Adobe Acrobat Pro DC is the full-featured version of Adobe’s PDF editing software. It lets users create, edit, convert, sign, and secure PDF files with advanced tools. While it’s powerful for professionals, uninstalling it can be a real pain. Unlike regular apps, Acrobat Pro DC digs deep into your system—installing background services, plug-ins for browsers, helper tools like Adobe Update Manager, and tons of registry entries. Even after you “uninstall” it through Windows, you might still find leftover folders, services running in Task Manager, or the app mysteriously reappearing after a reboot. That’s because Adobe’s own uninstaller often doesn’t clean everything, and Windows built-in tools just don’t go deep enough.
Uninstalling Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on Windows 10:
I’ve done this a few times on my own machine, and here’s what actually works. First, don’t just delete the shortcut—go the proper route. Hit Windows + I to open Settings, then click Apps > Apps & features. Scroll or search for “Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.” When you find it, click it, then hit Uninstall. Don’t skip the prompts—follow through until it says it’s done.
But that’s not the end. A lot of times, that doesn’t remove the core components. So next, press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and hit Enter. This opens the old-school Programs and Features window. Look for anything related—like “Adobe Acrobat,” “Adobe Update,” or “Adobe Core Sync.” Uninstall each one in order. Say yes to every confirmation. It might take a few minutes, and your system could restart services in the background—just let it run.
Now, clean up the leftovers. Open File Explorer and go to:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\Adobe\
You’ll probably see folders named “Acrobat” or “Adobe PDF.” Delete them all. If a file is in use, reboot and try again in Safe Mode.
Also, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), go to the Startup tab, and disable any Adobe entries. Then open Services (search in Start), look for “Adobe” services, stop them, and set them to “Disabled.”
Finally, open Registry Editor (regedit via Run), back up your registry (right-click “This PC” > Export), then search for “Acrobat” or “Adobe” under:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\
Delete any keys clearly tied to Acrobat Pro DC. Be careful—don’t touch anything you’re not sure about.
Uninstalling Adobe Acrobat Pro DC on Windows 11:
The process is similar, but the menus look a bit different. Click Start, go to Settings (or press Windows + I), then Apps > Installed apps. Search for “Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.” Click the three dots (⋯) next to it and choose Uninstall. Confirm and let it run.
Again, this rarely finishes the job. So press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl, and check the full list. Uninstall Acrobat Pro DC again if it’s still there, and also remove:
- Adobe Creative Cloud (if installed)
- Adobe Acrobat Update Service
- Any other Adobe-related entries
Now, manually delete the leftover folders. Press Windows + R and type these one by one:
%appdata%→ delete the Adobe folder inside%localappdata%→ delete Adobe folder here tooC:\Program Files\Adobe\C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\
Check Startup Apps in Task Manager and remove any Adobe entries. Open Services, find Adobe-related services (like “Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service”), stop them, and set to “Disabled.”
For the registry, same as Windows 10: use regedit, back up first, then remove Acrobat-specific entries under SOFTWARE. This part is tedious, but skipping it means you might still get update pop-ups or slow boot times.
Look, I get it—going through all these steps is time-consuming, and there’s always a risk you’ll miss something. I’ve tried the official Adobe cleaner tools, and they’re clunky and outdated. That’s why I now use PerfectUninstaller for jobs like this. It’s not just another uninstaller—it actually scans deep, finds hidden services, browser plugins, and registry junk that you’d never spot manually. It removes everything in one go, safely, without breaking other programs. If you’re serious about getting rid of Adobe Acrobat Pro DC for good, skip the headache and use PerfectUninstaller. It’s the only way I trust to make sure it’s really gone.
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