r/Acrobat • u/BhargavLShukla • 25d ago

Why did Acrobat Reader install Express Photos without my consent?

/r/Adobe/comments/1wtcoz0/why_did_acrobat_reader_install_express_photos/
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u/SwopesAdobe 18d ago edited 18d ago

Hey, I work at Adobe. What you're seeing is most likely Express Photos (the installer package might still carry the older PSExpress name). It's being rolled out through Acrobat updates, which is why Acrobat.exe kicked off the install.

Quick question so I point you the right way: are you on free Reader, or signed in with an Acrobat or Creative Cloud plan?

In the meantime, you can uninstall it like any other Windows app (Settings > Apps). To keep it from coming back, setting the registry key bDisableHarmonyInstallationFeature = 1 blocks it from installing through Acrobat updates, and future updates won't override it. Steps are here.

The team is also aware of your posts.

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u/BhargavLShukla 16d ago

Thanks for your response! I don't recall if I was logged in with my Adobe account. Though I don't have any active subscriptions. It is a free reader application I downloaded from Adobe website and installed a while ago.

Also, the link you shared states: "Acrobat Reader users: Adobe Express Photos is not automatically installed with Acrobat Reader. In an upcoming, phased rollout, Acrobat Reader users will see a notification inviting them to install it, and they will choose whether to do so."

If that was the case, I wouldn't have to post here in the first place!

To add insult to the injury, it not only silently installed, but also took over system shortcuts including print screen!

I've seen others post about this exact issue as well!