How to Identify Adobe Acrobat Reader 64-Bit vs. Acrobat Pro
Question details
An organization needs a reliable method to distinguish between Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 64-bit and Acrobat DC Pro installations.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Conducting a software inventory check across an enterprise network where reports incorrectly group different editions together.
- Observed behavior
- Enterprise software inventory reports show the exact same executable name for both Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 64-bit and Acrobat DC Pro, making it difficult for IT admins to differentiate the installed products.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on the target machine or access to your organization's enterprise deployment and inventory management tools to query system registries and WMI.
Verify Edition Using Windows Registry Keys
IT administrators can query specific Windows Registry keys to accurately identify the installed product edition, bypassing the shared executable name issue.
Because Adobe uses a unified 64-bit installer, the executable filename is identical for both Reader and Pro. The most reliable programmatic way to check the actual installed product is by reading the installation registry keys.
Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, type 'regedit', and press Enter to open the Windows Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\Installer.
Locate the 'ProductName' string value. This value will explicitly state whether the installed package is 'Adobe Acrobat Reader DC' or 'Adobe Acrobat DC' (Pro).
Query Installed Packages via PowerShell
Run a quick PowerShell command to list the exact installed software packages as registered in the Windows system.
Manually Check the Help Menu (For End-Users)
Individual users can manually check which version of Acrobat they are currently running using the application's built-in About screen.
Simplify Document Management with WPS Office
Tired of tracking complex licenses and navigating confusing unified application installers? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight alternative that seamlessly combines Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and robust PDF viewing and editing into a single, easy-to-manage application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Acrobat Reader 64-bit and Acrobat Pro use the exact same executable name?
Starting with the 64-bit release, Adobe moved to a unified application architecture to streamline enterprise deployment. Both Reader and Pro share the same core application files, and premium Pro features are unlocked dynamically based on the user's login and subscription tier.
Can SCCM or Microsoft Intune differentiate between Acrobat Reader and Pro?
Yes. While they cannot rely on the executable filename alone, inventory tools like SCCM and Intune can be configured to differentiate the products by querying the software's uninstall registry keys (ARP data) or checking Adobe's Software Identification (SWID) tags.
What happens if a user signs into the unified Acrobat Reader application with a Pro subscription?
If a user has a valid Acrobat Pro license and signs into the 64-bit Acrobat Reader application, the software will automatically communicate with Adobe's servers, upgrade its interface, and unlock the Pro features without requiring the user to run a separate installer.
