reader DC and Acrobat DC Cleaner Tool to remove the program from your computer completely.
Step 1: Restart your computer.
Step 2: Download the Adobe Reader DC and Acrobat DC Cleaner Tool.
Download Adobe Reader DC and Acrobat DC Cleaner ToolStep 3: Run the Adobe Reader DC and Acrobat DC Cleaner Tool.
Step 4: Choose Reader.
Step 5: Click Clean Now to start the removal procedure.
Step 6: Restart your computer after the Adobe Reader DC and Acrobat DC Cleaner Tool finishes removing Acrobat Reader DC.
Step 7: Download Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader DCAcrobat Reader For Windows 10 Pro
Step 8: Right-click the setup file and select Properties. Under the Compatibility tab, check the box next to 'Run this program in compatibility mode for' and select Windows 8 or Windows 7.
Step 9: Install Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
Step 10: Restart your computer after the installation procedure.
Try running Acrobat Reader DC. It should likely open without issues.
Also on Guiding Tech How to Disable or Remove Recent Files in Adobe Reader and Acrobat DC Read MoreBack to Work
Professional Acrobat Reader For Windows 10
If you managed to get Acrobat Reader DC to run again, make sure to update it regularly. To do that, open the Help menu and select Check for Updates. Having the latest Acrobat Reader DC updates should minimize the chances of running into similar issues in the future. Don't forget to update Windows 10 often as well.
Next up:Did you know that you could open PDFs in separate Adobe Acrobat Reader DC windows? Here's how to do that.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextHow to Open Files in Separate Windows on Adobe Acrobat Pro, Standard, and Reader DCAlso See#Adobe Acrobat #troubleshooting
Did You Know
Microsoft Edge was initially code-named Project Spartan.
More in Windows
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Do more with the leading PDF viewer
More powerful than other PDF software, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is the free, trusted standard for viewing, printing and annotating PDFs. And now, it's connected to Adobe Document Cloud — so it's easier than ever to work with PDFs on computers and mobile devices.
View and annotate PDF files
With Acrobat Reader DC, you can do even more than open and view PDF files. It's easy to add annotations to documents using a complete set of commenting tools.
Say hello to easy file access
Acrobat Reader DC is connected to Adobe Document Cloud so you can work with your PDFs anywhere. You can even access and store files in Box, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive.
Convert PDFs to Word
Additional PDF services are just a click away. Inside Reader, you can subscribe to activate additional capabilities to create PDF files and export them to Word or Excel.
Fill, sign and send PDF forms=
Say goodbye to paper forms. Instead, type responses on your PDF form. Add your e-signature. Submit the form electronically. And save a copy for your records.
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Manage software rollouts and standards compliance
Use Adobe and Microsoft tools to manage and deploy updates. Get support for a wide range of document security standards. Extend Reader functionality using the free Acrobat SDK.
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