Where Does Adobe Acrobat Store Preferences?
Where Acrobat and Reader keep preferences on Windows and Mac, and the full reset sequence.
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Acrobat stores preferences in two linked places on Windows: files under %APPDATA%\Adobe\Acrobat\DC and settings in HKCU\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC. Reset guides hit both because each restores the other side survivors leave behind.
Mac keeps it single rooted: com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist in ~/Library/Preferences (quit first, since Acrobat caches plist in memory and overwrites hand edits on exit). Reader mirrors all of this under its own product names and hives.
Where Adobe Acrobat stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Adobe\Acrobat\DC\Preferences
Paste %APPDATA%\Adobe\Acrobat\DC into Explorer. Preferences/ holds the files; the HKCU\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC hive holds the rest. Track DC is Continuous; year folders are Classic.
~/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.Acrobat.Pro.plist
Quit Acrobat first or cached plist overwrites your edits on exit. Reader uses com.adobe.Reader.plist beside it. Reach Preferences with Go > Go to Folder.
Frequently asked questions
How do I fully reset Acrobat to defaults?
Quit Acrobat and kill Adobe background processes, rename the Preferences folder (and export then delete the HKCU registry hive), and relaunch: both rebuild at defaults. Back up first: tool customizations and recent lists go with the wipe.
DC vs year folders: which one is mine?
Continuous track uses a DC hive and folder; Classic track uses a year (2017, 2020). Match the hive and folder to your installed track or the reset edits nothing. About > Check for the track label when unsure.
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