Understanding Adobe Acrobat DC and Reader End-of-Life Dates
Question details
The user is looking for clarification regarding the end-of-life (EOL) dates and support status for Adobe Acrobat DC Classic, Acrobat Reader DC, and Acrobat XI Pro.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC / Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Planning software upgrades, migrating to new PDF tools, or troubleshooting support availability for legacy Adobe PDF software.
- Observed behavior
- Users need to know the specific end-of-support timelines for their current Acrobat versions to ensure continued security and functionality.
Before checking the end-of-life dates, open your current Adobe Acrobat or Reader application and navigate to Help > About to confirm the exact version year and release track (Continuous or Classic) you are using.
Check Adobe Product Lifecycle for End-of-Life Dates
Identify the exact end-of-support dates for Acrobat DC 2015 and Acrobat XI Pro to determine if your software is still supported.
When a product reaches End of Life (EOL), the manufacturer no longer provides technical support, product updates, or security patches. Both Acrobat XI Pro and Acrobat DC 2015 (Classic) have passed their official EOL dates and are no longer supported.
Adobe Acrobat DC 2015 and Acrobat Reader DC 2015 officially reached their end of life on April 7, 2020.
Acrobat XI Pro reached its end of life even earlier, on October 15, 2017, and has not received any security or feature updates since.
Visit the official Adobe Help Center's Product Lifecycle page to verify the support status of your specific Acrobat version, as dates differ between the Continuous and Classic release tracks.
Since using EOL software poses security risks, consider upgrading to the latest supported Acrobat subscription or switching to a secure alternative PDF editor like WPS Office.
Use WPS Office as Your Supported PDF Solution
If your Adobe Acrobat version has reached its end of life, you can safely and easily switch to WPS Office. WPS Office includes a powerful, actively updated PDF reader and editor that handles all your standard PDF files without the security risks associated with legacy software.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office Free from the official website and follow the straightforward installation prompts to set it up on your computer.
- 2. Set as Default PDF Reader: Right-click any PDF file on your device, select 'Open with', choose WPS Office from the list, and check 'Always use this app to open .pdf files'.
- 3. Open Your PDF: Double-click your PDF file to launch it securely in the WPS PDF interface.
- 4. Edit and Convert: Use the 'Edit' and 'Convert' tabs at the top of the workspace to modify text, highlight content, or seamlessly convert your PDF to a Word document.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does End of Life (EOL) mean for Adobe Acrobat?
End of Life means Adobe will no longer provide technical support, product updates, or security patches for that specific version of Acrobat. While the software will continue to function on your device, using it may expose your system to unpatched security vulnerabilities.
Can I still use Acrobat XI Pro or Acrobat DC 2015 after their EOL dates?
Yes, the applications will still open and allow you to view or edit PDFs on compatible operating systems. However, because they no longer receive active security updates, it is highly recommended to upgrade to a supported version or switch to an actively maintained alternative like WPS PDF.
How do I check which version of Adobe Acrobat I am currently using?
Open your Acrobat or Reader application, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'About Adobe Acrobat'. A dialog box will appear displaying the exact version number, year, and whether you are on the Classic or Continuous release track.
