Frequently Asked Question
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free program for opening, reading, and printing PDF files. Here is how to install it on a Windows PC or a Mac.
Before you start:
- Make sure you are signed in to your computer with an account that can install software. On a campus or work computer, you may need to ask the Help Desk to install it for you.
- Open a web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox).
- Go to get.adobe.com/reader
- Look at the middle column on the page. This is where Adobe sometimes adds extra "optional offers" (for example, a browser extension or another Adobe product). Uncheck the box for any offer you do not want before you continue.
- Click the "Download Acrobat Reader" button.
5. When the file finishes downloading, open it:
- On Windows, the file ends in ".exe" (for example, "Reader_Install_Setup.exe"). Double-click it.
- On a Mac, the file ends in ".dmg". Double-click it, then follow the on-screen steps to drag Acrobat Reader into your Applications folder.
- If Windows asks "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?", click Yes.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to finish the installation. When it is done, click Finish (or Close).
- To make sure it worked, open the Start menu (Windows) or Launchpad/Applications (Mac) and look for "Adobe Acrobat Reader."
Tips and warnings:
- Only download Adobe Reader from get.adobe.com. Other websites that claim to offer "free PDF readers" can bundle unwanted or unsafe software.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader is free and is all most students need. Adobe Acrobat Pro is a separate PAID product; you do not need Pro just to read or print PDFs.
- If the optional-offer boxes are already checked and you click Download too quickly, the extra software may install along with Reader. If that happens, you can remove it later from your computer's apps list, but it is easier to uncheck those boxes first.
If you're still having trouble, contact the Jersey College Help Desk at 201-645-1164 or itsupport@jerseycollege.edu.