Fix Acrobat 2017 Freezing When Emailing as Attachment with Outlook
Question details
Adobe Acrobat 2017 becomes unresponsive when attempting to send a PDF as an email attachment while Microsoft Outlook is running.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 2017, Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Clicking the 'Email as Attachment' option in Acrobat 2017 to draft a new email using the desktop version of Microsoft Outlook.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat completely freezes or becomes unresponsive, and the expected Outlook email draft window fails to appear, even when both applications are fully updated.
Ensure that your Windows operating system is fully up to date, and save any unsaved work in both Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Outlook before closing them to begin troubleshooting.
Verify Default Mail Client and Enable Acrobat PDFMaker Add-in
Setting Outlook as the absolute default mail client in Windows and ensuring the Acrobat add-in is active resolves the most common communication failures between the two apps.
Acrobat relies on the Windows default app protocols and COM add-ins to trigger Outlook. If these settings are misconfigured or disabled by a recent update, the application will freeze while waiting for a response.
Open Windows Settings, navigate to Apps > Default apps. Look for the 'Email' section and ensure Microsoft Outlook is selected.
Launch Microsoft Outlook. Go to File > Options > Add-ins. At the bottom of the window, ensure 'COM Add-ins' is selected in the Manage dropdown and click 'Go...'.
Look for 'Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM Addin' in the list. Check the box next to it to enable it, click OK, and restart Outlook.
Repair the Acrobat Installation
Running the built-in repair tool fixes corrupted registry keys or broken integration files that prevent Acrobat from communicating with Outlook.
Test with Outlook Closed and Check Antivirus
Sometimes background security software or an already-open instance of Outlook blocks the automated email draft request.
Use WPS Office for Seamless PDF and Email Integration
If Acrobat continues to freeze or conflict with Microsoft Outlook, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, comprehensive suite with built-in PDF viewing and editing tools, seamless email integration, and zero compatibility issues—all without the heavy subscription fees.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite from the official website.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your PDF document using the built-in PDF editor.
- 3. Share via Email: Click the 'Menu' button, select 'Share', and choose 'Email' to instantly generate a draft with your PDF attached, completely bypassing Acrobat's freezing issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat freeze when trying to open an Outlook email draft?
This usually occurs due to a disruption in the COM add-in registry, a misconfigured default mail client setting in Windows, or an aggressive antivirus program blocking the inter-application communication between Acrobat and Outlook.
Can I send a PDF from Acrobat without using the desktop Outlook app?
Yes. In Acrobat, you can bypass the desktop client by changing your default email application settings. Go to Edit > Preferences > Email Accounts, and add a webmail account like Gmail or Outlook.com to send attachments directly.
Does repairing Acrobat fix the missing email window issue?
Frequently, yes. Repairing the installation restores missing or corrupted registry keys that Acrobat needs to successfully call the Microsoft Outlook application and generate the email window.
