How to Fix Adobe Acrobat 2017 Crashing on Windows 10
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Adobe Acrobat 2017 or Acrobat DC closes unexpectedly right after clicking a button in the application.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Navigating or attempting to edit a document within the Acrobat application.
- Observed behavior
- The application crashes immediately after a button is selected, and running the built-in installation repair does not fix the problem.
Ensure you have saved any open work and that you are logged into Windows 10 with an administrator account, as some troubleshooting steps require modifying system preferences and security settings.
Update Acrobat and Reset Preferences
Installing the latest patches and clearing corrupted preference files resolves the majority of unexpected application crashes.
Software bugs or corrupted local configuration files frequently cause abrupt crashes in Adobe applications. Updating the software ensures you have the latest stability patches, while resetting preferences forces the program to generate clean configuration files.
Open Adobe Acrobat, navigate to the 'Help' menu at the top, and select 'Check for Updates'. Install any available updates and restart your computer.
Navigate to your Windows AppData folder and locate the Adobe Acrobat preferences folder. Rename or delete this folder to force Acrobat to create default settings upon the next launch.
Temporarily Disable Protected Mode
Conflicting security protocols in Acrobat can trigger sudden crashes. Disabling them temporarily helps identify if they are the root cause.
Test with a New Windows Administrator Profile
If the crash persists, your current Windows user profile might be corrupted. Testing on a new profile isolates the issue to the system level.
View and Edit PDFs Flawlessly with WPS Office
If troubleshooting third-party PDF software is taking up too much of your time, try WPS Office. It includes a built-in, lightweight PDF editor that allows you to seamlessly read, annotate, and modify PDF documents without bogging down your Windows 10 system.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office Free from the official website and run the quick installation on your Windows 10 PC.
- 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office, click the 'Open' button on the homepage, and select the PDF file you need to work on.
- 3. Edit Without Crashes: Navigate to the 'PDF Edit' tab at the top to modify text, insert images, or add highlights directly in the document with complete stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe Acrobat crash as soon as I click a button?
Immediate crashes upon interaction in Adobe Acrobat are typically caused by outdated software patches, corrupted application preference files, or conflicts with built-in security features like Protected Mode on Windows 10.
Will running the Acrobat Repair tool fix the crashing issue?
Not always. While the built-in repair tool fixes missing application files, it often overlooks corrupted user preferences or conflicting Windows profiles. If a repair fails, you should manually reset preferences or attempt a clean reinstall.
Is it safe to keep Protected Mode disabled in Adobe Acrobat?
No. Protected Mode restricts PDF files from executing malicious scripts on your system. It should only be disabled temporarily for troubleshooting purposes. Always re-enable it to maintain your computer's security.
