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What does the AcroRd32.exe file do?

The AcroRd32.exe process is also known as Adobe Reader (Version 7.0, 8.1, 9.3, 9.2, 8.3) or, as the case may be, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and is a part of Adobe Reader XI or, as the case may be, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. This software is produced by Adobe Systems (www.adobe.com). An obsolete or defective version of AcroRd32.exe can cause problems for your computer that can range from slowness to error messages such as these:

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What you should know about AcroRd32.exe Adobe Reader

AcroRd32.exe is not a Windows system file and is known to frequently cause computer problems. AcroRd32.exe is found in a subdirectory of "C:\Program Files". Frequently occurring are file sizes such as 1,534,184 bytes (15% of all these files), 1,494,424 bytes as well as 39 other variants.
The file was developed by a so-called third party provider - and not by Microsoft. The program executes in the background, and can only be terminated using Windows Task Manager. The original file has been signed by a trusted signature authority. This lets you check your copy to see if it is a counterfeit. AcroRd32.exe is capable of interpret keystrokes, track other applications as well as Change the behavior of other applications. For this reason, 33% of all experts consider this file to be a possible threat. The probability that it can cause harm is high.

If you see this file on your hard drive or in Windows Task Manager, please make sure that it is not a malicious variant. It's a fact that many trojans try to cloak their true identity by calling themselves AcroRd32.exe. With the above information or by using tools like Security Task Manager you can determine if, in your case, the file is an undesirable variant.

What do other computer users say about AcroRd32?

Adobes Acrobat Reader is used to view PDF Documents. That process seems to be necessary for the browser plugin. That plugin shows a PDF Document in a browser windows after you click a corresponding link. (further information...)
Matthias
This program causes near total instability in version 6.0. Many peope don't notice it, but once you launch it, closing the application still leaves the process running. Every time you run it again, it eats up resources until your system locks up and you have to reboot. I'd call that dangerous, since it's a sure formula for data loss.
Michael Spurlock
I've open multiple PDFs and closed then down and dont get memory/heap leaks so i reckon Michael Spurlock has some other problem with IE.
Col
Necessary for PDF files to run from the internet. If you have CPU problems with this file, it's no the problem. It's being interfered with by other programs trying to access the same CPU pins at the exact same time. This will happen with all programs at least once. It's something that NanoTubes will oneday eliminate because each program will have its own electron routing through the CPU. (NanoTubes will take up much less space, therefore we will be able to use much higher freqencies without taking up space and creating so much heat.)
James Cox
AcroRd32.exe is loaded when your browser opens a pdf, however when you close the pdf the process keeps on running in the background. This is supposedly to make subsequent pdf loads a bit quicker. The process uses around 30meg of RAM and some people report increasing memory usage. If you have no pdf's open, go to Task Manager and 'End Process' to get rid of it. It is not essential and not particularly dangerous - but can be a pain.
Nik Colman

Summary: 13 users judge AcroRd32.exe to be an essential file that should not be touched. 4 users consider it harmless. However, 6 users consider this to be a suspicious process and would like to get rid of it. For this reason, 6 users have already deleted AcroRd32.exe. source: file.net

How to uninstall Adobe Reader XI or Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

To remove Adobe Reader from your computer, please follow the manual instructions below or use an automatic uninstaller product.

  1. Click the Windows Start Button. You find it in the lower left corner of the taskbar.
  2. Type the word uninstall.
  3. Click Add or remove programs.
  4. Now locate Adobe Reader XI or Adobe Acrobat Reader DC in the list of displayed applications.
  5. Click the program, and then click Uninstall.
Remove software in Windows 10
AcroRd32.exe Adobe Reader fix

How to tell if AcroRd32.exe (Adobe Reader) was uninstalled cleanly

After uninstalling, restart your computer. Then start Windows Explorer and see if there is still a folder with the name of the software under C:\Program Files. Be sure to check the Registry as well for remnants of Adobe Reader. To do this, start "Regedit", then look under "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" > "Software" for Adobe Reader or the name of the producer. Always keep in mind that only a computer professional should ever directly delete entries in the Windows Registry.

What to do if a program does not uninstall

The easiest way to remove any kind of software cleanly and accurately is to use an uninstaller tool. Because the uninstaller automatically creates a backup, there is no risk of anything going wrong.

Last but not least

If Windows not working quite right for you, or if startup is taking a long time, or AcroRd32.exe is causing problems for you, a good Windows diagnostic tool may very well help. This is especially effective when it comes to older computers that have accumulated vast quantities of "garbage data" as the result of many software installs and uninstalls.

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