Issue
Devices running Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader on the Classic track (for example, version 24.x) are not being updated by Automox, or updates fail when the agent attempts to apply a Continuous track patch to a Classic track install. Common symptoms:
- Adobe Acrobat or Reader is scoped in an Auto Patch policy but the update never runs on the affected devices
- Patch attempts fail with errors indicating a version mismatch or incompatible upgrade
- The installed version shows as 24.x (Classic) while the offered patch is 25.x or 26.x (Continuous)
Background
Adobe ships Acrobat and Reader in two separate tracks:
- Continuous (DC): rolling release track that receives ongoing feature and security updates. Version numbers are typically 21.x and above, with the current Continuous track sitting at 25.x/26.x.
- Classic: extended support track intended for environments that need a locked feature set with security-only updates. Current Classic track releases include the 2020 Classic line (20.x) and the 2024 Classic line (24.x).
The two tracks are not interchangeable. Adobe does not support in-place upgrades from Classic to Continuous, and attempting to apply a Continuous track installer over a Classic install will fail or leave the application in an inconsistent state.
What Automox Supports Today
| Track | Automox Catalog Support |
|---|---|
| Continuous (DC) | Supported |
| 2020 Classic | Supported |
| 2024 Classic | Not currently supported |
Because the 2024 Classic line is a separate track that requires its own catalog title, Automox does not currently offer updates for devices on 2024 Classic. Third-Party Software Support
Automox will not attempt to upgrade a Classic track install to the Continuous track. This is intentional to prevent patch failures caused by the incompatible cross-track upgrade path.
How to Identify Which Track a Device Is On
Check the installed version on the affected device using one of the following:
From the Automox console: Open the device page and review the Software inventory tab for "Adobe Acrobat" or "Adobe Acrobat Reader" entries. Note the version number.
Locally on the device (PowerShell):
Get-WmiObject Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*Acrobat*"} | Select-Object Name, Version
Map the version to a track:
- 20.x = 2020 Classic
- 24.x = 2024 Classic
- 21.x through 23.x = Continuous (DC), older releases
- 25.x and above = Continuous (DC), current
Workaround
If a device is running a Classic track version and you want Automox to keep it patched going forward, the recommended path is to move the device onto the Continuous track:
- Build or use a worklet from the catalog that uninstalls the existing Classic track version of Adobe Acrobat or Reader.
- Use a second worklet (or extend the first) that installs the latest Continuous track version.
- Once the device is on the Continuous track, it will be picked up by the standard Adobe Acrobat DC catalog entry and receive updates through your existing patch policy.
For devices that must remain on a Classic track for business reasons, patching will need to be handled outside of Automox until the applicable Classic track title is added to the catalog.
Monitoring for Future Support
You can monitor for the addition of Adobe Acrobat 2024 Classic (and other new catalog titles) on the Automox Technical Release Feed:
https://technicalreleasefeed.automox.com/
Notes
- The version boundary between Continuous and Classic has shifted over time. Any version 25 or above is Continuous; version 24.x is 2024 Classic specifically and is not covered by the DC catalog entry.