Learn how to install and manage Adobe Acrobat with the unified installer, including primary installation channels and deployment strategies.
The unified installer allows users and enterprise administrators to install and manage Acrobat. It covers the benefits of combining Acrobat and Reader into one package, reducing confusion and making management easier. You can download additional components based on user entitlements. This streamlined process simplifies deployment, especially in environments with mixed licensing.
The unified installer for Acrobat is also called the Single Client App or 64-bit Acrobat application. The 32-bit Acrobat application is not a unified installer and has separate packages for paid Acrobat deployments and free Reader deployments.
The unified installer can be installed from five primary channels, each with its own user experience and behavior:
- Reader Download Center (RDC): For individual users installing the free Acrobat Reader, no mandatory sign-in is required
- Microsoft Windows Store: Similar to RDC, for individual users, without mandatory sign-in
- Creative Cloud Desktop Application (CCDA): Full version of Acrobat for individual and teams customers. Requires mandatory sign-in.
- Admin Console package: Primarily for enterprise customers with various customization options.
- Download Acrobat from Helpx: An alternative for enterprise users facing CCDA installation issues, it can also be used for customizations
If your installation is stuck, learn more about resolving a progress bar stuck during Reader to Acrobat upgrade using the unified installer.
User requirements and deployment strategies
For individual users
- Upgrade from Reader to Acrobat: Sign in to the application after purchasing. If the app detects your paid subscription, it automatically downloads and installs the necessary components. If issues arise, follow the steps outlined in Download Adobe Acrobat.
- 32-bit compatibility: The unified installer is 64-bit, and interoperability between 32-bit and 64-bit apps is not supported. The unified installer uninstalls any non-unified packages except in some cases. Learn more about Acrobat’s compatibility matrix.
- Disable mandatory sign-in: Use the IsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx registry key or the Suppress Sign-in in Acrobat option under Installation Options in the Customization Wizard.
Full path to IsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx registry
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown
bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx = 1[DWORD]
- Test PDF behavior in Reader mode: Disable mandatory sign-in via the registry key or customization wizard. When mandatory sign-in is disabled, the product behaves as Acrobat for users signed in with a paid subscription and Reader for users who are signed out. This enables users to experience both behaviors within a single install.
For enterprise and teams users
- Deploy paid Acrobat licenses: Create an Acrobat package from the Admin Console and deploy it using SCCM or another enterprise deployment tool. You can also deploy CCDA across your organization, allowing users to install Acrobat from CCDA.
- Serve mixed licensing environments: In mixed licensing environments, users with different entitlement levels, such as free, Standard, and Professional, are in the same organization. In such cases, administrators are recommended to deploy an Acrobat unified package for all users.
- Deploy the Acrobat package for all users.
- Disable mandatory sign-in using the IsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx registry key or the Suppress Sign-in in Acrobat option under Installation Options in the Customization Wizard.
- Another option is to deploy CCDA on users' machines, and users can install Acrobat using CCDA.
- Deploy any registry customizations like IsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx separately via GPO.
- Serial number licensing: The unified installer does not support serial number-based licensing. Use the non-unified installer for deployments using serial numbers.
- Enterprise ID issues: The functionality to download and install components from the internet is only available for retail users. For enterprise users, the functionality to download and install components from the internet is only available based on the ID used for installation. When the user logs in for the first time and the application detects a paid entitlement, they are prompted once to install additional components. If they don't install them, they won't be prompted again. However, an option to upgrade to premium features is available in the Help menu for manual upgrade.
- Install optional components: When users select any functionality that requires optional components, Acrobat automatically installs these components. Administrators can also deploy Acrobat along with these optional components using one of the following methods:
- If Acrobat is being installed afresh, use the Customization Wizard to set the Initial State of Optional Features and its sub-feature Preflight to install.
- If Acrobat is already installed, run the command line: msiexec /i AcroPro.msi ADDLOCAL=OptionalFeatures,PreFlightPlugin /qn.
To learn more about the different customization options, refer to Acrobat Enterprise Toolkit (ETK).
