How to Uninstall Adobe Acrobat 9 and CS4 on macOS Catalina
Question details
The user needs to remove legacy Adobe Acrobat 9 and CS4 applications that no longer function or uninstall normally after upgrading to macOS Catalina.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 9 and CS4
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina
- Scenario
- The system was upgraded to macOS Catalina, which drops 32-bit app support, causing older Adobe software and their built-in uninstallers to fail.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat 9 and CS4 do not open, and their standard uninstaller applications also fail to launch or execute properly on the operating system.
Verify if any other Adobe applications currently installed on your Mac rely on shared Adobe support files before proceeding with manual deletion to avoid breaking functional software.
Manually Remove Application and Support Files
Since 32-bit uninstallers fail on macOS Catalina, manually deleting the application bundles and associated library files is the most direct approach.
macOS Catalina only supports 64-bit applications, rendering CS4 and Acrobat 9 completely inoperable. Because their uninstaller packages are also 32-bit, they will not launch, requiring a manual cleanup.
Open the 'Finder' app and navigate to your 'Applications' folder from the left sidebar.
Locate the 'Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro' and 'Adobe CS4' folders, right-click them, and select 'Move to Trash'.
Click 'Go' in the top Finder menu bar, hold down the 'Option' key on your keyboard to reveal the hidden 'Library' option, and click it.
Navigate to 'Application Support/Adobe' and delete folders specifically named for Acrobat 9 and CS4. Do not delete shared folders if you use newer Adobe Creative Cloud apps.
Right-click the Trash icon in your Dock, select 'Empty Trash', and restart your Mac to complete the process.
Use the Official Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool
Run Adobe's dedicated cleanup utility to remove leftover corrupted installations or legacy files.
Replace Legacy Acrobat with a Modern, Free PDF and Office Suite
Since Acrobat 9 and CS4 are no longer compatible with modern macOS versions like Catalina, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, fully 64-bit compatible PDF reader and editor, alongside powerful word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools without the steep subscription fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Acrobat 9 and CS4 stop working on macOS Catalina?
Apple dropped all support for 32-bit applications in macOS Catalina. Because Acrobat 9 and CS4 rely on 32-bit architecture, they cannot run or execute their built-in uninstaller apps on this operating system.
Can I reinstall Acrobat 9 after upgrading my Mac?
No. Older 32-bit software like Acrobat 9 cannot be installed or run on macOS Catalina or newer macOS versions. You must use a 64-bit compatible application.
Is it safe to delete the entire Adobe folder in Application Support?
It is not recommended if you have other Adobe applications (like Creative Cloud) installed. Deleting shared libraries may cause your newer applications to crash or fail to launch.
What should I do if the Adobe Cleaner Tool doesn't list CS4?
If the official Cleaner Tool does not detect the legacy software, you must manually navigate to the Applications and Library folders and move the specific CS4 application bundles and preference files to the Trash.
