PDF Opening Issues

How to Install Compatible Adobe Acrobat Reader for macOS 10.13.5

Aamir Naveed AkramAamir Naveed Akram Oct 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to find a compatible version of Adobe Acrobat Reader for macOS 10.13.5 and resolve installation failures caused by existing software conflicts.

How to Install Adobe Acrobat Reader on macOS 10.13.5
Product
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS
macOS 10.13.5
Scenario
Downloading and installing a PDF reader on a Mac running macOS High Sierra.
Observed behavior
The installer fails to run or displays a 'newer version already installed' error message, preventing the user from opening PDFs.
Before you start

Check your Mac's Applications folder to see if any older or corrupted versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader are currently installed, and ensure you have administrator privileges to modify applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Uninstall Existing Reader and Download the Compatible macOS Installer

Use this method to clear out conflicting application files that trigger the 'newer version already installed' error and properly install the supported legacy version.

macOS 10.13.5 (High Sierra) does not support the newest releases of Adobe Acrobat Reader. You must download a specific legacy installer provided by Adobe. If your Mac detects leftover files from a previous installation, it will block the process, requiring a clean uninstallation first.

1
Uninstall the conflicting application

Navigate to the Applications folder on your Mac, locate Adobe Acrobat Reader, and drag it to the Trash to remove existing conflicting files.

2
Restart your Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select 'Restart' to ensure all background processes and temporary installation files are cleared from system memory.

3
Download the compatible installer

Visit the official Adobe Reader download page, select macOS 10.13.5 from the operating system dropdown menu, and choose the compatible Reader version provided.

4
Run the installation process

Double-click the downloaded .dmg file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation of Adobe Acrobat Reader on your Mac.

Uninstall Existing Reader and Download the Compatible macOS Installer
Verify Free vs. Paid Version: Double-check the Adobe download page to ensure you are downloading the free Adobe Acrobat Reader rather than the paid Adobe Acrobat Pro trial, unless you require advanced PDF editing features.
Free PDF Reader Alternative

Open and Read PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office

Avoid macOS version compatibility errors by using WPS Office. It includes a powerful, built-in PDF reader that opens your files instantly without complex installation requirements or version conflicts.

  1. 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for Mac directly from the official website.
  2. 2. Open the PDF tool: Launch the WPS Office application and click on 'PDF' in the left-hand navigation sidebar.
  3. 3. Select your document: Click 'Open PDF' and browse your Mac's folders to select the PDF file you want to read.
  4. 4. Read and annotate: Use the intuitive top toolbar to scroll through pages, add text comments, or highlight important sections.
Instantly opens and reads all standard PDF filesLightweight design runs smoothly on older macOS versionsFully compatible with Microsoft Office formats like DOCX, XLSX, and PPTXIncludes free built-in tools for highlighting and annotating documents
microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Adobe installer say a newer version is already installed?

This error occurs when leftover application files or cached data from a previous Adobe Reader installation remain on your Mac. You must completely move the old application to the Trash and restart your device before running the new installer.

Can I use the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader on macOS 10.13.5?

No, the newest versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader require more recent macOS releases. You must manually select your specific operating system (macOS 10.13.5) on the Adobe download page to receive the correct legacy installer.

What is the difference between Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Acrobat?

Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free application used primarily for viewing, printing, and adding basic annotations to PDF files. Adobe Acrobat is a paid subscription software that offers advanced features like editing text, converting formats, and combining multiple PDFs.