What is AdobeARM.exe and How to Disable or Fix its Errors

The AdobeARM.exe file, associated with Adobe Acrobat Reader, is tasked with automatically checking for and installing the latest program updates. There’s also an entry for it in the Task Scheduler that triggers AdobeARM.exe to run every day.

While the executable file is usually harmless, many have reported issues with it. For instance, AdobeARM.exe Application Error, high CPU usage, and frequent crashes. These are all easily fixable!

Before anything else, you need to verify whether AdobeARM.exe is a virus or a genuine process from Adobe. This is because threat actors often disguise malware as critical processes to avoid detection by the end user and installed antivirus.

How can I fix AdobeARM.exe errors?

1. Check AdobeARM.exe for virus

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Windows Security in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. Click on Virus & threat protection.
3. Click on Scan options.
4. Select the Full scan entry and then click on Scan now.
5. Wait for the malware scan to complete. It usually takes 10-30 minutes.

Another way to verify whether the file is a virus is to check its location. The original AdobeARM.exe is stored in the following path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0

In case you find AdobeARM.exe in another location, scan the file with a top-rated antivirus solution and if AdobeARM.exe is again flagged as a threat, delete it.

2. Install Adobe Acrobat and Reader Updater

1. Go to Adobe’s official website and click the download link for Adobe Acrobat and Reader Updater.
2. Now, run the downloaded setup and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
3. Once done, reboot the PC to apply the changes.

When faced with the AdobeARM.exe Entry point CreateProcessWithTokenW not found in ADVAPI32.dll error in Windows upon restarting the PC or after launching Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader, you should install the Adobe Acrobat and Reader Updater. This is the suggested fix from Adobe!

3. Remove Adobe Acrobat Update Task in the Task Scheduler

1. Press Windows + S to open Search, type Task Scheduler in the text field, and click on the relevant result.
2. Go to Task Scheduler Library, right-click on the Adobe Acrobat Update Task, and select Disable.
3. Restart the computer and check for improvements.
4. If AdobeARM.exe is still running in the Task Manager, delete the Adobe Acrobat Update Task in the Task Scheduler.

When AdobeARM.exe automatically runs after you boot Windows, disabling or deleting the Adobe Acrobat Update Task will do the trick. Remember, even after disabling/deleting the task, you can manually check for updates from within Adobe Reader.

4. Stop AdobeARM.exe from running at startup

NOTE

Since the following steps require making changes to the Registry Editor, I recommend you create a restore point beforehand or back up the Registry. This will help revert the changes in case things go wrong.

1. Press Windows + R to open Run, type regedit in the text field, and hit Enter.
2. Click Yes in the UAC prompt.
3. Paste the following path in the address bar and hit Enter: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
4. If you find an AdobeARM entry here that lists “C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe\” under the Data column, right-click on it and select Delete.
5. Click Yes in the confirmation prompt.
6. Once done, reboot the PC and check for improvements.

5. Delete the AdobeARM.exe file

1. Press Windows + E to open File Explorer, paste the following path in the address bar, and hit Enter: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0
2. Now, delete the AdobeARM.exe file.
3. If you get a missing permissions error, make sure you are signed in with an administrator account or gain full control of the folder.

If you have already removed Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat but still get AdobeARM.exe Bad Image errors, it’s likely that the executable file was not cleared and has to be deleted manually. As long as you are not using any Adobe software, deleting the file won’t cause any harm.

In my experience, most AdobeARM.exe errors can be easily fixed, either by deleting the task or removing the executable file from startup items. For the remaining issues, you should contact Adobe support, as it’s most likely a bug in the installed software version to blame.

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For any queries or to share which fix worked for you, drop a comment below.