Fix Adobe Acrobat Crashing on macOS with Multiple Monitors
Question details
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC unexpectedly crashes when trying to use it on a Mac with multiple connected monitors.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- macOS 10.14.1 (Mojave)
- Scenario
- Working with PDF files in Adobe Acrobat across a multiple-monitor setup on a Mac computer.
- Observed behavior
- The application crashes unexpectedly and displays a macOS crash report dialog when multiple monitors are connected and active.
Ensure you have saved all open documents in other applications to avoid data loss during a system restart or application crash.
Update macOS and Adobe Acrobat
Updating both your operating system and the Acrobat application resolves known compatibility bugs that cause multi-monitor crashes.
Many crashing issues on macOS, especially those related to display drivers and multi-monitor configurations, are resolved in subsequent system updates. Acrobat version 19.010.20099 on macOS 10.14.1 has known display conflicts that are patched in later Mojave updates or newer Acrobat releases.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, select System Preferences, and then click Software Update. If an update is available, click Update Now.
Open Adobe Acrobat, click on Help in the top menu bar, and select Check for Updates. Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the latest version.
After installing both the macOS and Acrobat updates, restart your Mac with the multiple monitors connected to ensure the new display drivers and application configurations load correctly.
Submit a macOS Crash Report to Adobe Support
If updates do not resolve the issue, providing a detailed crash report allows Adobe Support to investigate the specific cause on your machine.
Use WPS Office for a Crash-Free Multi-Monitor PDF Experience
If Adobe Acrobat continues to crash on your macOS multi-monitor setup, WPS Office provides a highly stable, built-in PDF editor that handles extended displays flawlessly.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install and Launch: Follow the installation prompts and open the WPS Office application.
- 3. Open Your PDF: Click Open and select your PDF file. WPS Office will launch its dedicated PDF tool.
- 4. Move Across Monitors: Freely drag the WPS Office window between your primary Mac screen and external monitors without worrying about unexpected application crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat crash when I connect a second monitor on my Mac?
This is often caused by software bugs or conflicts between the application's rendering engine and the macOS display drivers, especially on specific versions like macOS 10.14.1. The system struggles to handle the graphical UI transition across different display resolutions.
Where can I find past crash reports on my Mac?
You can find macOS crash reports by opening the Console app (located in Applications > Utilities). In the Console sidebar, look under User Reports or Crash Reports for log files starting with 'Acrobat'.
Will unplugging my external monitor stop Acrobat from crashing?
Yes, as a temporary workaround, disconnecting your external monitors and running Adobe Acrobat solely on your primary Mac display usually bypasses the multi-monitor rendering conflict, allowing you to edit files without crashing.
