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Utility – How to display .pdf files in Acrobat DC from Internet Explorer

Tip – If you are having trouble displaying .pdf files from MS Internet Explorer via Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, try this 11-step remedy:

  1. Close IE
  2. Close Adobe Acrobat
  3. Start Task Manager (e.g., via Ctrl-Alt-Del)
  4. Under Processes tab, right-click and End Process ‘AcroRd32.ext’, if it is running.
  5. Run Acrobat Reader DC
  6. Under Edit, select Preferences
  7. In Categories:  choose ‘Internet’, then select ‘Internet Settings’
  8. Under ‘Security’ tab, uncheck “Enable Protected Mode’; disregard warning.  The security feature can be be reset at next IE session, as in the next two steps
  9. Close Acrobat Reader and start Internet Explorer
  10. Under Tools (the little gear), select ‘Internet Options’, then ‘Security’, then re-check ‘Enable Protected Mode’
  11. Test using a website offering a .pdf

Voilá, problem solved!  (Don’t ask me why or how.)

Revised 14-January-2017 © IEEE Richmond Section