Fix 'Please wait while the document is being preared for' message in Adobe Reader
Any business user is familiar with the odd-ball errors that Adobe Reader can throw you while working. In this quick knowledgebase article, I’ll outline a quick fix I’ve found that works for me. As always, YMMV (your mileage may vary).
Problem
When PDFs are opened in Adobe Acrobat, a popup window with the message “Please wait while the document is being prepared for” appears, and takes quite a while to process before the document will display. Sometimes, the document will never actually load.
Environment
Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 devices (OS architecture agnostic) where Adobe Acrobat Reader DC MUI version 20.012.20043 or newer installed.
Cause
This message occurs when Adobe Acrobat is preparing an opened document to be interacted with via accessibility features. At the time of writing this article, it is believed that a recent update to the software has provided this feature/function as enabled by default.
Solution
Screenshot of Adobe Reader DC Preferences Window > Accessibility
Launch Adobe Acrobat and in the menu bar, open the Edit menu, then select Preferences.
In the navigation pane at the left of the resulting Preferences window, select the Accessibility option.
In the Other Accessibility Options section, uncheck the selection box for the feature entitled “Enable assistive technology support,” then click OK.
The issue should now be resolved for the next time a document is opened in Adobe Acrobat.