How to Install or Enable PDFMaker for Acrobat XI in Office 365
Question details
The user needs to restore or re-enable the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in in Microsoft Outlook.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 365 / Adobe Acrobat XI
- Device & OS
- Windows 7
- Scenario
- Using Microsoft Outlook in Office 365 after renewing an Acrobat XI subscription.
- Observed behavior
- The PDFMaker add-in no longer appears in Microsoft Outlook.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your computer and that all Microsoft Office applications are completely closed before attempting to repair or install add-ins.
Enable Acrobat PDFMaker via Outlook Add-ins Settings
Often, the add-in remains installed on your system but has been disabled by Office for performance reasons. You can re-enable it manually from the Outlook settings.
Microsoft Office sometimes automatically disables third-party add-ins if it detects they are slowing down the application's startup time. Checking your COM Add-ins list is the fastest way to resolve this.
Launch Microsoft Outlook and click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, then select 'Options'.
In the Outlook Options window, click on 'Add-ins' on the left sidebar to view all active and inactive application add-ins.
At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the 'Manage' dropdown menu, then click the 'Go' button.
Locate 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' in the list, check the box next to it, and click 'OK'.
Close Microsoft Outlook and reopen it to apply the changes and ensure the PDFMaker tab appears on your ribbon.
Repair the Adobe Acrobat XI Installation
If the add-in is missing entirely from the Outlook settings, repairing your Adobe Acrobat installation can restore missing registry keys and add-in files.
Easily Create and Convert PDFs with Built-in Tools in WPS Office
Avoid compatibility issues with external add-ins altogether. WPS Office comes with a built-in, fully-featured PDF toolkit, allowing you to create PDFs from documents instantly without needing third-party plugins like Acrobat PDFMaker.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free version of WPS Office from the official website.
- 2. Open Your Document: Open any existing document, spreadsheet, or presentation directly within WPS Office.
- 3. Use Built-in PDF Tools: Navigate to the 'Tools' tab on the top ribbon menu.
- 4. Export to PDF: Click the 'Export to PDF' button to instantly convert and save your file as a high-quality PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did PDFMaker disappear after renewing my Acrobat subscription?
When subscriptions are renewed or software is updated in the background, Microsoft Office may flag the PDFMaker add-in as a new or modified extension and temporarily disable it to optimize Outlook's load times. Re-enabling it in the COM Add-ins menu usually resolves the issue.
Is Acrobat XI fully compatible with Office 365?
Adobe Acrobat XI is an older version of the software that reached end-of-support in 2017. While it may still function on older systems like Windows 7, you might experience ongoing add-in compatibility issues with frequently updated software like Office 365.
What should I do if PDFMaker refuses to stay enabled in Outlook?
If you enable the add-in but it disables itself upon restarting Outlook, you may need to run Outlook as an administrator. Right-click the Outlook shortcut, select 'Run as administrator', go to File > Options > Add-ins, enable PDFMaker, and close Outlook. The setting should now be saved in the Windows Registry.
