How to Uninstall Acrobat DC and Reinstall Acrobat X Pro
Question details
The user needs to remove an unwanted Acrobat DC installation that asks for a subscription and restore their previously installed Acrobat X Pro.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- After a system or software update, the user's legacy Acrobat X Pro software began opening as the subscription-based Acrobat DC.
- Observed behavior
- Opening PDF files unexpectedly launches Acrobat DC and prompts for a paid subscription instead of opening the user's perpetual-license Acrobat X Pro.
Locate your original Acrobat X Pro installation media (discs or setup files) and ensure you have your legitimate 24-digit serial number ready before proceeding with the uninstallation.
Uninstall Acrobat DC and Reinstall Acrobat X Pro
Remove the newer, subscription-based Acrobat DC using the Creative Cloud desktop app and reinstall your older, perpetual-license version using your original media.
Acrobat X Pro is an older version that no longer receives official updates. The sudden appearance of Acrobat DC is typically caused by an accidental installation of the newer version (often bundled with other Creative Cloud apps) rather than a standard update. To resolve this, you must completely remove the DC version before reinstalling X Pro.
Launch the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application from your Windows Start menu or macOS Launchpad.
Navigate to the 'All Apps' section and find Adobe Acrobat DC in your list of installed applications.
Click the 'More actions' icon (three horizontal dots) next to Acrobat DC and select 'Uninstall' from the dropdown menu. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove it completely.
Insert your original Acrobat X Pro installation disc into your computer, or run the original setup executable file if you downloaded it previously.
Follow the installation wizard steps. When prompted for activation, enter your original 24-digit serial number to authenticate your legacy software.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Acrobat X Pro suddenly change to Acrobat DC?
Acrobat X Pro has not received updates in years. This change usually happens if Acrobat DC was accidentally installed alongside another Adobe product or through the Creative Cloud app update processes, which then sets DC as the default PDF handler.
Can I run Acrobat X Pro on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
While it may install, Acrobat X Pro is an unsupported legacy application on Windows 10 and 11. You might experience software crashes, printing errors, or missing features due to operating system incompatibilities.
What should I do if I lost my Acrobat X Pro serial number?
If you previously registered the product, you can find your serial number by logging into your Adobe account online and checking the 'Registered Products' section. If it was never registered and you lost the physical packaging, you cannot legally reinstall it.
Is there a free alternative to Adobe Acrobat for editing PDFs?
Yes, WPS Office offers a comprehensive PDF editor built directly into its free office suite, allowing you to read, annotate, edit, and convert PDF files without needing a paid Adobe subscription or relying on outdated software.
