Fix Acrobat Pro DC Freezing and Crashing on macOS Big Sur
Question details
The user needs to troubleshoot multiple performance and functionality issues with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC after updating their Mac operating system.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur
- Scenario
- Editing, saving, or printing PDF documents after performing an OS upgrade.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat changes form fonts unexpectedly, hinders page deletion, defaults to 'Save as PDF' when printing, and freezes frequently while saving multipage files.
Ensure you have saved and backed up any currently open PDF documents to an external drive or cloud storage to prevent data loss before modifying software preferences.
Rebuild Acrobat Preferences and Update Software
Resetting Acrobat preferences resolves corrupted settings that cause software glitches and freezes after a major macOS upgrade.
Major macOS upgrades can sometimes corrupt existing application preference files. Deleting these files forces Acrobat to generate fresh, error-free settings upon the next launch.
Close Adobe Acrobat Pro DC completely. Ensure it is not running in the background by selecting 'Quit Acrobat' from the top menu or pressing Cmd + Q.
Open Finder, hold down the Option key on your keyboard, and click 'Go' in the top menu bar. Select 'Library' from the dropdown to access the hidden user library.
Navigate to the 'Preferences' folder. Find all files and folders starting with 'com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro' and drag them to the Trash.
Empty the Trash, restart your Mac, and open Acrobat. Go to 'Help' > 'Check for Updates' to install the latest compatibility patches for macOS Big Sur.
Uninstall and Clean Reinstall Acrobat
If resetting preferences does not fix the freezing or printing bugs, a clean installation removes deeply rooted compatibility conflicts.
Try WPS Office for Smooth PDF Editing on Mac
If Adobe Acrobat Pro DC continues to freeze or crash on your macOS, WPS Office offers a highly stable, lightweight alternative. It features a powerful built-in PDF editor that runs seamlessly on Mac, allowing you to edit, convert, and manage PDF documents effortlessly while providing full compatibility with Microsoft Office formats.
- 1. Install WPS Office for Mac: Download the free WPS Office application from the official website and install it on your macOS.
- 2. Open the PDF Editor: Launch WPS Office, select the 'PDF' tab from the home screen, and open your document.
- 3. Edit and Save Seamlessly: Use the integrated PDF tools to edit text, fill out forms, or convert the file without encountering crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat Pro DC default to 'Save as PDF' when printing on Big Sur?
This is a known compatibility glitch between the Acrobat print dialog and the macOS Big Sur print spooler. Updating to the latest version of Adobe Acrobat and ensuring your macOS is fully updated usually patches this behavior.
Will uninstalling Adobe Acrobat delete my saved PDF files?
No, uninstalling the Acrobat application only removes the software and its associated configuration files. Your saved PDF documents are stored safely on your Mac's local drive or cloud storage and will remain unaffected.
How do I fix text and font changes in PDF forms on macOS?
Font replacement usually occurs if the original fonts aren't properly embedded in the PDF, or if Mac font cache files became corrupted during the OS update. Try embedding the fonts in the original authoring application before saving to PDF, or clear your Mac's font cache via Terminal.
