How to Uninstall Older Acrobat Versions on macOS Catalina
Question details
The user needs to remove an older version of Adobe Acrobat from a Mac running macOS Catalina after a data migration.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina
- Scenario
- Uninstalling an incompatible 32-bit application after upgrading or migrating to a newer macOS.
- Observed behavior
- The older Acrobat version does not run, and the standard uninstaller cannot execute because it is a 32-bit app unsupported by Catalina.
Before removing Acrobat, ensure you have your Adobe ID login credentials handy and verify whether you need to back up any locally saved PDF files or application preferences.
Use the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool
The most effective way to remove obsolete Adobe installations on macOS Catalina is by using Adobe's dedicated cleanup utility.
Because macOS Catalina no longer supports 32-bit applications, the standard Acrobat uninstaller cannot launch. The Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool is a 64-bit application that bypasses this limitation to safely remove incompatible Adobe files.
Navigate to the official Adobe Help website and download the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool for Mac.
Double-click the downloaded .dmg file, then run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool.
Choose your preferred language, accept the license agreement, and select 'Acrobat' from the list of applications available for removal.
Click the 'Clean Selected' button. Once the process completes and confirms success, restart your Mac.
Manually Delete Acrobat Application Files
If the cleaner tool is unavailable or fails, you can manually delete the 32-bit Acrobat application and its associated library files.
Need a Catalina-Compatible PDF Editor? Try WPS Office
Since older 32-bit versions of Adobe Acrobat are no longer supported on macOS Catalina, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, fully compatible PDF editor alongside Word, Excel, and PowerPoint alternatives—all optimized for modern Mac operating systems.
- 1. Install WPS Office for Mac: Download the macOS version from the official WPS website and drag the application to your Applications folder.
- 2. Access the PDF Editor: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab on the left sidebar to open the dedicated PDF workspace.
- 3. Open Your Files: Drag and drop your existing PDF documents directly into the WPS interface to begin editing immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the Acrobat uninstaller work on macOS Catalina?
macOS Catalina entirely dropped support for 32-bit applications. Because older Acrobat uninstallers were built as 32-bit apps, Catalina's operating system actively blocks them from running.
Can I run a 32-bit Acrobat uninstaller remotely on a Mac?
No. Regardless of whether you are accessing the Mac locally or remotely, macOS Catalina will not execute any 32-bit uninstaller applications.
How can I check if my Mac apps are 32-bit before upgrading macOS?
Before upgrading your macOS, go to the Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report, and look under the 'Software' > 'Applications' section. Check the '64-bit (Intel)' column to ensure your critical apps say 'Yes'.
What is the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool?
It is a free, specialized utility provided by Adobe designed to resolve installation issues and forcefully remove corrupted, outdated, or incompatible Adobe application files from your system.
