Acrobat Failed to Send a DDE Command? 7 Fixes

Are you one of the many Adobe Acrobat users who have received the error message “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command”? This complication can be stressful, significantly disrupt your workflow, and raise concerns about the reliability of Acrobat.

The “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command” error is usually caused by communication issues between Acrobat and the Windows operating system, often due to corrupted files, misconfigured settings, or conflicts with other software.

In this blog, we’ll provide several solutions, offering you a path to regain peace of mind and productivity. We understand the frustration this error can cause, and we're here to help you overcome it.

Fix 1. Use Adobe Acrobat Alternative to Open a PDF

If you frequently encounter complications with Adobe Acrobat, such as the “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command,” it might be time to consider switching to more reliable software—UPDF— which allows you to open and read PDFs for free.

Featured below is a quick guide on how to open a PDF document using UPDF, which you can download for free using the link below.

Step 1: Opening Your PDF in UPDF

If you haven’t already, download and launch UPDF. Next, click “Open File” and choose which PDF document you want to view.

Step 2: Reading Your PDF

Once your PDF document is open, you can view with different settings. You can change the document display, enable the eye protection mode, zoom in or zoom out, and more.

UPDF is a free PDF reader designed to open and view PDF documents quickly and without any technical problems, often encountered with software like Adobe Acrobat. UPDF offers an intuitive interface, fast performance, and a stress-free experience when reading your PDF documents, making it the perfect solution when Acrobat won’t cooperate.

Those are just a few of the benefits of using the free version of UPDF to open your PDFs.

If you’d like to learn more about UPDF and how it compares to Adobe Acrobat, check out this in-depth review. Or if you’d prefer, check out the video below to learn why UPDF is the best PDF reader on the market.

UPDF is available on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. If you’re happy with UPDF, you can upgrade to the pro version at an incredible budget-friendly price compared to Adobe Acrobat.

If you’d still prefer to use Adobe Acrobat and want a solution to the “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command,” don’t worry— we’ve got you covered. In the following sections, we’ll guide you through the most effective ways to fix the complication, ensuring you can use your software without any hindrance.

Also Read: UPDF vs Adobe Acrobat

Fix 2. Disabling the Adobe Acrobat Add-in on All Office Products

One potential cause of the “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command” error is conflicts between Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office applications, specifically the PDFMaker Add-in. Disabling this add-in across all Office products, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, can resolve the issue.

Step 1: Finding the Add-in Setting

Start by opening a Microsoft Office application and clicking “File” then “Options”. Find “Add-ins” on the left and next to “Manage COM Add-ins”, click “Go”.

Step 2: Disable the PDFMaker Addin

In the new window that opens, locate the PDFMaker add-in and make sure it's unchecked, then click “Ok.”

Fix 3. Quit and Restart Adobe Acrobat

Sometimes, a temporary glitch can cause the “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command” error. Closing and restarting the Adobe Acrobat application can clear the issue without resorting to more advanced fixes.

Step 1: Opening Task Manager

Right-click your taskbar at the bottom of your screen and select “Task Manager” or press “CTRL+ALT+DEL” on your keyboard.

Step 2: Closing the Adobe Acrobat Application

Make sure the “Processes” tab is selected. Then, find the “Adobe Acrobat” application in the list. Once selected, click “End task” to close the Acrobat software completely.

Fix 4. Repair Acrobat Installation

Over time, the installation files associated with Acrobat may become corrupted or misconfigured, causing the “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command” error. Fortunately, Acrobat includes a built-in repair feature to resolve this.

Step 1: Finding the Repair Installation Feature

Open Acrobat, select "Menu" then choose “Help” and "Repair Installation." Click yes and follow the on-screen prompts to repair Acrobat.

Step 2: Relaunching Acrobat After Repairing

Once the repair has finished, relaunch Adobe Acrobat and check if the error is still present.

Fix 5: Reinstall Adobe Acrobat

Another common cause of Acrobat errors is software corruption or a conflict with your application version. A fresh installation of the software can be an effective solution.

Step 1: Finding Programs

Start by typing “Program” in the search bar on your taskbar and selecting “Add or remove programs.”

Step 2: Uninstall Adobe Acrobat

You can quickly find Adobe Acrobat in the list of applications by using the search bar. Next, click “Uninstall” and follow the prompts.

Step 3: Restart and Redownload

After uninstalling Acrobat, restart your computer, and then go to Adobe’s website and redownload the latest version.

Fix 6: Edit Registry

If none of the above fixes resolved your difficulties with the “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command” error, the problem may be due to a registry entry related to Acrobat. Editing the Windows Registry can sometimes fix deep-rooted issues.

Step 1: Opening the Registry Editor

Press “Windows + R” on your keyboard to open the “Run” window. Type in “regedit” and hit “Ok.”

Step 2: Editing the Acrobat Registry

Navigate to “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\acrobat\shell\open\ddeexec\application”. Now edit the “AcroViewA##” by changing the value data to “AcroViewR##” and clicking “Ok” to save the changes.

Final Thoughts on the “Acrobat Failed to Send a DDE Command” Error

In summary, the “Acrobat failed to send a DDE command” error can disrupt your productivity, but there are several solutions, as we’ve addressed in this article. By following the fixes we’ve covered above, from disabling add-ins to repairing Acrobat or editing the registry, you can troubleshoot and resolve your complications with Adobe Acrobat.

However, if you’re looking for a permanent solution that allows you to work stress-free, we recommend trying out UPDF for the best PDF reader on the market. UPDF is easy to use, opens PDFs quickly, and without the errors that plague Acrobat. For a fast and reliable experience, with a budget-friendly price if you choose to upgrade, download UPDF today!