How to Install Adobe Acrobat on an M1 MacBook Air
Question details
The user wants to know how to properly install and run Adobe Acrobat on an Apple M1 Mac.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- M1 MacBook Air / macOS Big Sur
- Scenario
- Installing PDF editing software on an Apple Silicon device running macOS Big Sur.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to download the correct installer and ensure compatibility, potentially using Apple's Rosetta 2 layer for older versions.
Verify that your macOS Big Sur is updated to the latest minor version and ensure you have your Adobe account login credentials ready before beginning the installation.
Download and Install Acrobat via Adobe Account
Use the official Adobe installer to ensure you get the most compatible version of Acrobat for your Apple Silicon M1 Mac.
Adobe provides direct downloads that automatically detect your operating system. For Apple's M1 chip architecture, the installer will either provide a native version or prompt macOS to utilize Rosetta 2 to seamlessly run the Intel-based application.
Navigate to the official Adobe website in your browser and sign in using the account linked to your Acrobat subscription.
Go to your 'Apps' or 'Downloads' section, locate Adobe Acrobat, and click the 'Download' button to save the .dmg installation file to your Mac.
Locate the downloaded .dmg file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. Follow the on-screen prompts in the setup wizard.
If you are installing a version of Acrobat that requires translation for the M1 chip, macOS Big Sur will automatically display a prompt asking to install Rosetta. Click 'Install' to allow Acrobat to run properly.
A Native, Lightweight PDF Editor for M1 Macs
If you are experiencing continuous installation errors with Adobe Acrobat or prefer a more lightweight application that runs natively on Apple Silicon, WPS Office is an excellent choice. It provides powerful PDF editing alongside comprehensive word processing tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I absolutely need Rosetta 2 to run Adobe Acrobat on an M1 Mac?
It depends on the version you are installing. Older versions of Adobe Acrobat are built for Intel processors and require Apple's Rosetta 2 compatibility layer to run on an M1 Mac. Newer versions of Acrobat Pro natively support Apple Silicon and do not require Rosetta 2.
How do I force Adobe Acrobat to open using Rosetta?
If an older plugin isn't working natively, open Finder and navigate to your Applications folder. Right-click the Adobe Acrobat app icon, select 'Get Info', and check the box that says 'Open using Rosetta'. Restart the application for the changes to take effect.
Why is my Adobe Acrobat download failing on macOS Big Sur?
Download failures are typically caused by unstable internet connections, restrictive browser extensions, or insufficient permissions. Try downloading the installer using a different web browser, or download via the Creative Cloud Desktop application.
Are there free alternatives to edit PDFs on an M1 MacBook Air?
Yes. Mac's built-in Preview app allows for basic PDF viewing and annotation. For more advanced editing, text modification, and formatting, you can use third-party alternatives natively optimized for Apple Silicon, such as WPS Office.
