What is Acrotray.exe? How to Fix it?

AcroTray is an assisting application for Adobe that converts data to the Portable Document Format(PDF). Users can print PDF files straight from MS Office, and it also makes necessary updates to Acrobat applications. It also keeps track of Acrobat updates. AcroTray is a legitimate file and process with the extension EXE, but some malware programmers misuse it to spread viruses disguised as EXE files.

Microsoft released the first version of acrotray.exe in 2015 with Windows 10. It is the latest release of its kind from Adobe and the only existing version. Therefore, if you haven’t installed the application but notice it on your Task Manager, you might have malware running on your PC.

How to Fix AcroTray?

Identifying the cause of this problem will make it easy to resolve any errors associated with it. Most errors related to it will occur during startup. Sometimes it may happen when using the app Adobe Acrobat. The error may occur due to;

Wrong programming of Adobe Systems Inc.
Software conflicts with third-party apps
Corrupted or malware-infected files
Outdated hardware.
Accidental removal of the app

PDF file format conversion is the primary function of AcroTray, and users who deal with bulk files need it on Windows. However, if it turns out to be problematic, here are ways to resolve the issue.

1. Backup Your System

Before undertaking any procedures to clear the error, you need to backup your System to avoid loss of data in these simple steps:

Click on the Windows Start tab.
On the command prompt, type “System Restore,” then hit “ENTER“.
Locate System Restore on the menu that displays and click on it.
If a password is required, provide it to continue.
The System Restore Wizard has instructions that you should follow to the right restore point.
Restore your PC to the backup image before the error.

2. Uninstall and then Reinstall Adobe Acrobat

Improper installation of an application can lead to errors. It is for this reason that you should uninstall and then reinstall it after a while in these steps.

Press the Windows icon on your PC or the Windows Startup button.
On the command box, type “Uninstall“, then hit “ENTER“.
Locate “Add or Remove Programs” from the new menu
Navigate to Adobe Acrobat DC (not specified) then select “Uninstall.”
Prompts to “Uninstall” will display what you should follow.
Once the process is done, restart your PC, then reinstall the Adobe Acrobat DC software.

3. Update Windows

Outdated drivers are a cause for several issues, and it could be what’s happening here. The steps below will guide you on updating old drivers on your Windows Operating System.

Launch Windows; Press the Start tab.
Type Update then hit ENTER.
Locate Check for Updates in the windows update window depending on your version.
If there are any available updates, you should see Install Updates, which you should select. Without it, it will display up to date.
On completion, Shut down, then Restart your PC.
Your issue should now be resolved, and if not, the next method should suffice.

4. Replace AcroTray.EXE

Coming this far is proof that the above options did not rid you of the problem with AcroTray. Therefore, you need to take a more aggressive move to replace your existing version. A genuine application will get rid of any malware, and here is how to download and properly install the file.

First, confirm your Windows version under the list Download acrotray.exe Files.
Select the right version, then click the Download Now tab.
Copy and transfer the new file(Windows 10: C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Acrobat DC\Acrobat\) to the right Adobe Acrobat DC folder location.
Restart your PC, and the issue should be resolved. However, if the error persists, you are left with no option but to install Windows 10 afresh.

Pro-Tip: A fresh installation of Windows is time-consuming and also advanced to resolve any issues with acrotray.exe. Back up your files before you commence the process. And, if you are not backing your data, you risk losing all your files. So do it immediately.

5. How to Disable AcroTray

Users who don’t deal with bulky data can Disable AcroTray until that time of need. However, bear in mind that this move can result in issues during file conversions. It has also been reported to slow down system operations as it consumes a lot of RAM. For these reasons, disabling the background software is the right thing to do.

Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the pop-up menu.
Tap Processes
Locate the AcroTray process under Background processes.
A right-click on the AcroTray process will display its menu.
Click on the End task tab.
Although you have manually disabled the software, it will still turn on when you start your machine. However, if you access the Task Manager from the Startup button, the change will suffice.

If you get an error message; AcroTray error or Acrotray.exe cannot start correctly, disabling it will remove the error message because the app won’t start.

Conclusion

Acrotray is a legit software from Adobe, and it assists users in file conversions to PDF. Some users have reported malware disguised as this software. However, the information above is handy to help you distinguish the two. Also, you can download the PC Restore repair tool to fix any issues on your PC generally.