Why does a PDF reader update needs a computer restart?

48 Comments

  1. BetterPySoonTm

    Real answer is probably because “it’s adobe”.

  2. Tapedeckel

    It doesn’t need a restart. It just says so to load all the Adobe crap you don’t want anyway, and to load the PDF extensions. Restart at will. It doesn’t really matter.

  3. Conte5000

    In most cases see it as a common reminder.

    Some updates do have dependencies deeper in the systems OS like some services or tasks which in turn have dependencies on system relevant tasks or services. To make sure these do work properly after installing the update, it is recommended to do a restart.

  4. If you don’t need to author PDFs, I’d uninstall acrobat and use something sensible like a browser or SumatraPDF, maybe even Foxit.

  5. turtle1470

    Reading PDF using Firefox, Chrome, whatever is so bad…?

  6. LateSolution0

    Likely because the installer had to change files that are already in use by another component, which is blocking the necessary file change.

  7. Did you use the “click here for more details” link to find out?

    Why not?

  8. multiwirth_

    Probably because it installed/updated some kind of stupid backround service that needs to run before the application works.
    I dunno why a pdf reader even needs this bullshit, but who knows.
    It’s Adobe after all…

  9. Jonny_ice-cool

    That’s just Adobeware doing its thing. They’re now inside you.

  10. micahr238

    Most things I’ve used that “require” a restart works just fine without one.

  11. Elcrest_Drakenia

    So it can have a chance to feed your files to ai /j

  12. Mundane-Mechanic-547

    Its so the update agent can start.

  13. Tarc_Axiiom

    Because the installation process requires an OS dependency that is not running and will not run again until you restart the system, or an OS dependency needs to be installed but it is running and can’t stop without a problem, or both, usually both.

    This used to be true of most software installs, now it’s true of a handful, but we’ve all been taught to just ask you to restart.

    Generally, just don’t and see what happens. If the software isn’t working, it might be because you didn’t restart.

  14. FrankRamm

    Always pirate adobe software. It’s dogshit.

  15. Racters_

    I just hit close and continue with what I was doing. If Adobe fails to open the pdf, then I would restart.

  16. This is the company that bypasses the Windows uninstaller and requires you to accept their TOS before you can uninstall anything. It’s pure malware.

  17. agressiv

    it means some component of the previous version of Adobe Reader was still running and didn’t terminate before the upgrade ran.

    Usually, apps will close processes before it attempts an upgrade, but it will eventually give up and just flag the files for update on restart, especially if it means it would have to kill a critical process.

  18. Because adobe has a service that runs in the background, and their code is shit. There is zero reason to reboot your system outside kernel mode drivers or core OS patches. This applies to *nix and Windows.

  19. Understated_Negative

    Adobe loves editing registry keys

  20. DudeWhoRead

    Answer is set Edge as the default PDF viewer and uninstall Adobe!

  21. Silver_Quail4018

    Adobe has deep integrations in the windows system that needs restarting to be completed. The most known ones are adobe update service and the context menu entries. Depending on your other Adobe products, they can also have Adobe Creative Cloud and other services. Theoretically, they could finish the update if you restart just the explorer, but they request to restart windows because most people have no idea how to restart explorer.

  22. PantherX69

    Dump Adobe and use Foxit reader, it has a much smaller footprint.

  23. cat_rush

    Acrobat is not just a PDF reader, it has some features needed for printing and design workers. And also it works sluggish af like if it is a bloatware, what i assume is most likely true. If you want just to browse PDFs, no need to install this shit. Get something lightweight like Sumatra PDF, it will work for 99.(9)% of users just fine.

  24. It’s not different to crappy games that need a restart to turn off motion blur or something. It’s been proven many times that games don’t NEED to restart to apply these things, world of Warcraft doesn’t need a restart to Apple any settings, nor does many other AAA games.

    It’s 100% either lazy development, or poor planning in the development process which means it’s more work for them to change it.

  25. Perfect_Pause_3578

    Kinda sad that I think of something else when I read PDF nowadays -_-

  26. NebraskaGeek

    The real answer is because changes the installer made may need it update/edit/add files that are currently in use by the OS. On restart, the PC will make those changes while the OS isn’t using them. Sometimes it’s nothing important and you can delay a restart kind of forever, and sometimes it’s a critical component. It’s fucking normal for software and has nothing to do with “Adobe bad” like everyone is saying.

  27. them1444666

    The problem is when Adobe reader updates it affects com plug-ins in office app “when it really shouldn’t” then if the plug in wants to work it needs a restart due to the plug in having a reg entry edited this plug is there weather u have office or not

  28. it uses your systems kernel for drm, however that will soon end since microsoft is going to prohibit software’s like that from accessing the kernel anyways

  29. Jojoceptionistaken

    Why does a PDF reader need updates?

  30. jedimindtriks

    Because its one of the most bloated pieces of shits ever. I pay for creative suite, and its slow, buggy and most time i have to open then close, then open again for it to load all my plugins.

    its beyond stupid how we cannot get decent alternatives to adobe suite.

  31. Alemismun

    Because you made a shit choice for your pdf reader mate. YOUR BROWSER CAN OPEN PDFS, why do you have legit adobe products on your pc?

  32. Yeah I got this fucking notice in the middle of a presentation I was doing. Either restart and exit the meeting or don’t show a pdf. Thankfully someone else was able to pull the pdf up and display it.

  33. Rakkachi

    Because the adobe updater needs to nestle itself in the background so it can consume resources for checking for updates every hour. Its high proirity stuff. (Check services)

  34. Mayoo614

    Well at least they don’t disguise it as a shutdown.

  35. AdamGreenfield

    PFD Gear has 99% of pdf edit features and is free. Tabbed view coming soon they say. I rolled it out in a small office and everyone was much happier. Adobe seems to run like 90’s crackwares.

  36. Why do you need Adobe reader in the first place?
    This is 2024 – every browser can open pdfs.

  37. Stryker218

    Adobe deep roots its updater. Even if you disable it under services it will re-enable itself.

  38. dwolfe127

    Yep, this is for their telemetry BS. Adobe is such a pile of shit. All of that crap running in the background hooked into the OS is for data harvesting to make them more money, not to provide you with a better product.

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