Open the Windows registry.
Last updated on
Oct 16, 2025
The unified version of Acrobat is now available for enterprises to deploy. This article provides details on Adobe’s Unified app installer and some important procedures to customize the Adobe installations.
Why deploy unified Acrobat on enterprises
To streamline installs and simplify app management for large enterprises, Adobe now delivers a unified Acrobat and Reader all-language (MUI) installer. Adobe’s single-app initiative provides both Acrobat and Reader functionality via a single installer, a common default install location, and a common executable and configuration mechanism.
Benefits
- Uses a single default install path that simplifies product deployment and management:
Windows C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat DC
macOS /Applications/Adobe Acrobat DC
- Supports the easy-to-manage Shared Device Licensing method.
- Determines available features by the licensing or activation credential rather than installing two different products. Users with Acrobat rights get those features on sign-in and other users get Reader functionality.
- Removes the need for two separate app installs..
- Keeps automatic and managed updates workflows unchanged.
Tip
- Read about Adobe's 64-bit Unified App installer
- Acrobat and Reader deployments are available at our ETK.
Use unified Acrobat in read-only mode in Windows
If you need to run Acrobat in reader mode without users being required to log in, make the following registry changes:
Navigate to the following location:
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\FeatureLockDown
- Add the following REG_DWORD value:
“bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx”=dword:00000001 - Create the following key:
cIPM
Then add the following REG_DWORD value under this key:
“bDontShowMsgWhenViewingDoc”=dword:00000000
Use unified Acrobat in read-only mode in macOS
Execute the following commands with sudo to create the bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx setting and enable it:
- /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Delete :DC:FeatureLockdown:bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx" /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist
- /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :DC:FeatureLockdown:bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx bool true" /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist
Confirm that the setting has been applied with the following command, which should return 'true':
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Print :DC:FeatureLockdown:bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx" /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist
Execute the following commands with sudo to create the bDontShowMsgWhenViewingDoc setting and enable it:
- /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Delete :DC:FeatureLockdown:cIPM:bDontShowMsgWhenViewingDoc" /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist
- /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Add :DC:FeatureLockdown:cIPM:bDontShowMsgWhenViewingDoc bool false" /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist
Confirm that the setting has been applied with the following command, which should return 'true':
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Print :DC:FeatureLockdown:cIPM:bDontShowMsgWhenViewingDoc" /Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist
Reboot for these changes to take effect, or restart the preference services daemon by running "killall cfprefsd" via sudo.
Stop automatic upgrade from Acrobat Reader 32-bit to 64-bit on Windows
If you have deployed the 32-bit version of Acrobat Reader, use the following procedure to stop the Acrobat Reader 32-bit application from automatically upgrading to the 64-bit version. Create the following registry key before the first launch of the application:
In Start > Search, type RegEdit and press Enter. The Registry Editor is displayed.
Browse to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\DC\FeatureLockDown.
Create the following key:
Key: bUpdateToSingleApp
Data type: REG_DWORD
Default Value: 0
Close Registry Editor.
Note
Even though the above registry changes will stop the automatic upgrade to Acrobat 64-bit, the upgrade can still be done if Acrobat is installed on the computer via:
- The Creative Cloud desktop app.
- A package containing Acrobat.
Download and install Acrobat 32-bit version on a 64-bit Windows machine
To download and install Acrobat
You cannot use the package workflow in the Adobe Admin Console to deploy the 32-bit version of Acrobat to a 64-bit machine. However, if you have a reason to install the 32-bit version of Acrobat on a 64-bit machine, download the 32-bit installer. And then follow the installation steps in this article.
To download and install Adobe Reader
If you have the need to install Adobe Reader 32-bit on a Windows 64-bit, machine:
Go to the Adobe Acrobat Reader download page.
Select More download options.
In the Version drop-down menu, ensure that the 64-bit version isn't selected.
Select Download Acrobat Reader.
