How to Remove Adobe Reader

There are two ways to remove Adobe Reader from your machine. The easiest is to allow Windows to do the work for you. However, if in the event the files are corrupted then the steps become far more complicated and you will need to take care to keep from corrupting other programs. Adobe Reader does not have an uninstall program like some software programs do. The instructions for removing Adobe Reader are similar with each version of Adobe Reader and Windows operating systems.

Instructions

1. This first step requires you to open the Control Panel; if you are operating Windows Vista click to open "Programs and Features." If you are operating Windows XP then open "Add/Remove Programs" window.

2. Locate Adobe Reader in the program list, click on the icon and then click on the uninstall button at the top of the window. From here you will follow the prompts to remove Adobe Reader from your computer.

3. If this process fails or you receive an error message that the program cannot be uninstalled then you will need to remove it manually. From the Start Menu locate the Computer icon and click to open the window, double-click on the "C:" drive, double-click on "Programs," and double-click on the Adobe Folder.

4. Once you open the Adobe Folder, click on the "Reader" folder; either use the Delete button or right-click on the "Reader" folder and select "Delete." When prompted whether you want to delete the file or not click "Yes."

5. To remove the Adobe Reader from the registry is more complicated. However, you can remove the primary folder without having to search for the other files. Select the run command from the Accessories on the Start menu, enter "regedit" click "Ok." Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Adobe, right-click on the Reader folder and select "Delete." This does not clean the entire registry, but it will remove the primary folder for the Adobe Reader program.

6. Use ctrl F to search for these registry entries, select each and then delete by either right click or your delete button:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Adobe Reader
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Adobe\Repair\Adobe Reader
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\
   S-1-5-18\Products\68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Features\
   68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
   {AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A80000000002}
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Installer\Products\
   68AB67CA7DA73301B7448A0000000020
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
   {9C6A861C-B233-4994-AFB1-C158EE4FC578}
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\
   {358E6F10-DE8A-4602-8424-179CA217F8EE}
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Reader

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to back up your registry before following the above procedure. This will ensure that if you delete the wrong key you will be able to restore the backup file. When you open the registry editor, click "File," then "Export." Save the file to your documents folder, use the default name or pick a name that you will remember. Then proceed with removing the above entries. Restart your computer when you are done with the removal.

Resources

• Adobe Reader Specific Instructions for each Windows Version