Fix Adobe Acrobat DC Will Not Install on macOS 10.12
Question details
The user is unable to install Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on a Mac running macOS Sierra 10.12.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- macOS 10.12 (Sierra)
- Scenario
- Attempting to install Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for viewing and editing PDF files on an older Mac operating system.
- Observed behavior
- The installation fails with an error stating that the operating system is unsupported, preventing the software from being installed.
Verify your exact Mac model year by clicking the Apple menu and selecting 'About This Mac' to ensure your hardware supports upgrading to macOS 10.14 (Mojave) or later.
Upgrade macOS to a Supported Version
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC requires macOS 10.14 or newer. Upgrading your Mac's operating system is the official and most secure way to resolve this installation error.
Adobe has discontinued support for macOS 10.12 (Sierra). To run the latest Creative Cloud applications, including Acrobat Pro DC, you must update your system software to meet the minimum requirements of macOS 10.14, 10.15, or macOS 11.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Preferences' (or 'System Settings').
Click on 'Software Update' to allow your Mac to check for available macOS upgrades.
If your Mac supports a newer version, click 'Upgrade Now' and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the new operating system.
Once the macOS upgrade is completely finished and your Mac restarts, open the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app or visit Adobe's official website to download and run the Acrobat Pro DC installer again.
View and Edit PDFs on Older Macs with WPS Office
If your Mac cannot be upgraded to support Adobe Acrobat DC, WPS Office provides a highly compatible and lightweight direct solution. It includes a powerful built-in PDF editor that allows you to read, annotate, and modify PDF files smoothly on macOS without heavy system requirements.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
- 2. Open the PDF Module: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab located on the left-side navigation panel of the home screen.
- 3. Edit Your PDF: Click 'Open' to select your PDF file, then use the top toolbar to highlight text, add comments, modify content, or convert your PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum system requirements for Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on Mac?
Adobe Acrobat Pro DC currently requires at least macOS 10.14 (Mojave), macOS 10.15 (Catalina), or macOS 11 (Big Sur) to install and run successfully. It is not supported on macOS 10.12.
Can I download an older version of Acrobat for macOS 10.12?
Adobe primarily provides support and downloads for its most recent software versions through Creative Cloud. Finding an official, secure installer for a discontinued version like Acrobat XI or Acrobat 2017 is generally not supported by Adobe.
How do I check which version of macOS I am currently running?
Click the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'About This Mac'. A window will appear displaying your current macOS name and version number, such as macOS Sierra Version 10.12.
