How to Fix Adobe Acrobat DC Freezing When Opening a Second PDF
Question details
The user experiences an application freeze when attempting to open more than one PDF file simultaneously.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC 2018
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Opening multiple PDF documents for reading or editing workflows.
- Observed behavior
- The first PDF opens normally, but the application completely freezes and becomes unresponsive as soon as a second PDF is opened.
Ensure you have saved any ongoing work in other applications before troubleshooting, as you may need to force quit the frozen application or restart your computer.
Update Application and Reset Preferences
Installing the latest updates and resetting preferences to default can resolve underlying software conflicts causing the freeze.
Outdated software versions or corrupted preference files are common culprits when a program fails to handle multiple document instances.
Open Acrobat (with only one PDF or no PDF loaded), navigate to the 'Help' menu, and select 'Check for Updates' to install any available patches.
If the app is currently frozen, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager, right-click the Acrobat process, and select 'End task'.
Press Windows Key + R, type '%APPDATA%\Adobe\Acrobat', and hit Enter to locate your application preferences folder.
Rename the '2015' or 'DC' folder to 'Old_Preferences'. This forces the application to generate fresh, default settings upon the next launch.
Perform System Troubleshooting for Application Freezes
If the application continues to freeze, the issue might be related to Windows system errors or temporary resource conflicts.
Seamlessly Open Multiple PDFs with WPS Office
If your current software continues to freeze, you can use WPS Office to easily open, read, and edit multiple PDF files simultaneously. Its lightweight, tabbed interface ensures smooth performance without system lockups.
- 1. Download and install: Download and install WPS Office on your Windows computer.
- 2. Open the PDF tool: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab on the main home screen.
- 3. Open your first file: Click 'Open' and select your first PDF file to view it.
- 4. Add a new document tab: Click the '+' icon next to the document tab at the top of the interface to seamlessly open a second PDF without freezing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my PDF reader freeze only on the second document?
This usually happens due to memory allocation issues, corrupted temporary files, or conflicting background processes when the application tries to launch a new tab or a secondary window instance.
Will reinstalling the software fix the multi-document freezing issue?
Yes, uninstalling and cleanly reinstalling the application often resolves deep-seated file corruption or misconfigured registry keys that cause the program to freeze when handling multiple documents.
How do I force close my PDF reader if it completely freezes my screen?
Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open the Windows Task Manager. Locate the frozen application's process in the list, right-click it, and select 'End task' to force it to close immediately.
