Other PDF Issues

Fix Adobe Acrobat 2017 Crashing Outlook and Freezing During Scanning

Adam DavisAdam Davis Oct 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing crashes when creating or replying to emails in Microsoft Outlook 2013 with the Adobe Acrobat 2017 add-in enabled, as well as freezing when attempting to scan PDF documents.

Fix Adobe Acrobat 2017 Crashing Outlook and Freezing During Scanning
Product
Adobe Acrobat 2017, Microsoft Outlook 2013
Device & OS
Windows
Scenario
Replying to or creating emails with the Acrobat add-in enabled, and using the scanner function to create a PDF.
Observed behavior
Outlook completely freezes or crashes during email operations, and Acrobat becomes unresponsive when initiating a document scan.
Before you start

Ensure that all active Microsoft Outlook and Adobe Acrobat processes are completely closed via the Windows Task Manager before attempting any repairs.

Solution 1Recommended

Update and Repair Adobe Acrobat

Installing the latest patches and running the built-in repair tool can resolve corrupted files causing the freezes.

Software updates often contain bug fixes for compatibility issues between Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office components.

1
Check for Updates

Open Adobe Acrobat. Navigate to the top menu and click on 'Help', then select 'Check for Updates'. Install any available updates and restart your computer.

2
Repair Installation

If the issue persists after updating, open Acrobat again, go to the 'Help' menu, and select 'Repair Installation'.

3
Restart and Test

Once the repair process completes, restart your computer. Open Microsoft Outlook and try creating an email, then test the scanning function in Acrobat to verify the fix.

Update and Repair Adobe Acrobat
Process Complete: Repairing the installation usually re-establishes broken registry links between Acrobat and Outlook.
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I disable the Adobe Acrobat add-in in Microsoft Outlook?

Open Microsoft Outlook, click on 'File' in the top left corner, and select 'Options'. Go to 'Add-ins', select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown menu at the bottom, and click 'Go'. Uncheck the 'Acrobat PDFMaker' box and click 'OK' to disable it.

Why does scanning freeze in Adobe Acrobat but work in other programs?

This usually happens due to a conflict between the TWAIN or WIA scanner drivers and Adobe Acrobat. Updating your scanner drivers from the manufacturer's website or running the Acrobat Repair Installation tool often resolves this specific communication error.

Will repairing Adobe Acrobat delete my customized settings or files?

No, running the 'Repair Installation' tool from the Help menu simply checks for missing or corrupted program files and replaces them. Your personal preferences, saved PDFs, and customized application settings will remain completely intact.