How to Fix Acrobat Security Level High Error When Creating PDFs from Office
Question details
The user needs to resolve an Adobe Acrobat error stating that the security level is set too high, which prevents the conversion of Microsoft Office files to PDF.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat PDFMaker / Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Attempting to create or convert a PDF document from Excel, Word, or PowerPoint using the Adobe Acrobat PDFMaker integration.
- Observed behavior
- Adobe Acrobat fails to convert the Office file to a PDF and displays an error message indicating that the Microsoft Office security level is set to High.
Ensure your Microsoft Office applications and Adobe Acrobat software are fully updated to their latest versions before modifying trust settings or repairing your installation.
Repair the Microsoft Office Installation
Use the Windows built-in repair tool to fix underlying integration issues between Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
Often, the security level error is caused by corrupted integration files or registry keys following an Office update. Running a Quick Repair or Online Repair can restore the necessary settings without requiring you to manually modify hidden security warnings.
Right-click the Windows Start button and select 'Apps and Features' or 'Installed apps' from the menu.
Scroll down or search for your version of Microsoft Office (or Microsoft 365) in the installed applications list.
Click on the application, select 'Modify', choose 'Online Repair' or 'Quick Repair', and follow the on-screen prompts.
Once the repair process finishes, restart your computer, open your Excel or Word file, and try converting it to PDF again.
Adjust Office Add-in Trust Center Settings
Modify your macro and add-in settings to ensure Office does not automatically block the Acrobat PDFMaker components.
Re-enable the Acrobat PDFMaker Add-in
Check if Microsoft Office has hard-disabled the Adobe PDFMaker add-in due to a previous crash.
Convert Documents to PDF Easily with WPS Office
Avoid complex add-in conflicts, macro errors, and security level blocks. WPS Office provides a lightweight suite with a native, built-in PDF converter that seamlessly exports your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to PDF without needing third-party software.
- 1. Open Your File: Launch WPS Office and open your document, spreadsheet, or presentation.
- 2. Export to PDF: Click on 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Export to PDF' from the dropdown list.
- 3. Save Your PDF: Choose your desired export settings and click 'Export' to instantly generate your PDF file safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat say my Office security level is too high?
This error generally occurs when Microsoft Office's Trust Center blocks the Acrobat PDFMaker macro or COM add-in from running, or when corrupted Office integration files mistakenly trigger a high-security alert.
How do I find the Trust Center in Microsoft Excel?
Open Excel, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu, and click on 'Trust Center' in the left sidebar. From there, click the 'Trust Center Settings' button to view your security configurations.
Can I convert Office files to PDF without using Adobe Acrobat?
Yes. Modern Office suites have built-in PDF functionality. You can use 'Save As' and choose PDF. Alternatively, you can use a free suite like WPS Office, which natively supports one-click exporting directly to PDF without external plugins.
What should I do if the Acrobat PDFMaker add-in keeps disappearing?
If Office continuously disables PDFMaker, it may be crashing in the background. Go to File > Options > Add-ins, manage 'Disabled Items', re-enable Acrobat, and ensure you have installed the latest software updates for both Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
