Downgrade Adobe Acrobat Reader on Intune-Managed iPad
Question details
The user needs to roll back an Adobe Acrobat Reader update on an iPad managed by Microsoft Intune without losing existing documents.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Intune
- Device & OS
- iPadOS
- Scenario
- Managing app versions and recovering previous application states in an enterprise mobile device management (MDM) environment.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat Reader automatically updated to version 18.10.02 via Microsoft Intune, and the user wants to revert to an older version while keeping all saved documents intact.
Ensure all local PDF documents within the Adobe Acrobat Reader app are synchronized or backed up to a secure cloud service like OneDrive or iCloud before attempting any uninstallation or version rollback.
Review Intune Policies and Reassign App Version
Modify the app assignment policies within Microsoft Intune to deploy an older version of the application if available in your enterprise repository.
App version selection on iOS is strictly controlled by Microsoft Intune policies and Apple's App Store distribution rules. Because Apple typically forces the latest version for standard App Store downloads, downgrading requires checking if a previous enterprise app package (IPA) is still available for managed deployment.
Open Adobe Acrobat Reader on the iPad and export or sync all locally saved PDFs to a secure cloud location to prevent data loss.
Log in to the Microsoft Intune admin center as an administrator and navigate to 'Apps' > 'iOS/iPadOS'.
Select the Adobe Acrobat Reader app from the list and check the version deployment settings and app assignment rules.
If Apple's Volume Purchase Program (VPP) or your enterprise repository retains the older version package, assign it to the affected iPad device group.
Open the Company Portal app on the iPad and force a device sync to apply the newly assigned application version.
Try WPS Office for Powerful PDF Management on iPad
If managing Adobe versions becomes too complex, consider WPS Office as a free Microsoft Office alternative. It offers a lightweight app size, high format compatibility with standard PDFs, a familiar UI, and seamless migration for your existing documents on iPad.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office from the Apple App Store on your iPad.
- 2. Open your PDFs: Launch the app and tap 'Files' to locate your downloaded or cloud-synced PDF documents.
- 3. Read and Annotate: Use the built-in PDF tools to highlight, comment, and manage your documents easily without complex version management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I downgrade an app directly from the Apple App Store?
No, Apple does not provide a built-in way to download previous versions of an app directly from the App Store. App downgrades usually require MDM solutions pushing an older enterprise app package.
How do I prevent Intune from automatically updating my iPad apps?
In the Microsoft Intune admin center, administrators can configure app update policies or use Volume Purchase Program (VPP) settings to control whether apps are updated automatically or manually.
Will uninstalling an app on iPad delete its local files?
Yes, removing an app from iPadOS typically deletes all local data associated with it. You must back up or sync your documents to a cloud service before uninstalling the application.
