Fix CommonLook Global Access Black Screen in Acrobat DC 2019
Question details
The user experiences a black document display when trying to open PDFs using the CommonLook Global Access plugin after upgrading Acrobat.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening PDF documents with the CommonLook Global Access plugin after upgrading from Adobe Acrobat 2018 to 2019.
- Observed behavior
- Instead of rendering the PDF content, the document display shows a black screen.
Make sure you have your Adobe account credentials readily available, as you may need to sign out and log back in to apply the software repairs.
Update CommonLook Global Access to the Latest Version
Installing the latest update from CommonLook resolves known compatibility bugs with the Acrobat DC 2019 release.
Software compatibility issues frequently occur after major platform upgrades. CommonLook has acknowledged this rendering issue and released a specific patch to restore visibility and proper functionality in Acrobat DC 2019.
Navigate to the official CommonLook website or your user portal to download the newest installation package for the Global Access plugin.
Close Adobe Acrobat, run the downloaded installer, and follow the on-screen prompts to update your existing plugin.
Open Adobe Acrobat DC 2019 and load a PDF file to verify that the document now displays correctly without the black screen.
Repair Adobe Acrobat Installation
Use Acrobat's built-in repair tool to fix corrupted application files or registry keys that may contribute to the display failure.
Open and Edit PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
Bypass third-party plugin conflicts and display bugs by using the reliable, built-in WPS PDF reader and editor. WPS Office provides a stable environment to view, annotate, and manage PDF documents effortlessly.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the free, lightweight installer package.
- 2. Install the software: Run the installer and follow the brief setup prompts to install WPS Office on your computer.
- 3. Open your PDF directly: Launch WPS PDF, click on 'Open', and select your PDF file to view and edit it flawlessly without black screen interruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my PDF suddenly go black after updating Acrobat?
Upgrading to a newer software architecture, like Acrobat DC 2019, can break compatibility with older third-party plugins. In this case, the older CommonLook plugin fails to render the document properly, resulting in a black screen.
Will running 'Repair Installation' delete my saved PDFs?
No. The 'Repair Installation' tool only checks and fixes the core application files of Adobe Acrobat. Your personal documents, PDFs, and settings remain untouched.
How do I check which version of Acrobat I am currently using?
Open Adobe Acrobat, click on the 'Help' tab in the top menu bar, and select 'About Adobe Acrobat'. A dialog box will appear displaying your exact version number.
