Fix Adobe Acrobat Send as Attachment Button Not Working in Outlook
Question details
Users are unable to use the 'Send as Attachment' feature in Adobe Acrobat or Reader to automatically attach a PDF to a new email in Microsoft Outlook.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Outlook 2013
- Device & OS
- Windows 7, Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to email a PDF document directly from the Adobe Acrobat or Reader interface via Microsoft Outlook.
- Observed behavior
- Clicking the 'Send as Attachment' button does nothing. Outlook does not launch, and the PDF is not attached to a new email draft.
Ensure you have saved your current PDF documents and verify that you have administrative privileges on your Windows PC to install software updates.
Install the Latest Adobe Acrobat or Reader Update
Updating Adobe Acrobat or Reader to version 19.008.20074 or later contains the official bug fix for this Outlook attachment issue.
This issue was caused by a specific 2019 Adobe update that broke communication with Outlook 2013. Applying the patch restores the direct email functionality.
Launch your currently installed version of Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.
Navigate to the top menu bar, click on 'Help', and select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown menu.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install update 19.008.20074 or newer. Once the installation is complete, restart the application and test the 'Send as Attachment' button.
Save the PDF Locally and Attach Manually
If you cannot update immediately, you can bypass the broken button by saving the file and using Outlook's native attachment feature.
Revert to a Previous Adobe Acrobat Version
Downgrade your Adobe installation to a previous stable build and disable automatic updates until you are ready to apply the permanent fix.
Handle PDFs and Emails Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are tired of update bugs disrupting your workflow between third-party PDF readers and Microsoft Outlook, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, all-in-one suite with seamless PDF viewing, editing, and direct sharing capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Acrobat Send as Attachment feature stop working suddenly?
The issue was triggered by a specific 2019 update pushed by Adobe, which inadvertently broke the software's ability to communicate with Microsoft Outlook 2013 on Windows 7 and Windows 10.
Do I need to update Microsoft Outlook to fix this attachment issue?
No, the bug is isolated to Adobe Acrobat and Reader. Upgrading to a newer version of Outlook is not required. Simply installing the Adobe update 19.008.20074 or newer resolves the problem.
Can I configure Acrobat to send emails through webmail instead of Outlook?
Yes, you can bypass Outlook entirely by configuring Adobe Acrobat to use webmail. Go to Edit > Preferences > Email Accounts, and add your Gmail, Yahoo, or other webmail account to send PDFs directly.
