Step 1: Press Windows+R, type regedit, and then click OK to open the System Registry. Since you obviously can’t open Acrobat Reader DC to disable Protected mode, you must use the Registry Editor for that.

In rare instances, Protected Mode can also prevent the program from loading. Disable Protected ModeĪcrobat Reader DC uses a feature called Protected Mode to secure your computer against malicious PDF documents. Once you’ve done that, try opening Acrobat Reader DC again. Switch to the Processes tab, select each Acrobat Reader DC-related background process (as shown in the screenshot above), and then click End Task. Then, click More Details to expand the default Task Manager view. To do that, right-click the Start menu and select Task Manager. Is Acrobat Reader DC still failing to open? Ending all background processes related to the program can help. You can also use the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter (click Run Compatibility Troubleshooter) to detect and troubleshoot compatibility issues in Acrobat Reader DC. If you keep facing the same issue, try setting Compatibility Mode to Windows 7. On the Properties dialog box, switch to the Compatibility tab, check the box under Compatibility Mode, and select Windows 8. Start by right-clicking the Acrobat Reader DC icon on the desktop. To eliminate compatibility issues with Windows 10, run Acrobat Reader DC in Compatibility Mode. On the Properties dialog box that shows up, switch to the Shortcut tab, select Advanced, check the box next to Run as Administrator, and then click OK.

Start by right-clicking the Acrobat Reader DC shortcut.

If Acrobat Reader DC launches properly, you can always configure the shortcut to run the program with administrative rights. On the User Account Control dialog box that shows up, click Yes. To do that, right-click the Acrobat Reader DC shortcut on your desktop and click Run as Administrator. Try running Acrobat Reader DC with elevated rights.

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