What is AcroTray, and how do I Fix, Disable, or Remove it?
This file is harmless and it shouldn't cause problems
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Key notes
- The AcroTray.exe is one associated with the Adobe Acrobat PDF software.
- You can disable it easily from the Task Manager if you want.
Many reported AcroTray on their PC, and in today’s guide, we’re going to explore this file a bit further.
Join us, and learn if this file is dangerous and how to remove it.
What does AcroTray exe mean?
Adobe Acrobat Tray Icon is Adobe’s extension (or helper application) for converting documents to PDF files. It enables users to print PDFs directly from MS Office applications. It also keeps track of Acrobat updates.
How do you stop AcroTray?
1. Using the Task Manager
- Right-click the Start menu and select the Task Manager option.
- Select the Processes tab.
- Find the AcroTray, right-click on it and select End task.
2. Using Services.msc
- Click on the Start menu, type services, and select the Services app.
- Search for Adobe Acrobat Update, double-click on it, change the Startup type to Manual, then click Apply and OK.
- Search for Adobe Genuine Software Integrity, double-click on it, change the Startup type to Manual, then click Apply and OK.
3. Using the Autoruns utility
- Download the Autoruns utility.
- Extract the zip file, right-click on Autoruns64.exe and select the option to Run as administrator.
- If you have Acrobat Assistant on your list of startup programs, unselect it.
- Finally, restart your computer.
Is Acrotray necessary?
The Acrotray service is not essential, but it is convenient if you need to perform functions like converting files to PDF.
The AcroTray (Adobe Acrobat Tray Icon) background process is a helper service and is only usually necessary when working on Adobe products.
You can halt the process when you do not need it, prevent AcroTray from running, or stop AcroTray from loading.
Is AcroTray EXE safe?
The actual AcroTray EXE is a legitimate Adobe Acrobat file and process. However, as it’s an EXE file, some malware programmers disguise their virus script as AcroTray EXE files.
If you haven’t installed Acrobat and noticed an AcroTray.exe process in Task Manager, you’ve probably discovered an AcroTray virus.
Do I need Adobe AcroTray at startup?
As mentioned, PDF document conversion is the primary function of the helper service. So, users who often convert documents to PDF format need AcroTray to start with Windows.
Is it OK to disable AcroTray?
Disabling the helper service could generate some document conversion issues. However, it’s somewhat extra to have a background helper application for users who don’t need to convert documents to PDF format.
Furthermore, AcroTray can slow down your system startup and consume RAM. Thus, some good reasons exist to disable AcroTray, and users who don’t need that helper application should consider disabling it.
There you have it. You can always use any solution to disable or stop the service when you do not need it.
Disabling it may be the right step, especially since it might still be an extra process for many users, even though it serves a critical Adobe Acrobat function.
Keep in mind that there are issues with this process, and many reported that Acrotray stopped working for them.
Lastly, an easy way to disable it is to uninstall Adobe Acrobat, which users can replace with numerous PDF software alternatives.
