Why Adobe Acrobat X Will Not Install on an M1 Mac with Big Sur
Question details
The user is unable to install or run Adobe Acrobat X on a Mac computer equipped with an Apple M1 processor running macOS Big Sur.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat X
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur (Apple M1 Mac)
- Scenario
- Attempting to install older, legacy Intel-based PDF software on a newer Mac operating system and architecture.
- Observed behavior
- The installation is blocked or fails entirely, preventing the user from using Acrobat X on their modern device.
Verify your exact macOS version and check if your Mac utilizes an Apple Silicon (M1) processor by clicking the Apple menu and selecting About This Mac. This will help you identify what software versions are compatible.
Upgrade to a Supported Adobe Acrobat Version
Install a newer version of Acrobat that is officially supported on macOS Big Sur and M1 chips via Rosetta 2.
Adobe Acrobat X is an older, Intel-based application that is fundamentally incompatible with the modern architecture of macOS Big Sur and Apple M1 processors.
Apple provides Rosetta 2, a translation environment that allows newer Intel-based applications to run on Apple Silicon. However, Acrobat X predates this support entirely. You must use versions like Acrobat DC, Acrobat 2020, or Acrobat 2017.
Navigate to the official Adobe Help website and review the macOS Big Sur compatibility chart for Acrobat products.
Select a supported version to install, such as Adobe Acrobat DC, Acrobat 2020, or Acrobat 2017.
Download the installer for your chosen version and double-click the package file to follow the on-screen prompts.
When prompted by macOS during the first launch of the application, click 'Install' to allow Rosetta 2 to set up the translation environment required for the software to run on your M1 processor.
Use Adobe Acrobat Reader for Basic Tasks
If you only need basic PDF functionality like viewing or signing, use the free Acrobat Reader which has modern macOS support.
Edit and Manage PDFs with WPS Office
Since Adobe Acrobat X is obsolete and unsupported on Apple Silicon, WPS Office provides a lightweight, free alternative to manage your PDFs and office documents effortlessly on your M1 Mac.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the WPS Office website and download the installation package designed specifically for macOS.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Edit your PDFs: Launch WPS Office and drag your PDF file into the application window to begin viewing, editing, or annotating immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I force install Acrobat X on macOS Big Sur?
No, macOS Big Sur drops support for many older software frameworks that Acrobat X relies on. Additionally, the Apple M1 architecture cannot process its outdated Intel code.
What is Rosetta 2 and do I need to download it manually?
Rosetta 2 is Apple's built-in translation environment that allows Intel-based apps to run on M1 Macs. You do not need to download it from a website; macOS will automatically prompt you to install it the first time you open a compatible Intel-based app like Acrobat DC.
Are there free alternatives for editing PDFs on an M1 Mac?
Yes, macOS includes the built-in Preview app for basic PDF viewing and markup. For more advanced editing, annotating, and format conversions without a heavy subscription fee, WPS Office is highly recommended and runs smoothly on modern Macs.
