How to Fix Acrobat DC Crashes on macOS High Sierra and Mojave
Question details
The user is experiencing frequent crashes when trying to open PDF files using Adobe Acrobat DC on macOS High Sierra or Mojave.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- macOS High Sierra and Mojave
- Scenario
- Opening PDF files and using Adobe applications on macOS.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat DC crashes unexpectedly when opening PDFs, which may also be accompanied by folder permission errors affecting other Adobe applications.
Before troubleshooting, ensure your macOS is fully updated to the latest available version for High Sierra or Mojave, and save any ongoing work in other applications.
Restore Adobe Folder Permissions
Use this method if multiple Adobe applications are crashing or reporting permission issues on your Mac.
Corrupted read/write permissions in system library folders can cause Acrobat and other Adobe apps to crash. Running a permission correction script can resolve these underlying folder access issues.
Download the Adobe LightroomCorrectPermission.sh script from the official Adobe Help Center.
Launch the Terminal application on your Mac from Applications > Utilities.
Drag and drop the downloaded script file into the Terminal window and press Enter to execute it.
Allow the script to run and repair the read/write permissions for the Adobe folders in your Documents and Library directories.
Perform a Clean Reinstall of Acrobat DC
Ideal if the crashes started immediately after a macOS system upgrade.
Disable JavaScript as a Workaround
A quick diagnostic step that often eliminates freezing and crashing issues immediately.
Open and Edit PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office on Mac
If Adobe Acrobat continues to crash on your macOS, try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, fast, and highly compatible PDF reader and editor that runs smoothly on Mac without draining system resources.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the macOS version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded installer file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office, select the 'PDF' tab, and open your document to view and edit smoothly without crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat DC crash after upgrading to macOS Mojave?
Major macOS upgrades can sometimes corrupt application preference files or disrupt read/write permissions in system library folders, leading to unexpected application crashes and freezing.
Will disabling JavaScript in Acrobat affect my PDF files?
Disabling JavaScript will not alter the visual content of standard PDFs, but it may prevent interactive elements, such as calculation fields and submit buttons in forms, from functioning correctly.
Where can I find the Adobe Acrobat Cleaner Tool for Mac?
You can download the Adobe Reader and Acrobat Cleaner Tool directly from the official Adobe Labs or the Adobe Help Center website to ensure a complete removal of corrupted files.
