Install Adobe Acrobat Reader on Citrix (VDI) or Azure Virtual Desktop using PowerShell

How to silent install Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on Citrix Virtual Desktop (CVAD) or Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) using PowerShell

In this example, we are installing Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on a Citrix Windows 10 22H2 multi-session master image VM. The steps will be similar for Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) or Remote Desktop Services (RDS)

Download and install Acrobat Customization Wizard DC

What is the Acrobat Customization Wizard?

You can use the Acrobat Customization Wizard to change installation options (silent install, don't reboot etc.) and modify registry settings for Adobe Acrobat.

The customization wizard generates a transform MST file that is used to apply installation settings when running the Adobe Acrobat MSI installer.

Download Acrobat Customization Wizard

Connect to the Adobe FTP site using FileZilla
ftp.adobe.com

Acrobat Customization Wizard DC
ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/acrobat/win/AcrobatDC/misc
CustWiz2000920067_en_US_DC.exe

Install Acrobat Customization Wizard

Run AcroRdrDC2200120169_en_US.exe to install Acrobat Customization Wizard DC

Customize Acrobat Reader DC installation

Open Acrobat Customization Wizard DC

File - Open package

Browse to the extracted AcroRead.msi file and open

Personalization Options

Suppress display of End User Agreement (EULA)

Installation Options

Make reader the default PDF viewer
Run installation silently
Suppress reboot

Shortcuts

Remove desktop shortcut

Online Services and Features

Disable product updates
Disable upsell

Direct Editor

ServiceInstall
Drop the row to prevent the installation of the Adobe ARM service

Generate Transform MST file

Transform - Generate Transform

The transform MST file will be used to apply these settings when running the Acrobat MSI installer

Save the transform file AcroRead.mst into the same folder as the MSI installer file

Download Acrobat Reader DC and extract MSI file using PowerShell

This PowerShell script uses the Evergreen PowerShell module to download the latest version of Acrobat Reader and extract it using 7-Zip

# install prerequisite NuGet
Install-PackageProvider -Name NuGet -Force

# install Evergreen powershell module
Install-Module -Name Evergreen -Force

# get latest version of acrobat reader
$AcrobatReader = (Get-EvergreenApp -Name "AdobeAcrobatReaderDC" | Where-Object { $_.Language -eq "English"})

# download acrobat reader
Invoke-WebRequest $AcrobatReader.uri -OutFile C:\Install\AcrobatReader\AcroRdrDC_en_US.exe

# download 7-Zip
Invoke-WebRequest https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z2201-x64.exe -OutFile C:\Install\7-Zip\7z2201-x64.exe

# install 7-Zip
Start-Process C:\Install\7-Zip\7z2201-x64.exe -ArgumentList '/S' -Wait

# extract adobe reader using 7-Zip
cd "C:\Program Files\7-Zip"
.\7z.exe x "C:\Install\AcrobatReader\AcroRdrDC_en_US.exe" -o"C:\Install\AcrobatReader\AcroRdrDC_en_US" 

The extracted .exe contains the .msi file and the latest Acrobat Reader .msp patch file.

Install Acrobat Reader DC using PowerShell

Adobe Reader silent install command line switches

Adobe Acrobat MSI installation options

Silent install Acrobat Reader DC using PowerShell

This PowerShell script installs prerequisites, then installs Acrobat Reader DC using the .msi file and transform .mst file and finally applies the latest Acrobat update using the .msp file.

# install prerequisites 

# download Visual C++ 2013 
Invoke-WebRequest https://aka.ms/highdpimfc2013x86enu -OutFile C:\Install\AcrobatReader\vcredist_x86.exe
Invoke-WebRequest https://aka.ms/highdpimfc2013x64enu -OutFile C:\Install\AcrobatReader\vcredist_x64.exe

# install Visual C++ 2013 
Start-Process C:\Install\AcrobatReader\vcredist_x86.exe -ArgumentList '/install /quiet /norestart' -Wait
Start-Process C:\Install\AcrobatReader\vcredist_x64.exe -ArgumentList '/install /quiet /norestart' -Wait

# install adobe reader
Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList '/I C:\Install\AcrobatReader\AcroRdrDC_en_US\AcroRead.msi /qn /norestart TRANSFORMS="C:\Install\AcrobatReader\AcroRead.mst"' -Wait

# install adobe reader update
Start-Process msiexec.exe -ArgumentList '/p C:\Install\AcrobatReader\AcroRdrDC_en_US\AcroRdrDCUpd2200320282.msp /qn /norestart' -Wait