Fix Adobe AcroCEF Multiple Processes & High CPU Usage
Question details
The user is experiencing 100% CPU usage due to Acrobat DC spawning hundreds of AcroCEF.exe processes, which prevents saving files after combining PDFs.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Launching Adobe Acrobat DC and attempting to combine multiple PDFs into a Binder file.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat triggers an infinite loop of Adobe AcroCEF processes in the Windows Task Manager, causing 100% CPU utilization and causing the application to fail when saving the combined document.
Before applying the fix, open your Windows Task Manager and end all currently running Adobe Acrobat and AcroCEF.exe processes to ensure a clean application restart.
Run Adobe Acrobat in Compatibility Mode
Modifying the compatibility mode of your Adobe Acrobat DC shortcut helps bypass the background web process glitch that causes the AcroCEF multiplier bug.
Because this issue stems from how the Adobe Chromium Embedded Framework (AcroCEF) handles background network requests on newer Windows operating systems, forcing the application to run in an older compatibility environment can stop the duplicate processes and eliminate the CPU spike.
Find the Adobe Acrobat DC shortcut on your Windows desktop or search for it in your Windows Start menu.
Right-click the Adobe Acrobat shortcut and select 'Properties' from the context menu.
In the Properties window, click on the 'Compatibility' tab located at the top.
Check the box that says 'Run this program in compatibility mode for' and select 'Windows XP (Service Pack 3)' from the dropdown menu.
Click 'Apply' and then 'OK' to save your new settings. Launch Acrobat again and monitor the Task Manager to confirm the issue is resolved.
Easily Combine and Edit PDFs with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat continues to drain your CPU and crash during file combination, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, built-in PDF toolkit that allows you to easily merge, edit, and save PDF files without overloading your system.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Download WPS Office from the official website and complete the quick installation process on your computer.
- 2. Open the PDF Tools: Launch WPS Office and navigate to the 'PDF' tab on the main dashboard to access the built-in PDF toolkit.
- 3. Select Merge PDF: Click on the 'Merge PDF' tool, which allows you to seamlessly combine multiple documents into a single file.
- 4. Add and Combine Files: Add the PDF files you want to combine, arrange them in your preferred order, and click 'Merge'.
- 5. Save Your Document: Once the merge is complete, click 'Save' to securely store your newly combined PDF without experiencing system lag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AcroCEF.exe used for in Adobe Acrobat?
AcroCEF.exe stands for Adobe Chromium Embedded Framework. It is a background component that manages network requests, cloud connectivity (such as Document Cloud), and specific web-based interface elements within Adobe Acrobat DC.
Why does Acrobat open hundreds of AcroCEF processes at once?
This is a known software glitch where the application fails to manage its background web processes correctly, leading to an infinite loop of process creation that consumes 100% of the system's CPU resources.
Will running Acrobat in Administrator mode fix the AcroCEF issue?
Running the application in Administrator mode alone typically does not resolve the multiple AcroCEF processes issue. You must enable compatibility mode for Windows XP (Service Pack 3) as the primary fix.
Does reinstalling Adobe Acrobat fix the high CPU usage?
Reinstalling Adobe Acrobat DC often does not fix this specific AcroCEF background process bug, as reported by many users. Adjusting the shortcut's compatibility settings is a much more reliable and direct solution.
