How to Reactivate Your Adobe Acrobat DC License After Reinstalling
Question details
The user needs to reactivate a purchased Acrobat DC license after installing the software on a new or reformatted computer.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reinstalling the software after replacing or reformatting a computer.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat DC starts in a trial mode and prompts the user to purchase again instead of recognizing the previously purchased one-year license.
Ensure you have the exact Adobe ID email and password associated with your original purchase, and verify that your computer is connected to the internet so it can communicate with Adobe's activation servers.
Sign In and Manage Device Activations
Reactivate your license by signing in with the correct Adobe ID and remotely deactivating old installations if you have reached the activation limit.
Adobe licenses are tied to your Adobe ID rather than the physical hardware. Simply reinstalling the software is not enough; you must authenticate the installation to convert the trial into an active license.
Open the newly installed Acrobat DC application on your computer.
Click the 'Sign In' button and enter the Adobe ID and password that you used to purchase or activate the one-year license.
If you receive a prompt stating that your activation limit has been reached, follow the on-screen instructions to sign out of previous computers. Alternatively, log into your Adobe account online via a web browser to manually deactivate the old device.
Close Acrobat DC completely and reopen it to refresh the connection and ensure the license status updates from Trial to Active.
Verify Subscription and Contact Support
Use this method if signing in does not resolve the trial prompt and your license appears missing from your account.
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- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my newly installed Acrobat DC say it is a trial?
This usually happens if you haven't yet signed in with the Adobe ID linked to your subscription, or if you downloaded the wrong edition of the software (for example, installing Acrobat Pro when your license is for Acrobat Standard).
How many computers can I install Acrobat DC on?
Adobe allows you to install Acrobat on multiple computers and activate (sign in to) up to two computers simultaneously, but you can only actively use the software on one computer at a time.
How do I deactivate Acrobat on a computer I no longer have access to?
You can log into your Adobe account online, navigate to the 'Activated devices' section under your Plan details, and click 'Deactivate' next to the name of the old or reformatted computer.
Can I transfer my Acrobat license to another user?
Standard subscription licenses are tied exclusively to your personal Adobe ID and cannot be transferred. Transferring a perpetual (one-time purchase) license requires filling out a formal Transfer of License form through Adobe Support.
