How to Upgrade Acrobat Pro When macOS Catalina Stops It Opening
Question details
The user needs to upgrade Adobe Acrobat Pro because their older version no longer launches after updating to macOS Catalina.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina
- Scenario
- Attempting to launch or upgrade an older version of Acrobat Pro after a macOS Catalina system update.
- Observed behavior
- The application fails to open because macOS Catalina dropped support for all 32-bit applications.
Verify your current Adobe Acrobat Pro license details and locate your previous-version serial number, as you will need it to activate the new Catalina-compatible installation.
Install a Catalina-Compatible Version Using Your Serial Number
Since you cannot upgrade from within an application that will not launch, you must download a new 64-bit version directly and authenticate it with your eligible older serial number.
macOS Catalina strictly requires 64-bit applications. Older 32-bit releases of Acrobat will not run. To restore functionality, you must upgrade to a 64-bit perpetual release (like Acrobat Pro 2015 or 2017) or the subscription-based Acrobat Pro DC.
Find the previous-version serial number for your eligible Adobe Acrobat Pro license.
Navigate to the official Adobe website and download the macOS installer for a Catalina-compatible release, such as Acrobat Pro 2017 or Acrobat Pro DC.
Launch the downloaded installer on your Mac and follow the on-screen setup instructions.
When prompted during the setup to validate your upgrade, type in the serial number from your previous version.
Uninstall the Incompatible 32-bit Application
Remove the older version of Acrobat that no longer works on Catalina to prevent system clutter and software conflicts.
Use WPS Office to Open and Edit PDFs on macOS
If your older PDF software is no longer supported on macOS Catalina, WPS Office provides a lightweight, fully 64-bit compatible built-in PDF reader and editor. It natively handles all your PDF viewing and editing needs without requiring expensive software upgrades.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS website, download the macOS installer, and drag the application into your Applications folder.
- 2. Launch the application: Open WPS Office and select the 'PDF' tab located on the application's home screen.
- 3. Open your PDF file: Click the 'Open' button and browse your Mac's files to select the PDF document you wish to view.
- 4. Edit and annotate: Use the top toolbar to edit text, add highlights, insert annotations, or convert the PDF to other formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Adobe Acrobat stop working after I updated to macOS Catalina?
macOS Catalina entirely dropped support for 32-bit applications. Older versions of Adobe Acrobat (such as Acrobat 11 or earlier) are built on 32-bit architecture and are completely blocked by the operating system from launching.
Do I need to keep the older Acrobat version installed on my Mac to upgrade?
No, you do not need the older version currently installed. You can perform a clean installation of the new 64-bit compatible version and simply enter the serial number from your previous version when prompted to validate the upgrade.
Is there an Adobe Acrobat Pro 2014 version I can upgrade to?
No, Acrobat Pro 2014 is not an official release. The relevant 64-bit perpetual (non-subscription) releases you can upgrade to are Acrobat Pro 2015 and Acrobat Pro 2017. Alternatively, you can subscribe to Acrobat Pro DC.
