Fix Acrobat Pro 2017 Compatibility Issues with Microsoft Word and Excel
Question details
The user is experiencing compatibility issues between Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 and Microsoft Word or Excel, resulting in missing Acrobat tabs or failing PDF conversions.
- Product
- Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Converting Office files to PDF using the Acrobat tab or Adobe PDF tools within Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Observed behavior
- The Acrobat tab is missing from the Office ribbon, or the PDFMaker tools fail to function because the Office release might be unsupported or Acrobat updates are missing.
Ensure that your Microsoft Office suite and Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 are both activated, and that you have administrator privileges to install updates or modify application add-ins.
Install Acrobat Updates and Verify Compatibility
Updating Acrobat Pro 2017 is the most effective way to restore compatibility with newer Microsoft Office versions, such as Office 2016 or 2019.
Compatibility between Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office is highly dependent on both software versions. While Acrobat Pro 2017 natively supports Office 2010 through 2016, compatibility for later versions like Office 2019 is often provided via incremental updates.
Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 on your computer.
Navigate to the "Help" menu in the top menu bar and select "Check for Updates."
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install any available updates. Restart your computer once the installation is complete.
Check Adobe's official historical system requirements to ensure your specific version of Microsoft Office is officially supported by your updated Acrobat 2017 build.
Repair Acrobat and Re-enable the PDFMaker Add-in
If the Acrobat tab is still missing in Word or Excel after updating, repairing the installation or manually re-enabling the PDFMaker add-in can restore the functionality.
Convert Word and Excel to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
Instead of troubleshooting third-party add-ins and compatibility issues, use WPS Office. It features a built-in, highly compatible PDF converter that allows you to export documents and spreadsheets to PDF instantly without requiring Adobe Acrobat.
- 1. Open your file in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word document or Excel spreadsheet.
- 2. Access the Export tool: Click on the "Menu" button or navigate to the "Tools" tab in the top ribbon.
- 3. Select Export to PDF: Click on the "Export to PDF" option from the toolbar.
- 4. Save the PDF: Adjust your preferred export settings, such as page range and save path, and click "Export to PDF" to finalize.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Acrobat tab missing in Microsoft Word?
The Acrobat tab usually disappears if the Acrobat PDFMaker COM Add-in is disabled by Microsoft Office due to a software crash, or if your version of Adobe Acrobat is not compatible with a recent Microsoft Office update. You can manually re-enable it via File > Options > Add-ins in Word.
Does Acrobat Pro 2017 support Microsoft Office 2019?
Out of the box, Acrobat Pro 2017 was designed for Office versions up to 2016. However, compatibility for Office 2019 was added in later patches. You must install the latest Acrobat 2017 updates via the Help menu for it to work correctly with Office 2019.
How do I export an Excel file to PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
If Acrobat is incompatible, you can use the native 'Save As' feature in Excel and choose 'PDF' as the file format. Alternatively, you can use WPS Office, which includes a native 'Export to PDF' button that does not require any third-party plugins to function.
What should I do if the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in fails to load?
Try running Microsoft Word or Excel as an administrator, then attempt to re-enable the add-in in the COM Add-ins menu. If it still fails to load, close your Office applications and run the Repair installation option for Adobe Acrobat Pro from the Windows Control Panel.
