How to Export and Import Custom Acrobat DC Toolbar Settings in Windows
Question details
The user needs a way to transfer custom Adobe Acrobat DC toolbar configurations from an old computer to a new one without setting up everything manually again.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Migrating personalized workspace layouts and toolbar settings to a new PC installation.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat DC does not provide a straightforward configuration file (.aaui) for easy transfer; settings are instead embedded in Windows Registry keys, requiring manual extraction.
Verify that both your source and target computers are running identical or highly compatible versions of Adobe Acrobat DC to prevent registry key mismatches upon import.
Export and Import Toolbar Settings via Windows Registry
The most effective method to migrate Acrobat DC toolbar settings is by exporting the specific customization keys from the source computer's registry and importing them to the target machine.
Acrobat DC stores toolbar customization data in the Windows Registry under the AVGeneral path rather than in standard application data folders. You will need to export these keys to a .reg file and run it on the new machine to apply the layout.
Press Windows + R, type 'regedit' into the Run dialog box, and press Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\AVGeneral.
Look for the keys named 'cCommonToolsDesktop' and 'cFavoritesCommandsDesktop'. Right-click the AVGeneral folder (or the specific keys), select 'Export', and save it as a .reg file (e.g., acrobat-toolbar.reg).
Transfer the .reg file to your new computer. Open the Registry Editor on the new computer, navigate to the identical AVGeneral path, and delete the existing 'cCommonToolsDesktop' and 'cFavoritesCommandsDesktop' keys to avoid conflicts.
Double-click your transferred .reg file on the target computer and confirm the prompt to merge the custom toolbar settings into the new installation's registry.
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If managing complex registry keys and configuration folders in Acrobat DC is frustrating, consider switching to WPS Office. It includes a powerful, user-friendly PDF editor that requires no complicated setup while offering excellent compatibility with all major document formats.
- 1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS website to download the free WPS Office installation package.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Adobe Acrobat DC toolbar settings stored?
In Windows, Acrobat DC toolbar settings are stored in the Registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\AVGeneral, specifically within the 'cCommonToolsDesktop' and 'cFavoritesCommandsDesktop' keys.
Why is my Adobe Acrobat DC toolbar completely empty after an update?
Automatic updates can sometimes reset or corrupt your customization registry keys. You can fix this by deleting the empty string values (such as 'a0'="") in the registry and re-adding your tools manually within the Acrobat interface.
Are there configuration files (.aaui) I can copy instead of using the registry?
No. In modern versions like Acrobat DC, customized workspace settings are heavily integrated into the Windows Registry rather than standard configuration files in your AppData folders, so searching for and copying older .aaui files will not migrate your toolbars.
