How to Install Adobe Reader Without Installing Adobe DLM (Download Manager) Browser Plugin

As a quick follow-up to my previous article about installing Flash player without installing Adobe’s DLM browser plugin, I’ll cover how to avoid installing this unnecessary intermediary software when installing Adobe Reader.

If you didn’t read my previous article, here’s what you need to know:

Adobe DLM is a “download manager” plugin that is installed in your browser by default when trying to install some Adobe products such as Flash player and Reader. This software simply performs the download (just like your browser normally would), and has no real added benefit.
These products will run just the same whether you use Adobe DLM to download them or use the standard installer directly.
The standard installer is not the default method to install these products, so you’ll want to follow this procedure whenever installing Adobe products to avoid extra software.

Update 10/6/2010

As noted in the comments, Adobe has now changed their website so the Reader installer is even harder to find. By default, you are now required to download Adobe DLM, then cancel the download, click a secondary link, then remove Adobe DLM.

Not fun, right? Don’t worry, here’s the solution:

Step 1: Open Adobe’s FTP server in your browser and select your operating system (“win”, “mac”, or “unix”).

Step 2: Select the most recent core version of the software. In my case, this was “9.x”.

Step 3: Select the newest version listed again. In my case, this was “9.4.0″.

Step 4: Select your language from the list. United States English is “en_US”.

Step 5: Download the .exe installer and install Adobe Reader as usual. That’s it, you’re done!

Removing Adobe DLM

If you’re using Firefox and have installed Adobe products in the past, you can check to see if Adobe DLM was installed by going to Tools –> Add-ons and locating it in the list. From this menu it can be disabled and/or removed.

About the Author: Evan Wondrasek

Evan Wondrasek is the founder and editor-in-chief of Techerator and is a software engineer in Minneapolis, MN. Evan holds degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and is also the creator of MarkdownPad.

Dummy269

it is easy once you know how… Thanks for teaching me.
http://twitter.com/ersontech Andreas Erson

ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/9.x/9.3/enu/
Experiment 629

Thanks Andreas Erson!
It seems that Adobe changed the way the download works and now you need to reach the “Thank You” page before you get to see the direct link. So now you have to attempt to install it (and maybe then fail to do so).
Thanks to your link I was able to find an installation that supports my language (by going to the parent directory).
Dan

The “click here to download” link seems to have gone away – seems there is no way around the DLM at the moment.

I don’t understand why Adobe is trying so hard to piss off their customers…
Rjvandiggele

Thanks i find my dutch version.
Clstuder

Thank you so much for your help. I have been trying to install Reader for 1 1/2 hours by using internet recommendations, only to keep getting stuck at Adobe’s “3 step install page”. What a pain!!!!!! At least Adobe had the decency to give us a choice on whether or not we wanted to download “Mcafee”. I’m tired of software and hardware companies trying stuff unwanted “bloatware” down my throat.
Grossenbacher

after 2 hours browsing the internet, finally a working solution! thx
Kenneth

Thanks, you saved me from further 2 hours searching on the Internet.
Roger

Thank you, you have saved me hours of messing about to install Adobe reader on two PCs without internet access.
Imagine

Do these Reader installation files from the FTP server include AIR, which I don’t want?
http://www.techerator.com Evan Wondrasek

AIR is not included in the Adobe Reader installation.
RJA

Many thanks. Easy once you know how.
Andrearichland

Thank you very much! That was smart, easy to follow, and saved many people a lot of time We appreciate it.
http://munson.org/2010/11/23/how-to-install-adobe-reader-without-installing-adobe-dlm-download-manager-browser-plugin/ Tom Munson

[...] Here’s a nice write-up telling you how to install Adobe Reader without using that confounded download mangler. Thank you Evan Wondrasek and Techerator! [...]
http://foxmajik.livejournal.com/ FoxMajik

Thank you for your help.
Art McMurray

Thank You Evan Wondrasek…You are truly ‘Da Man’. You have rescused me from a very time consuming and tedious task involving both the Player and Reader. If I can somehow get tweetered up I’ll be watching for you.
Young Park

You guys are owesome. Thank you very much.
Bob

Nice article. Didn’t know about the FTP servers. Thanks.
Gangflower_mc

Thanks heaps, it helped so much!
Rafael

Thank you, esay and fast.
Zenith_9

Great information. Thanks.
Dsfsd

Thanks!! Excellent article!!
123

Thank you so much for helping avoid Adobe Air and DLM. I didn’t realize the answer was so simple.
http://heidiwitz.blogspot.com heidiwitz

Thanks, it worked!
Joe

Thanks for this its been a real pain trying to download adobe reader for every pc/laptop thats get a windows reinstall
Leigh

Thank you thank you thank you!
Anonymous

Thank you, thank you, thank you. BTW, you’re #1 in Google for download adobe reader without dlm

For running a pretty big company, these guys act pretty retarded. They must think we’re all still on dial-up!?!?!? (That’s the only purpose for a download manager.) Especially one that just gets in the way.

This all started when my Firefox totally choked on their gp.xpi plugin manual install crap. BAD code!

I’m guessing Adobe wants to make sure every user has to remember to uncheck the McAfee box. Save us from bean counters making strategic corporate decisions.

And stop wasting my time.
http://st4rdog.myopenid.com/ Stardog

Here’s Adobe Reader X without Adobe Download Manager – ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/10.x/10.0.0/en_US/AdbeRdr1000_en_US.exe
Karl

Using the FTP server is a breeze, and neatly avoids all bloatware. Thank you.
wakesk8

You da Man! This was driving my crazy as I have to install on multiple computers. Thanks!
Explorer

@evanw:disqus Sometimes true, sometimes it’s not.Actually, Adobe Reader 10.1.1 re-includes Adobe AIR in the installation.
Cjdrox

Wow.. This was a lifesaver.. How hard is it for a company to get that I do not want one of their software just to download yet another of their software?? I’m the one who requests the download, I will manage my own downloading, that’s my problem, thank you very much!
Thk

thank you