Fix Acrobat Pro 2017 Installer Freezing on Mac Read Me Screen
Question details
The Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 installer stops responding at the Read Me screen during installation on macOS Catalina.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina
- Scenario
- Installing or reinstalling Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 on a Mac device.
- Observed behavior
- The installation process hangs or freezes specifically on the Read Me screen, preventing the user from completing the software setup.
Ensure you have your administrator password and Adobe license details ready, and save any open work before force-quitting the frozen installer.
Restart macOS and Download a Fresh Installer
Clearing your system's temporary memory and using a newly downloaded installation file is the most reliable way to bypass corrupted installer states.
Installation files can sometimes become corrupted during the download process, or temporary system glitches can cause the setup wizard to hang.
Press Option-Command-Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window, select the frozen Acrobat installer, and click 'Force Quit'.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart' to clear system memory.
Log into your Adobe account or authorized purchase portal to download a new Acrobat Pro 2017 installer specifically verified for macOS Catalina.
Move the newly downloaded installer to your Desktop or Downloads folder, and double-click to launch it.
Adjust Security Permissions and Disconnect Peripherals
macOS Catalina's strict security settings or connected external devices can sometimes interfere with application installations.
Remove Incomplete Acrobat Components
Leftover files from the failed installation attempt can cause subsequent attempts to freeze at the exact same point.
Use WPS Office as a Lightweight PDF Alternative
If heavy installers like Adobe Acrobat continue to freeze on your Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, built-in PDF editor along with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint alternatives—all in one lightweight, free application.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac installer file.
- 2. Install effortlessly: Open the lightweight .dmg file and simply drag the WPS icon to your Applications folder.
- 3. Manage your PDFs: Launch WPS Office and select the 'PDF' module to open, annotate, and edit your PDF files instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Acrobat Pro 2017 installer freeze specifically on macOS Catalina?
The installer often freezes due to macOS Catalina's strict security and privacy permissions, corrupted temporary installation files, or transition issues with older 32-bit components lingering in the setup package.
Can I install Acrobat Pro 2017 without administrator privileges on my Mac?
No, installing Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 requires full administrator privileges because the installer needs to write core application files to the macOS System and Library directories.
How do I completely remove a failed Adobe Acrobat installation on a Mac?
You can use the official Adobe Acrobat Cleaner Tool for Mac, or manually delete the Acrobat application folder and associated cache files from the /Library/Application Support/Adobe directory.
Is Acrobat Pro 2017 officially supported on macOS Catalina?
Acrobat Pro 2017 is compatible with macOS Catalina (10.15) provided you are using the latest patched installer, as Apple dropped support for all 32-bit applications starting with Catalina.
