Fix Acrobat Pro DC Crashing When Combining PNG Files on macOS
Question details
The user needs to combine multiple PNG image files into a single PDF document without the application crashing.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina 10.15.1
- Scenario
- Merging multiple PNG files into one PDF document.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat Pro DC stops working and crashes during the file combination process. The issue persists even after removing files, reinstalling the software, and restarting the Mac.
Verify that your PNG files are not corrupted by opening them individually in Mac Preview, and ensure your system has enough free memory (RAM) before starting the merge process.
Install Updates and Pre-convert PNG Files
Updating the software and converting files individually reduces the processing load, preventing the crash during combination.
Acrobat Pro DC version 2019.021.20049 may have known compatibility issues with macOS Catalina 10.15.1 when handling simultaneous image conversions. Checking for official patches from Adobe is the first step.
If updates do not work, converting each PNG into a PDF first, and then combining the resulting PDF files, often bypasses the memory spike that causes the crash.
Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates' to install the latest patches.
Right-click each PNG file, select 'Open With' > 'Adobe Acrobat', and save each file as a PDF document.
Open Acrobat, navigate to 'Tools' > 'Combine Files', select the newly created PDF files, and click 'Combine'.
Use Mac Preview as an Alternative
macOS has a built-in tool that can seamlessly combine images into a PDF without needing third-party software.
Seamlessly Combine PNGs to PDF Using WPS Office
If your current PDF software continues to crash on macOS, WPS Office provides a lightweight and highly stable alternative. WPS PDF includes built-in tools designed specifically to merge multiple high-resolution images into a single, perfectly formatted PDF document without crashing or lagging.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and open the 'PDF' tab from the main workspace.
- 2. Select Picture to PDF: Click on the 'Picture to PDF' tool located in the top toolbar or homepage tools menu.
- 3. Add PNG Files: Drag and drop your PNG files into the workspace, or click 'Add Pictures' to select them manually.
- 4. Merge and Export: Ensure the 'Merge into one PDF' option is checked, then click 'Convert' to save your new PDF document.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat crash when combining high-resolution PNG files?
Combining multiple high-resolution images requires significant memory allocation. If the application or the operating system fails to manage this memory efficiently, it leads to a software crash.
Can I merge files on macOS Catalina without third-party software?
Yes, you can use the built-in Preview app on macOS. By opening multiple images in Preview and using the 'Print to PDF' function, you can create a combined document natively.
Does reinstalling the software fix macOS Catalina compatibility issues?
Reinstalling the exact same version of the software rarely fixes OS-specific bugs. To resolve compatibility issues, you generally need to download and install a newer version or a developer-released patch.
