Fix Adobe Acrobat Problems After Updating macOS to Big Sur
Question details
Users encounter software issues with Adobe Acrobat after upgrading to macOS Big Sur, including the app failing to open properly, Acrobat Reader launching instead of Pro, and unexpected changes to PDF file icons.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur
- Scenario
- Accessing and managing PDF files on a Mac immediately after upgrading the operating system to macOS Big Sur.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat may fail to run natively on Apple Silicon Macs without emulation, default applications may revert to Reader instead of Pro, and the classic PDF icons may turn white.
Verify whether your Mac uses an Intel processor or an Apple Silicon (M1/M2) chip, as Apple Silicon requires the Rosetta 2 emulator to run older versions of Acrobat.
Update Acrobat and Enable Rosetta 2
Install the latest compatibility updates from Adobe and utilize Apple's Rosetta 2 emulator to run the application on Apple Silicon Macs.
While Adobe works on providing fully native applications for Apple Silicon, older versions of Acrobat require an emulator called Rosetta 2 to function on macOS Big Sur. Ensuring your software is updated will patch known upgrade bugs.
Open the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application, navigate to the 'Updates' tab on the left sidebar, and click 'Update' next to Adobe Acrobat to install the latest Big Sur compatibility patches.
If you are on an Apple Silicon Mac and launch an Intel-based app for the first time, a prompt will appear asking to install Rosetta. Click 'Install' and enter your administrator password to proceed.
Once the updates and Rosetta 2 are installed, click the Apple menu and select 'Restart' to ensure all system changes are properly applied to the PDF software.
Restore Adobe Acrobat Pro as the Default PDF App
Reconfigure macOS Big Sur to open all PDF files with Acrobat Pro instead of Acrobat Reader or Apple Preview.
Try WPS Office for a Fast, Natively Optimized Mac Experience
If you are tired of emulator workarounds and compatibility bugs after updating your macOS, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, unified suite featuring a powerful PDF editor that runs effortlessly on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.
- 1. Download for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS installer.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Enjoy seamless PDF editing: Launch WPS Office, open your PDF files, and start editing with native Apple Silicon performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my PDF file icons turn white after the Big Sur update?
macOS Big Sur introduced a new system-wide design language. Adobe updated their application icons to match Apple's new guidelines, which often changes the traditional black PDF document icon into a white icon with a red PDF label.
Does Adobe Acrobat run natively on Apple Silicon (M1) Macs?
Recent versions of Adobe Acrobat have been updated to support Apple Silicon natively. However, if you are running an older release, macOS will automatically use the Rosetta 2 emulator to run the Intel version of the application.
How can I verify if Acrobat is running through Rosetta 2?
Open your Applications folder, right-click the Adobe Acrobat application, and select 'Get Info'. Look at the 'Kind' property; if it says 'Application (Intel)', it is using Rosetta 2. If it says 'Application (Universal)', it is running natively.
Should I downgrade my Mac back to macOS Catalina?
Downgrading your operating system is a time-consuming process that requires wiping your hard drive. It is recommended to apply all software updates or use alternative native PDF software before resorting to a system downgrade.
