How to Make Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro Available to Another Windows User
Question details
The user wants to grant a different Windows user account access to an existing installation of Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro on a shared laptop.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Sharing an installed desktop PDF application across multiple local Windows user profiles.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat 9 Pro is installed on the laptop, but the user needs to ensure it is visible and usable when logging into a secondary Windows account.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on the Windows laptop, as modifying software installations to make them available to all users requires admin rights.
Verify Acrobat Availability on the Target Account
Software installed by one user is often available system-wide but may lack a desktop shortcut for other users.
In many cases, Adobe Acrobat is already installed on the system's main drive, but Windows hasn't placed a shortcut on the secondary user's desktop. You should first check if the application is hidden in the system.
Log out of your current profile and sign in to the target Windows user account where you want to use Acrobat.
Click the Windows Start button on the taskbar and type 'Acrobat 9 Pro' into the search bar.
If the application appears in the search results, right-click the icon and select 'Open file location'. Right-click the executable file, choose 'Send to', and click 'Desktop (create shortcut)' for easy access.
Reinstall Acrobat 9 Pro for All Users
If the application is not accessible on the secondary account, reinstalling it globally is required.
Use WPS Office to Manage PDFs Across All Windows Accounts
Instead of struggling to configure obsolete software like Acrobat 9 Pro for multiple users, you can easily install WPS Office. It provides powerful built-in PDF editing tools that become instantly accessible to all users on your Windows PC with a single, simple installation.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the latest version of the WPS Office installer.
- 2. Install System-Wide: Right-click the downloaded file and select 'Run as administrator' to ensure the software and its PDF features are securely installed for every user account.
- 3. Set as Default PDF Editor: Log into any Windows account, open WPS Office, and navigate to the settings to set it as the default application for viewing and editing PDF documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Acrobat 9 Pro not showing up on my secondary Windows account?
If the software was installed with the 'Only for me' setting chosen during setup, Windows isolates the application shortcuts and specific registry keys to the installing user's profile. You must reinstall the application and select 'All users' to fix this.
Can I share a single-user license of Adobe Acrobat across multiple Windows profiles?
Yes, if the software is installed on a single physical computer, multiple local Windows profiles on that exact same machine can generally access the application without violating a standard single-device license agreement.
Is Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro still supported on Windows 10 or Windows 11?
No, Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro was released in 2008 and is entirely obsolete. It is no longer supported by Adobe and frequently experiences installation errors, missing PDF printer drivers, or activation failures on newer operating systems.
