Is Adobe Acrobat 2017 Compatible with ARM-Based Surface Pro X?
Question details
Organizations and users need to know if Adobe Acrobat Pro 2017 can be installed and fully operated on ARM64 hardware, specifically the Microsoft Surface Pro X.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 2017
- Device & OS
- Microsoft Surface Pro X (ARM64 Windows)
- Scenario
- Deploying PDF editing software and printer drivers on ARM-based Surface devices.
- Observed behavior
- Uncertainty regarding compatibility, as users need to know if the 32-bit installer, printer drivers, and shell extensions will function correctly on an ARM architecture.
Before attempting to install legacy x86 software on your Surface Pro X, ensure your Windows 10 or Windows 11 system is updated to provide the best available 32-bit emulation support.
Understanding Emulation Limitations for Acrobat 2017 on ARM
While the main 32-bit Acrobat application might launch via Windows emulation, deeply integrated system components will fail to operate on ARM devices.
Adobe Acrobat 2017 is natively a 32-bit (x86) application. Windows on ARM (used by devices like the Surface Pro X) features an emulation layer that allows basic 32-bit applications to launch and run.
However, Acrobat relies heavily on system-level integrations—such as the Adobe PDF printer driver, Windows Explorer shell extensions, and Microsoft Office add-ins. Because these components require native architectural support (which ARM64 lacks for x86 device drivers), full support on the Surface Pro X cannot be guaranteed.
Launch the standard 32-bit Acrobat 2017 installer. Windows 10/11 ARM emulation will attempt to process the application files.
Open a PDF document to test basic functionalities like reading and basic text selection, which may function under emulation.
Navigate to 'Printers & Scanners' in your Windows settings. You will likely notice that the 'Adobe PDF' printer is missing because the required architecture-specific driver cannot be installed on ARM64.
Try WPS Office for Seamless PDF Management
If legacy PDF software fails on your ARM-based device due to driver limitations, WPS Office offers a modern, lightweight suite that includes robust PDF reading, editing, and conversion tools built directly into the software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Adobe release an ARM64 update for Acrobat 2017?
No. Acrobat 2017 is an older, standalone release, and Adobe has not announced plans to backport native ARM64 drivers for its device integrations on this version.
Can I use the 'Print to PDF' feature on Surface Pro X with Acrobat 2017?
Unfortunately, no. The Adobe PDF printer requires an architecture-specific device driver, which will fail to install or run on the ARM64 architecture of the Surface Pro X.
Do Microsoft Office add-ins work with Acrobat 2017 on ARM?
Office add-ins included with Acrobat 2017 rely on matching system architectures. Because the ARM environment emulates x86, these deeply integrated add-ins will likely fail to load or cause application crashes.
Are there alternative ways to view and edit PDFs on the Surface Pro X?
Yes. You can use built-in tools like Microsoft Edge for basic viewing and annotation, or modern third-party productivity suites like WPS Office, which provide integrated PDF features without relying on legacy x86 system drivers.
