
PDF is known to be indestructible but we sometimes encounter problems with our PDF files and PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat. There can be times when your PDF files won’t open or the Adobe Reader is not opening. And to be honest, this situation is a big nuisance to our office or school work.
Now if you’re trying to get this error fixed you might get confused figuring out the right solution. We can’t be sure which is the cause of the error or which one to deal with first. Well, worry no more.
In this article, we will guide and give you the solution on how to fix your PDF files and Adobe Reader. Stay tuned!
Quick Navigation:
Why can’t I Open a PDF
As I’ve mentioned, dealing with this issue can be confusing. And so to start fixing it, we should first identify the cause.
There can be two reasons for this error. There could be something wrong with your Adobe Reader or your PDF file is damaged.
- Issues with Adobe Reader – Updates on your Adobe Reader help keep the app running. It helps boost the app’s performance and fixes some errors. Now if your Adobe Reader is not opening, it might need some updating. Another cause could be the improper installation during the update or download. Some of the app’s data might not be properly installed causing it to not function properly.
- Issues with the PDF File – The reason why you can’t open a PDF file is that it’s corrupted. Now, file corruption can be caused by viruses, improper download, or export. Your PDF file could also be damaged if you edited or created it on a non-PDF reader app.
Now that we know the causes behind the error, it’s time to figure out the solutions to fix it. Below, we listed 2 categories of solutions to repair the “Adobe Reader not opening” and the “PDF files won’t open” error.
Solutions to Fix Adobe Reader Not Opening
Here are the methods you can use if Adobe Reader is not opening on your Windows 10/11 computer.
Method 1: Update Adobe Reader to Fix Adobe Reader Not Opening
As I’ve mentioned above, updating your app can help boost its performance and fix some errors, if not, it won’t function properly. So to fix the “Adobe Reader not opening” error, you can try updating it and see if it’s the cause of the issue.
- Open Adobe Acrobat and hit the Help tab.
- Select Check for Updates and wait for the app to connect to the server.

- After that, the available updates will pop out on the screen. Click on it and wait for the update to finish.
After the update, re-launch Adobe Reader and see if the error still occurs.
Method 2: Re-install Adobe Reader to Fix Adobe Reader Not Opening
If your Adobe Reader is up to date, then you can try to reinstall the app. Some of its data might not be available due to improper download or installation.
To do this, simply uninstall Adobe Reader on your PC and go to the Adobe download site to download the app again. Make sure to finish the installation process. After that, try to open the app.

Method 3: Use an Adobe Reader Alternative
Now, if the “Adobe Reader not opening” error still occurs, you might want to try an alternative. If you’re tired of errors and delays, the Wondershare PDFelement could help you out.
You can rely on Wondershare PDFelement to take care of your PDF files. With this PDF reader you can create, edit, view, convert, protect, PDF files, and more. You can get the same features on Adobe but in a much lighter and easier way. Yes! Wondershare PDFelement can offer you a convenient way of managing your PDF files with the help of its user-friendly interface and amazing features!

What is more amazing is that you can try most of its features for free! I’ve also mentioned that this app is lightweight and you don’t have to worry about any errors. Plus it’s a multi-platform PDF reader, meaning you can use it on any of your devices!
Hit the button below to install Wondershare PDFelement on your computer now!
Solutions to Fix PDF Files won’t Open
If with the help of the methods above you figured out that the PDF reader is not the issue, it’s now time to see if your PDF file is the culprit. Here are two methods you can try if you can’t open your PDF files.
Method 1: Download/Export File Again to Fix PDF Files won’t Open
First, try to download or export your PDF files again, there’s a chance that the process was distracted or the files have been infected with bugs, causing them to corrupt and not open.
When downloading or exporting your PDF file again. Make sure that there are no distractions and that you are getting it from a safe source. After that, try to open your file and see if this method works.
Method 2: Repair PDF files with echoshare Data Recovery
We know how important your files are to you, and that is why we flipped the web and found the best solution to repair the PDF files that won’t open errors.
echoshare Data Recovery is the boss when it comes to repairing PDF files. No matter what caused the error, echoshare can easily deal with it. Rest assured that all the data on the PDF file will stay intact and the quality is as good as the day you lost it.

Aside from PDFs, this tool can also repair corrupted Word documents, Excel sheets, PowerPoint presentations, and more. Aside from that, other corrupted files can also be repaired, like photos, videos, emails, and a whole lot more! Now, you don’t need to install and use multiple tools just to repair a specific file, echoshare can handle them all.
This tool can also recover almost any type of deleted or lost file. So if ever you accidentally deleted your PDF or any other file, echoshare can get them back on a whim! Try this tool now.
Steps to Fix PDF Files won’t Open via echoshare Data Recovery
- First, hit the button above to download echoshare. After that proceed to install and launch the app.
- On the main screen, select how the file was lost/damaged then tick Documents and hit Next.
- Choose the drive where the PDF file was located then proceed to Scan.

- Wait for scanning to finish. Next, select the files you want to repair and hit Recover.

- You can then choose a destination for your repaired PDF files.
Conclusion
If ever you get stuck in the same situation again, don’t hesitate to try out the solutions we listed above. They will help you skip all the hassle and give satisfying results.