ADOBE SOFTWARE COMPATIBILITY

Grants.gov recommends using Adobe Acrobat Reader for Windows or MAC OS. Learn more about Adobe software compatibility with Grants.gov and ensure that your version of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be used to download, complete, and submit grant applications.

Verify the Compatibility of Your Adobe Acrobat Reader Software

To verify if you have a compatible version of Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, click on the following test Workspace PDF form link:

VERIFY ADOBE VERSIONING TEST WORKSPACE PDF FORM
 

Compatible Adobe Acrobat Reader Versions:

• If you can see the test Workspace PDF form, you are able to use Workspace PDF forms to complete and submit grant applications on Grants.gov. Grants.gov is compatible with the following Adobe Acrobat Reader versions:

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Continuous) version 2015.010.20060 or later

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Classic) version 2015.006.30121 or later

  • Adobe Reader version 11.x

  • Adobe Reader version 10.x
     

Troubleshooting Tips:

• If you are unable to open the test Workspace PDF form, it may be due to the following:

  • You are not running a supported version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Check the version number of your Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

  • Your browser settings are keeping you from opening the test package. A quick solution is to save the test Workspace PDF form to your desktop (by right-clicking on the link) and open it separately.

• Alternatively, you may fill in Workspace forms using the online forms feature.

About Adobe Acrobat Reader Software

Adobe Acrobat Reader is free desktop software developed by Adobe, a private software company. Adobe continuously provides new versions of the application to include product and/or security updates, so Adobe strongly recommends using the latest versions.

How to download the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader version

1. Go to https://get.adobe.com/reader

2. Download installation file and install.

3. In the Adobe Acrobat Reader menu, click Edit, click Preferences, under Categories select General, uncheck the option Show online storage when saving files, and click the OK button.

4. Applicants should be able to successfully complete their Workspace PDF forms without issue.

How to Check for Updates to download and install the latest Adobe Acrobat Reader patch version:

1. In the Adobe Acrobat Reader menu, select Help menu, select Check for Updates, click the Download button, and then click the Install button.

2. Additionally, in the Adobe Acrobat Reader menu, click Edit, click Preferences, under Categories select General, uncheck the option Show online storage when saving files, and click the OK button.

3. Applicants should be able to successfully complete their Workspace PDF forms without issue.

How to check the version of Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1. In the Adobe Acrobat Reader menu, select Help menu, and select About Adobe Acrobat Reader.

2. The Adobe Acrobat Reader version information will be displayed in a pop-up window.

3. Click in the pop-up window to close it.

For assistance with viewing PDFs in your web browser, review the following help articles from Adobe:

• Quick Fix: Open PDF directly in Reader or Acrobat by saving file to desktop

• How to configure browser to use Adobe PDF plug-in to open online PDF files for Firefox, Chrome, and Safari

• How to make Acrobat Reader the default PDF owner on Windows

Adobe Acrobat Reader vs. Adobe Acrobat Standard/Professional

Adobe Acrobat Standard/Professional (Version 10 or later) may be used in place of Adobe Acrobat Reader when completing Workspace PDF forms on Grants.gov. However, only the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software is needed.

Multiple Users Completing a Workspace PDF Form

If more than one person is filling out a Workspace PDF form, Grants.gov recommends that the same version of Adobe Acrobat Reader software be used by each person to avoid version compatibility issues. Check the version number of the Adobe Acrobat Reader software on each user's computer to make sure the versions match. Using different versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader may cause submission and/or save errors – even if each version is individually compatible with Grants.gov.

Security Settings

Security settings on your local network or computer could impact your use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Please consider the following:

• If you receive a security message when trying to download a new version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, your computer's settings may not permit you to download and install new software. For help with such an issue, you should contact your network administrator.

• If you receive a security risk notice when trying to upload or view a PDF form, you might be prompted to "trust" the file.

To trust PDF files in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

1. Click on Edit.

2. Then click on Preferences.

3. Then click on Security (Enhanced).

4. Under Privileged Locations, click on Add Folder Path.

5. Browse to the folder containing your application files and click on OK.

6. The specified folder is now trusted by Adobe security settings.