Fix ACCFinderSync Crashing After Acrobat Reader Install on macOS
Question details
The ACCFinderSync process repeatedly crashes after installing Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on an older macOS version.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader DC
- Device & OS
- macOS (OS X 10.11.6)
- Scenario
- Using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on OS X 10.11.6 (El Capitan).
- Observed behavior
- The ACCFinderSync component continuously crashes, and system logs indicate that the installed version of Acrobat Reader requires macOS 10.12 or later.
Verify your current macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting 'About This Mac' to ensure it meets the requirements of your installed software.
Check Compatibility and Reinstall Applicable Acrobat Version
Identify the macOS version required by your Adobe Acrobat Reader release and resolve the OS mismatch to stop crashes.
Adobe often drops support for older operating systems in its newest updates. The ACCFinderSync background process will crash if it tries to utilize macOS APIs that only exist in macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or newer, while running on OS X 10.11.6.
Review Adobe's system requirements for your current version of Acrobat Reader DC to confirm if it explicitly requires macOS 10.12 or later.
If your Mac hardware supports it, open the App Store and update your macOS from OS X 10.11.6 to 10.12 (Sierra) or a newer release.
If you cannot update macOS, download and run the official Adobe Acrobat Cleaner Tool for Mac to completely remove Acrobat Reader and any leftover Creative Cloud components.
Restart your Mac, then navigate to the Adobe Reader download page. Select OS X 10.11 as your operating system to download and install an older, compatible version.
Disable the ACCFinderSync Finder Extension
Stop the crashing process by disabling the Adobe Creative Cloud Finder extension directly in macOS settings.
Use WPS Office as a Lightweight PDF Alternative for Mac
If Adobe Acrobat Reader is causing system crashes or requires a macOS update you cannot perform, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. Enjoy seamless viewing, editing, and managing of PDF files on both older and newer Macs without resource-heavy background sync extensions.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website, download the Mac installer, and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 2. Set as Default PDF Reader: Right-click any PDF file, select 'Get Info', choose WPS Office under 'Open with', and click 'Change All'.
- 3. Open and Edit PDFs smoothly: Double-click your PDF documents to instantly view, highlight, and annotate them within the lightweight WPS interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ACCFinderSync on macOS?
ACCFinderSync is a background process associated with Adobe Creative Cloud. It handles the syncing status icons, such as green checkmarks or blue sync arrows, on files and folders within the macOS Finder.
Why does Acrobat Reader DC require macOS 10.12 or later?
Newer versions of Acrobat Reader are built using macOS APIs and security features only available in macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later. Running them on older versions like OS X 10.11.6 causes components like ACCFinderSync to fail and crash.
How do I safely remove corrupted Adobe components on Mac?
To ensure all background processes and corrupted files are removed, do not just drag the application to the Trash. Instead, download and run the official Adobe Acrobat Cleaner Tool for Mac, then restart your computer.
Can I still download an older version of Acrobat Reader for OS X 10.11?
Yes. On the official Adobe Acrobat Reader download page, you can select 'More download options' or choose your specific operating system from the dropdown menus to find a version compatible with OS X 10.11 El Capitan.
