How to Remove the Acrobat DC Trial Prompt and Open PDFs for Free
Question details
The user is repeatedly prompted to start an Acrobat DC trial when attempting to open PDF files and wants to return to a free PDF viewer instead of paying for a subscription.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Trying to view a PDF document without being forced into a paid Acrobat Pro subscription.
- Observed behavior
- Opening a PDF triggers an Acrobat DC 'Trial Expired' prompt with a 'Buy Now' button, preventing standard free document viewing.
Ensure you have saved and closed any open PDF documents and have administrative privileges on your computer to uninstall applications.
Uninstall Acrobat DC and Switch to a Free Viewer
Remove the paid Acrobat DC application from your system to stop the trial prompts entirely.
Adobe offers both a free viewer (Adobe Reader) and a paid editor (Acrobat DC). If you only need to view PDFs, uninstalling the paid editor will permanently remove the trial prompts.
Navigate to the Applications folder in Finder (macOS) or open 'Apps & Features' in your System Settings (Windows).
Scroll through your installed programs and locate 'Adobe Acrobat DC' or 'Adobe Acrobat Pro'.
Select the application and click 'Uninstall' (Windows), or drag it to the Trash (macOS).
Empty the Trash or follow the remaining on-screen uninstaller prompts to completely remove the software from your machine.
Set a Free PDF Reader as Your Default Application
Ensure your operating system is instructed to open PDFs with a free viewer rather than the expired Acrobat DC application.
Sign Out of Creative Cloud
If you have uninstalled the software but still see trial prompts in Creative Cloud, resetting your login state may resolve the sync issue.
Open and Edit PDFs for Free with WPS Office
Stop struggling with expired trials and expensive subscriptions. WPS Office provides a powerful, free PDF reader that lets you seamlessly open, view, and annotate your documents without any hassle.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download and install the free suite.
- 2. Set as Default PDF Viewer: Right-click any PDF file, select 'Open with', choose WPS Office, and set it as your default application.
- 3. Open Your PDF: Double-click your PDF document to instantly open it without any trial prompts.
- 4. Annotate and Read: Use the free built-in tools to read, highlight, and add comments to your document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe keep asking me to buy Acrobat when I just want to read a PDF?
You likely have Adobe Acrobat DC (the paid editor) installed as your default application instead of Adobe Reader (the free viewer). Uninstalling the paid Acrobat version and installing a free reader will fix this issue.
How do I stop PDFs from opening in Acrobat DC automatically?
You need to change your operating system's default application settings. Right-click any PDF file, select 'Open with' > 'Choose another app', pick your preferred free PDF viewer, and ensure you check the box to always use this app.
Can I use Adobe Creative Cloud without Acrobat DC?
Yes. You can uninstall Acrobat DC via the Creative Cloud desktop app or your system's application manager to prevent trial prompts, while keeping all your other Creative Cloud applications installed and active.
