How to Fix Adobe Acrobat DC Crashing During Scanning
Question details
The user needs to resolve an issue where Adobe Acrobat DC repeatedly crashes while attempting to scan physical documents or process newly scanned files.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- 64-bit Windows 10
- Scenario
- Scanning physical documents into PDF format using Adobe Acrobat DC.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat DC crashes repeatedly during the scanning process or while processing the newly scanned document, preventing the user from successfully saving the file.
Ensure your scanner is properly connected to your computer and turned on. Save any open documents in other applications to prevent data loss in case of a system-wide freeze during troubleshooting.
Update Scanner Drivers and Acrobat Software
Updating both your scanner's native drivers and your Acrobat software ensures maximum compatibility and resolves known crashing bugs.
Crashes during scanning are frequently caused by communication failures between Acrobat and outdated or incompatible TWAIN/WIA scanner drivers on 64-bit systems.
Check the physical label on your scanner or open 'Device Manager' in Windows to find the exact manufacturer and model number of your imaging device.
Visit the official support website of your scanner's manufacturer (e.g., HP, Epson, Canon), search for your specific model, and download the latest drivers for 64-bit Windows 10.
Open Adobe Acrobat DC, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates'. Follow the on-screen prompts to install any available patches.
Restart your Windows 10 computer to apply the driver changes. Open Acrobat and attempt to scan a document again.
Isolate the Issue Using Native Scanner Software
Use the scanner's default application to determine if the hardware is malfunctioning or if the issue is strictly related to Acrobat DC.
Scan Documents to PDF Seamlessly with WPS Office
If Acrobat continues to crash, you can easily accomplish your goal by using WPS Office to scan your physical documents directly into high-quality PDFs. WPS Office features a stable built-in PDF toolkit that interfaces smoothly with most standard scanners without crashing.
- 1. Open WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Windows PC and navigate to the 'PDF' tab on the main dashboard.
- 2. Access the scanning feature: Click on 'Create PDF' and select the 'From Scanner' option to initiate the built-in scanning module.
- 3. Configure scan settings: Select your connected scanner from the dropdown list, adjust the resolution and color settings, and choose whether to append to an existing document.
- 4. Scan and save: Click the 'Scan' button. Once the physical document is digitized, WPS Office will automatically process and open it as a stable PDF ready for saving or editing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat DC crash specifically during the processing phase of a scan?
Crashes during the processing phase often happen because Acrobat is attempting to run Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on the newly scanned image, and it encounters a memory error or driver conflict. Disabling 'Make Searchable (Run OCR)' in the Acrobat scan settings before starting can sometimes bypass this crash.
How do I find out what scanner driver version I am currently using in Windows 10?
Right-click the Start button and select 'Device Manager'. Expand the 'Imaging devices' or 'Printers' category, right-click your scanner model, select 'Properties', and navigate to the 'Driver' tab to view your current version and date.
Can I recover the PDF if Acrobat crashed after scanning but before saving?
Typically, unsaved scans are lost if the application crashes during the process. However, you can check Acrobat's AutoSave folder located in your local AppData directory to see if a temporary backup version was preserved.
What information should I gather before contacting Adobe support about this crash?
Support will need your exact Windows 10 version (e.g., 64-bit 22H2), the specific Acrobat DC version (e.g., 19.012.20040), your scanner's manufacturer and exact model number, and a description of whether the crash happens immediately upon clicking 'Scan' or later during document processing.
