Uninstalling Acrobat Reader removes Acrobat extension from Chrome

Last updated on 30 September 2022 | Also applies to Acrobat Reader

Problem

Scenario: You've Acrobat Reader is installed on your computer along with one of the following applications:

Now, if you uninstall Acrobat Reader, the Adobe Acrobat extension is also removed from Google Chrome.

This impacts you if you've done one of the following and then you're uninstalling Acrobat Reader:

Have Enabled the Chrome Extension in January 2017 release, and then applied the QFE2 patch without any parameters (default scenario).
Have downloaded Acrobat Reader from the Reader download page with opted in Chrome Extension and have Acrobat Pro (DC/Classic 2015/11.x).
As an enterprise, have enabled the Chrome Extension using registry ENABLE_CHROMEEXT=1 during deployment.

Run the Acrobat installer in repair mode to add the Adobe Acrobat extension to Google Chrome.

Steps:

Open Windows Control Panel: hold Windows key and then press R on your keyboard. In the Run dialog box, enter control panel in the Open box and then click OK.
In the Control Panel window, click Programs and Features.
Select Acrobat from the programs list, and then click Change or Modify.
In the application maintenance dialog box, click Next.
Select Repair, and then click Next.
In the Ready to Repair the Program dialog box, click Update. Once the repair is complete, click the Finish button to close the dialog box.
Open Google Chrome. You’ll see a prompt as shown in the screenshot below. Click the Enable extension button.