How to Find and Reinstall Adobe Acrobat XI After Installing Creative Cloud
Question details
The user needs to locate and reinstall their older Adobe Acrobat XI software, which went missing or was replaced by an unlicensed Acrobat Pro DC after installing Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat XI / Creative Cloud
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user installed Adobe Creative Cloud, which caused their existing Acrobat XI installation to disappear, leaving them with an unlicensed trial of Acrobat Pro DC.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat XI can no longer be found on the computer, and the newly installed Acrobat Pro DC prompts the user for a new license or trial activation.
Ensure you have your original Adobe Acrobat XI serial number or license key ready, as you will need it to activate the software after reinstallation.
Download Acrobat XI from Adobe's Archived FTP Server
Use Adobe's official archived FTP server to download the legacy installer for Acrobat XI.
Since Acrobat XI is a discontinued product, Adobe no longer provides it on their main download pages. However, you can still access the installer through their official archived FTP server if you possess a valid license.
Open your web browser or Windows File Explorer and navigate to ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/acrobat/win/11.x/.
Locate the appropriate installer file for your operating system version and download it to your local drive.
Double-click the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen prompts to reinstall Acrobat XI. Enter your original serial number when asked.
Verify and Retrieve Bundled Software Licenses
If Acrobat XI came pre-installed on your computer, contact the manufacturer to retrieve your license.
Edit and Manage PDFs Easily with WPS Office
Instead of struggling with unsupported and outdated software like Acrobat XI, use WPS Office's built-in PDF editor to read, edit, convert, and manage your PDF files seamlessly.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your device.
- 2. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Open' to select the PDF file you want to view or edit.
- 3. Use PDF Tools: Navigate to the 'PDF' tab to access modern tools for editing text, adding comments, merging files, or converting formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Acrobat XI disappear after I installed Creative Cloud?
Creative Cloud installations often update or replace older Adobe software to streamline licensing. This can cause legacy versions like Acrobat XI to be overwritten or hidden, replacing them with the newer Acrobat Pro DC.
Can I safely run Acrobat XI on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
Acrobat XI is officially discontinued and unsupported by Adobe. While it may still install, it has not been optimized for newer operating systems, which means you may experience bugs, missing features, or security vulnerabilities.
What should I do if Acrobat Pro DC says 'unlicensed'?
If you only purchased a license for Acrobat XI, the newer Acrobat Pro DC will show as an unlicensed trial version. To fix this, you need to uninstall Acrobat Pro DC and reinstall Acrobat XI using your original serial number.
