Fix Adobe Reader Error Code 1712 on Mac (Cannot Open PDFs)
Question details
The user is unable to open PDF documents in Adobe Reader on a Mac and receives error code 1712 after installing Adobe Acrobat.
- Product
- Adobe Reader
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Opening existing PDF documents or emailing a PDF from Adobe Cloud.
- Observed behavior
- Reader.app fails to open displaying error code 1712, and an unidentified developer warning appears during email attempts.
Before proceeding with the reinstallation, ensure that you have saved any open work and fully quit any running Adobe applications using the Mac Force Quit utility if they are unresponsive.
Uninstall and Reinstall Adobe Reader
Completely removing the corrupted Adobe Reader installation and downloading a fresh copy is the most effective way to resolve Error 1712 and software conflicts on Mac.
Error 1712 is an AppleEvent timeout error that frequently happens when there is a conflict between Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Reader on the same machine. A clean installation will reset the application's permissions and correct the corrupted app bundle.
Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit Applications window, select Adobe Reader and Acrobat if listed, and click the 'Force Quit' button.
Open the Finder, navigate to your Applications folder, locate Adobe Reader, and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to completely remove the application files from your Mac.
Visit the official Adobe Acrobat website (adobe.com/products/acrobat.html) and download the latest available version of Adobe Reader for Mac.
Run the downloaded installer package and follow the on-screen prompts. Once installed, try opening your PDF documents again to verify that Error Code 1712 is resolved.
Edit and Open PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Adobe Reader continues to cause system conflicts or errors on your Mac, switch to WPS Office. It includes a powerful, built-in PDF reader and editor that is lightweight, free to use, and highly compatible with all standard PDF files without complex installations.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for Mac from the official website and drag it to your Applications folder.
- 2. Set as Default PDF Reader: Right-click any PDF file on your Mac, select 'Get Info', choose WPS Office under 'Open with', and click 'Change All'.
- 3. Open and Edit PDFs: Double-click your PDF to open it instantly in WPS Office, where you can easily view, annotate, or convert the document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes Error Code 1712 on a Mac?
Error code 1712 on macOS indicates a timeout error when an application takes too long to respond to an AppleEvent. For Adobe Reader, this often occurs due to software conflicts, damaged preferences, or corrupted installation files after installing another program like Adobe Acrobat.
How do I bypass the 'unidentified developer' warning when opening PDFs?
To bypass this macOS Gatekeeper warning, hold the Control key and click the application or PDF file, then select 'Open' from the context menu. Click 'Open' again in the pop-up dialog box to confirm your choice.
Can I convert Excel workbooks to PDF without Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. You can convert Excel workbooks to PDFs natively using WPS Office or Microsoft Excel by choosing 'Save As' or 'Export' and selecting PDF as the output file format, entirely removing the need for dedicated PDF converter software.
Do I need both Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat installed on my Mac?
No. Adobe Acrobat is the premium, full version that can view, edit, and create PDFs, making the basic Adobe Reader redundant. Having both installed simultaneously can sometimes cause file association conflicts or errors like Code 1712.
