Can Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 Be Installed on Another Drive?
Question details
The user wants to know if it is possible to install Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 on a secondary drive instead of the default system C drive.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Installing or changing the installation directory of Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 to save system drive space.
- Observed behavior
- The default installer restricts or strongly recommends against installing outside of the primary system drive, causing uncertainty about whether a custom path is safe.
Check your current system drive (usually C:) storage space to determine if freeing up room is a better option than risking application errors by forcing a custom installation path.
Use the Default System Drive (C:) for Installation
Adobe officially advises installing Acrobat on the default system drive to ensure full functionality and avoid critical software errors.
Adobe explicitly does not recommend installing Acrobat Pro 2020 on any drive other than the primary system drive (typically C:). Installing the application on a secondary drive can lead to registry errors, update failures, and missing system integrations.
Launch the Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 installation file you downloaded.
Click 'Next' through the setup wizard and avoid changing the destination folder when prompted.
Allow the installation process to finish completely on the default C: drive for a fully supported software configuration.
Free Up Space on Your System Drive
If you are trying to install Acrobat on another drive due to low space, safely freeing up space on your C: drive is the best alternative.
Install a Lightweight PDF Editor on Any Drive with WPS Office
If you need a powerful PDF tool but lack space on your C drive, WPS Office is highly lightweight and fully supports custom installation paths. You can install its built-in PDF editor on any drive without losing functionality.
- 1. Download the software: Download the free WPS Office installer from the official website.
- 2. Launch and customize: Run the setup file and click on 'Customization' or 'Advanced Settings' before proceeding.
- 3. Select destination drive: Choose your desired secondary installation drive and folder (e.g., D:\WPS Office).
- 4. Install and edit: Complete the installation process to start viewing and editing PDFs instantly from your preferred drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat need to be installed on the C drive?
Adobe Acrobat integrates deeply with the Windows operating system, including print spoolers, registry keys, and browser extensions. Installing it on the default system drive ensures these dependencies locate the correct files to function properly.
Can I move an existing Adobe Acrobat installation to another drive?
No, simply copying or moving the Acrobat installation folder to another drive will break the application due to broken registry paths and missing system dependencies. You must uninstall the software completely and reinstall it.
What features might break if I force install Acrobat on another drive?
Features such as the 'Adobe PDF' virtual printer, Microsoft Word integration plugins, right-click context menus in Windows Explorer, and automatic background updates are known to malfunction when Acrobat is not installed on the primary drive.
Are there PDF alternatives that allow custom installation paths?
Yes, many lightweight alternatives like WPS Office feature built-in PDF editors that fully support custom installation paths on any secondary drive without compromising system integration or software functionality.
