How to Fix Adobe Acrobat Scanning Stuck at Processing Scan
Question details
Users are experiencing issues where Adobe Acrobat freezes or gets stuck on the processing screen when scanning multiple pages.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Scanning multi-page physical documents into a single PDF file using a connected scanner.
- Observed behavior
- Optimization stops after the first page, the application becomes unresponsive, and attempting to cancel results in an error stating the scan is still in progress.
Ensure your scanner is securely connected and powered on. Save any other open PDF documents to prevent data loss if you need to force-close the application.
Install the Latest Adobe Acrobat Update
Updating to the latest version resolves a known bug (addressed in version 20.009.20065) that causes scans to hang during the optimization process.
Adobe has officially recognized the scanning optimization bug and released a patch to fix it. Manually triggering the update process is the most effective way to restore normal scanning functionality.
Launch the Adobe Acrobat application on your computer. If it is currently frozen, force close it using the Task Manager first.
Navigate to the top menu bar, click on 'Help', and select 'Check for Updates' from the dropdown menu.
Follow the on-screen prompts to download and install the latest patch (version 20.009.20065 or newer). Once the installation is complete, restart Acrobat and test your scanner.
Force Close and Repair Acrobat Installation
If the application is completely unresponsive and the update cannot be accessed, force closing and repairing the software can clear corrupted processes.
Verify Scanner Drivers and Firmware
Outdated scanner drivers can conflict with Acrobat's optimization tools, leading to processing freezes.
Scan Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
If your current PDF software continues to freeze during multi-page scans, switch to WPS Office. It features a built-in, lightweight PDF scanner that processes documents quickly without lagging or crashing.
- 1. Open WPS PDF: Launch WPS Office on your computer and navigate to the 'PDF' tab.
- 2. Select Scanner Function: Click on 'Create PDF' and select 'From Scanner' in the toolkit menu.
- 3. Configure Scan Settings: Choose your connected scanner device, adjust your color and DPI preferences, and click 'Scan' to generate your PDF smoothly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat say the scan is still in progress when I try to cancel it?
This is a known glitch in certain versions of Acrobat where the background optimization process hangs. Because the software believes it is still actively processing the first page, it prevents the application from safely canceling the task.
How do I forcefully close Acrobat if the scan processing window is completely frozen?
You can force close it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Windows Task Manager. Find Adobe Acrobat in the list of active processes, right-click on it, and select 'End Task'.
Will reinstalling my scanner fix the Acrobat freezing issue?
While keeping scanner drivers updated is highly recommended, this specific 'processing scan' freeze is most often tied to a software bug within Adobe Acrobat itself, which is resolved by updating to version 20.009.20065 or newer.
