How to Download and Install Acrobat Pro DC on a Second Mac
Question details
The user wants to download and install an existing Acrobat Pro DC subscription on a second Mac but is encountering persistent installation failures and conflicts with backup drives.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Transferring or adding an active PDF editor subscription to a new Mac computer after deactivating a Windows PC.
- Observed behavior
- The Acrobat installation starts but stops midway with a generic error prompting the user to contact support, often caused by undeletable residual files on secondary internal backup drives.
Before beginning the installation, ensure you have deactivated your Acrobat subscription on your previous computer and have temporarily disconnected or unmounted any secondary drives containing old Mac backups.
Download and Install via Adobe Creative Cloud
Use your existing Adobe ID to download Acrobat Pro DC without repurchasing.
Your Adobe subscription covers installation on up to two computers. You do not need to purchase a new license. Simply logging into your account will grant you access to the installer.
Go to the Adobe website and sign in using the Adobe ID associated with your active Acrobat Pro DC subscription.
Navigate to the Creative Cloud apps dashboard or the specific Acrobat download page.
Locate Acrobat Pro DC in the apps list and click the 'Download' button to save the setup file to your Mac.
Open the downloaded .dmg file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
Resolve Installation Failures Using the Acrobat Cleaner Tool
Clear out conflicting residual files from previous installations or old backups that may block the new installation.
Use WPS Office as a Reliable PDF Alternative on Mac
If Adobe Acrobat Pro DC fails to install and you need an immediate tool to handle your documents, WPS Office provides a built-in, lightweight PDF editor for Mac. You can easily view, edit, annotate, and manage your PDF documents without complex subscription errors.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of the software.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your PDF: Launch WPS Office, select 'PDF', and open your document to start viewing and editing immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Adobe Acrobat Pro DC subscription on two Macs simultaneously?
You can install Acrobat Pro DC on up to two computers using the same subscription, but Adobe limits you to actively using the software on only one computer at a time.
Why does the Acrobat Mac installer say it cannot finish installing?
This typically happens when residual files from an old installation or password-protected files on backup drives interfere with the new setup. Unmounting your backup drives and running the official Acrobat Cleaner Tool usually resolves this conflict.
Do I need to buy a new Acrobat license for a second computer?
No, as long as you have an active subscription, you can simply sign in with your existing Adobe ID on the new Mac and download the software from the Creative Cloud website without repurchasing it.
