Unified installer for macOS

Adobe provides a unified installer for Acrobat and Reader to streamline installations and simplify app management for large enterprises. The unified installer is a single-app initiative allowing users to access Acrobat and Reader functionalities through one installer. It features a common default installation location and a shared executable and plist for easier management.

Key benefits

  • Single app installation: No need for two separate installations, streamlining setup and saving time.

  • Simplified product deployment: A single default install path for easier product deployment and management: /Applications

  • Easy activation methods: Support for both simple activation methods, (NUL) Named User Licensing and FRL (Federated ID Licensing)

  • License-based activation: Features determined by license credentials, with Acrobat rights providing access to licensed features and Reader users accessing basic features.

  • Harmonious updates: Consistent workflows for automatic and managed updates.

Unsupported features

  • Serial number activation

  • Third-party plugins in Acrobat reduced mode, when running as Reader rather than Acrobat.

  • File conversion:

    • AutoCAD files using the ODA library

    • Visio files through Acrobat’s context menu

    • Project files through Acrobat’s context menu

    • XPS files to PDF

    • EMF files to PDF

  • Support for Lotus Notes as the default email client in SendMail

  • Separate installations for Reader and Acrobat on the same machine

Installation on a clean machine

After installing the Acrobat unified installer on a new machine, you must add a key to ensure Acrobat functions properly. Depending on the user license, the key determines whether Acrobat functions as Reader or Acrobat. You don’t need to sign in if you only want to use it as Reader.

bIsSCReducedModeEnforcedEx

Lockdown

Feature lockdown for both Unified Reader and Unified Acrobat is placed at:

/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist