How to Install Latest Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux with Wine

Objective

The objective is to install the latest version of Adobe Reader on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux desktop using Wine.

Operating System and Software Versions

  • Operating System: – Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver
  • Software: – wine-3.0, Acrobat Reader DC 2018

Requirements

Privileged access to your Ubuntu System as root or via sudo command is required.

Conventions

  • # – requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
  • $ – requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Other Versions of this Tutorial

Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa)

Instructions

Install Prerequisites

Let’s begin by installation of wine and winetricks:

$ sudo apt install wine-stable winetricks

Use winetricks to prepare wine to receive Acrobat Reader DC installation:

$ winetricks mspatcha

Download Acrobat Reader DC

Acrobat Reader DC is a continues release so use your browser to head over to the official Adobe download site and download the latest Windows 10 version. For a reference purposes the below direct link has been used to download the current Adobe Reader DC version at the time of writing:

$ wget https://ardownload2.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/AcrobatDC/1800920044/AcroRdrDC1800920044_en_US.exe

Whether you are using your web browser or the above direct link you should end up with an executable file somewhere in your home directory. Example:

$ ls *.exe
AcroRdrDC1800920044_en_US.exe

Install Adobe Acrobat Reader DC

To start Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation execute the bellow command while changing the file version number where appropriate. Example:

$ wine AcroRdrDC1800920044_en_US.exe

start Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation



Unless you have some specific needs there is no real reason to change Destination Folder. Hit Install:

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation - destination

Wait until the setup is completed and click on Finish:

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation - Setup Completed

Start Adobe Acrobat Reader by searching your start menu or by clicking on the Acrobat Reader DC.desktop and confirm the Untrusted application launcher window by clicking on Trust and Launch icon:

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation - Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe Reader DC runs in protected mode by default to provide an added layer of security. This is supposed to be an extra security feature to disable malicious PDF documents run executable files etc.

Well, we run it on Windows so we should be relatively save. But I rather do not comment this, running Windows native application always comes with risks. Select Always open with Protected Mode Disabled:

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation - Always open with Protected Mode Disabled

Accept License and you are done:

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC installation - Ready to use