How to uninstall and reinstall Acrobat Reader

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Visit the Adobe Reader Help and Support page for information about top issues.

Overview

Occasionally, damaged files or a partial installation prevents the Acrobat Reader uninstaller from working correctly. It causes the uninstaller to leave files or empty application folders on the system after removal.

To uninstall Acrobat Reader, follow the steps in the order they appear.

Uninstall Acrobat Reader from Windows Control Panel

  1. Exit Acrobat Reader if it is open or running.

  2. Press the Windows and keys together to open the Command Prompt.

  3. In the Run command box, type Control Panel and press OK.

  4. In the Control Panel, select Programs > Program and Features.

  5. Select Acrobat Reader from the list of installed applications, select Uninstall, and then select Yes in the confirmation dialog.

    Uninstall Reader

  6. After Acrobat Reader is uninstalled, restart your computer.

Uninstall Acrobat Reader on macOS

  1. Go to Finder > Applications > Adobe Acrobat Reader

  2. Open the context menu, and select Move to Bin.

    Application uninstaller

  3. Restart your computer.

Uninstall Acrobat Reader using the cleaner tool

Visit the Cleaner tool page, download the latest tool specific to your operating system, and then follow the steps listed on the page to uninstall Acrobat Reader.

Reinstall Acrobat Reader

Visit the Acrobat Reader download page to download the app for your desktop. Then, follow the step-by-step instructions to install Reader on Windows and macOS.

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