How to Fix Acrobat Error 15 'Problem Reading PDF' on macOS
Question details
The user is unable to open a PDF in Acrobat Pro 2020 on macOS Catalina due to Error 15, even though the file opens perfectly in Apple Preview and PDF Expert.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina
- Scenario
- Attempting to open and view a PDF document on a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat displays the error message 'There was a problem reading this document (15)' and fails to display the PDF, whereas alternative PDF readers render it successfully.
Check if the error occurs with a single PDF file or all PDF files, and ensure the document is saved locally on your Mac's hard drive rather than opening it directly from an email client or cloud drive.
Recreate or Re-export the Corrupted PDF Document
If only one specific file is affected, its structure might be slightly incompatible with Acrobat's strict reading standards. Re-saving it from an app that successfully reads it can fix the underlying structure.
Apple Preview and other lightweight PDF readers are often more forgiving with minor file corruptions or non-standard code structures than Adobe Acrobat.
Locate the problematic PDF on your Mac, right-click (or Control-click) it, and select 'Open With' > 'Preview'.
In the top menu bar of Preview, click 'File' and then select 'Export as PDF'. Choose a new file name and save it to your desktop.
Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020 and attempt to open the newly exported PDF file to verify if Error 15 is resolved.
Update Adobe Acrobat Pro 2020
Keeping your software updated ensures that known bugs and rendering issues with macOS Catalina are patched.
Easily Open and Edit PDFs with WPS Office
If Adobe Acrobat consistently throws reading errors, WPS Office provides a robust, built-in PDF reader and editor that flawlessly handles all standard PDF documents without strict structural rejections.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the WPS Office application for Mac from the official website.
- 2. Open the PDF File: Launch WPS Office, click 'Open' on the home screen, and select the PDF file that Acrobat failed to read.
- 3. View and Edit: Read, annotate, or edit your PDF document smoothly using the built-in WPS PDF tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat show Error 15 while Apple Preview opens the PDF fine?
Adobe Acrobat adheres to very strict PDF structural and syntax standards. If a PDF is generated by a third-party tool with minor structural errors, Apple Preview might ignore the errors and render the file, whereas Acrobat flags it as a damaged document and displays Error 15.
Does Error 15 mean my PDF data is permanently lost?
No. Since the file can still be opened in other PDF readers like your Mac's built-in Preview or PDF Expert, the data is completely intact. You simply need to re-export or 'Print to PDF' from one of those working applications to fix the underlying code syntax for Acrobat.
Can updating macOS fix Acrobat Error 15?
While macOS updates improve overall system stability, Error 15 is specifically an Adobe Acrobat rendering error related to file structure. Updating Acrobat itself or fixing the individual PDF file is far more likely to resolve the issue than updating macOS Catalina.
