Adobe Acrobat Should be Free. Why Isn't it Working?
April 17, 2024 1:55 PM Subscribe
I had access to Adobe Pro which ended when my contract ended with the owner of the account. Now I can't get a PDF to open at all.
Adobe wants me to login so I created a new account with my personal email but it isn't letting me use even Reader without a subscription. I just want my free Reader back. Help.
Alternatively, what is a good other PDF viewer/comment option? Adobe's subscriptions are expensive.
Adobe wants me to login so I created a new account with my personal email but it isn't letting me use even Reader without a subscription. I just want my free Reader back. Help.
Alternatively, what is a good other PDF viewer/comment option? Adobe's subscriptions are expensive.
Did you use this site? Maybe try it in a different browser. It doesn't require an account when I try to download it.
Have you told your computer to use Reader (not Pro) to open pdfs? You'll have to change the program associated with pdf files for default opening.
posted by hydra77 at 2:04 PM on April 17
Have you told your computer to use Reader (not Pro) to open pdfs? You'll have to change the program associated with pdf files for default opening.
posted by hydra77 at 2:04 PM on April 17
Response by poster: Uninstalling ended up working but I'd still love to hear of alternatives to Adobe, thanks!
posted by tafetta, darling! at 2:21 PM on April 17
posted by tafetta, darling! at 2:21 PM on April 17
Are you looking for alternatives for Adobe Pro, where you can create/edit PDFs, or just a non-Adobe reader?
The FoxIt free reader seems popular among my customers, although it doesn't handle complicated forms (ones technically known as XFA PDFs).
FoxIt's editor, too, does OK but isn't perfect if you're trying to make complicated documents (particularly forms). If you don't need to edit existing PDFs, just creating documents in the editor of your choice and using a "print to PDF" (in windows) produces good results.
posted by AzraelBrown at 2:48 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]
The FoxIt free reader seems popular among my customers, although it doesn't handle complicated forms (ones technically known as XFA PDFs).
FoxIt's editor, too, does OK but isn't perfect if you're trying to make complicated documents (particularly forms). If you don't need to edit existing PDFs, just creating documents in the editor of your choice and using a "print to PDF" (in windows) produces good results.
posted by AzraelBrown at 2:48 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]
A lot of it depends on what Acrobat features you use. The more complex documents using interactivity or forms or collab features tend to work best with Acrobat, but if you mostly just need to read or print them, I like SumatraPDF and/or the PDF reader built into Firefox or MS Edge (not sure if something similar exists in Chrome). I personally haven't had to install Acrobat for around a decade now.
posted by Aleyn at 3:55 PM on April 17 [1 favorite]
posted by Aleyn at 3:55 PM on April 17 [1 favorite]
There *is* something similar in Chrome. At my job, I increasingly notice weird problems with Adobe Acrobat Reader that get resolved if I use the built-in readers in Edge or Chrome for viewing and/or filling in forms instead.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:03 PM on April 17
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:03 PM on April 17
Another Mefite told me about PDF Reader by Xodo. I like it because it's free and allows you to edit PDFs and add signatures.
posted by whitelotus at 5:45 PM on April 17
posted by whitelotus at 5:45 PM on April 17
You can use these instructions to set the default PDF reader to Preview under Mac OS X. Preview also allows basic form markup and signature options, if that is needed; no Adobe required.
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 7:47 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 7:47 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]
All my technical references are pdf and I basically live in Sumatra reader.
posted by deadwax at 3:21 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
posted by deadwax at 3:21 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
You can open PDFs in Firefox, and this way you can select and copy the text inside, even when the PDF has been set up to forbid such actions.
posted by Rat Spatula at 4:17 AM on April 18
posted by Rat Spatula at 4:17 AM on April 18
Another vote for Sumatra, it’s great, the only problem is that it’s useless with pdf forms.
posted by SageLeVoid at 7:10 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
posted by SageLeVoid at 7:10 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
You didn't specify which OS you're running, but macOS has had native support — i.e. has not required extra software for working with PDFs — for ages.
posted by emelenjr at 11:09 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
posted by emelenjr at 11:09 AM on April 18 [1 favorite]
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posted by LKWorking at 1:59 PM on April 17 [2 favorites]