winutil/docs/dev/tweaks/z--Advanced-Tweaks---CAUTION/DebloatAdobe.md

Adobe Debloat

Last Updated: 2024-08-07

!!! info The Development Documentation is auto generated for every compilation of WinUtil, meaning a part of it will always stay up-to-date. Developers do have the ability to add custom content, which won't be updated automatically.

Description

Manages Adobe Services, Adobe Desktop Service, and Acrobat Updates

Preview Code

{
  "Content": "Adobe Debloat",
  "Description": "Manages Adobe Services, Adobe Desktop Service, and Acrobat Updates",
  "category": "z__Advanced Tweaks - CAUTION",
  "panel": "1",
  "Order": "a021_",
  "InvokeScript": [
    "
      function CCStopper {
        $path = \"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Adobe\\Adobe Desktop Common\\ADS\\Adobe Desktop Service.exe\"

        # Test if the path exists before proceeding
        if (Test-Path $path) {
            Takeown /f $path
            $acl = Get-Acl $path
            $acl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]\"Administrators\")
            $acl | Set-Acl $path

            Rename-Item -Path $path -NewName \"Adobe Desktop Service.exe.old\" -Force
        } else {
            Write-Host \"Adobe Desktop Service is not in the default location.\"
        }
      }


      function AcrobatUpdates {
        # Editing Acrobat Updates. The last folder before the key is dynamic, therefore using a script.
        # Possible Values for the edited key:
        # 0 = Do not download or install updates automatically
        # 2 = Automatically download updates but let the user choose when to install them
        # 3 = Automatically download and install updates (default value)
        # 4 = Notify the user when an update is available but don't download or install it automatically
        #   = It notifies the user using Windows Notifications. It runs on startup without having to have a Service/Acrobat/Reader running, therefore 0 is the next best thing.

        $rootPath = \"HKLM:\\SOFTWARE\\WOW6432Node\\Adobe\\Adobe ARM\\Legacy\\Acrobat\"

        # Get all subkeys under the specified root path
        $subKeys = Get-ChildItem -Path $rootPath | Where-Object { $_.PSChildName -like \"{*}\" }

        # Loop through each subkey
        foreach ($subKey in $subKeys) {
            # Get the full registry path
            $fullPath = Join-Path -Path $rootPath -ChildPath $subKey.PSChildName
            try {
                Set-ItemProperty -Path $fullPath -Name Mode -Value 0
                Write-Host \"Acrobat Updates have been disabled.\"
            } catch {
                Write-Host \"Registry Key for changing Acrobat Updates does not exist in $fullPath\"
            }
        }
      }

      CCStopper
      AcrobatUpdates
      "
  ],
  "UndoScript": [
    "
      function RestoreCCService {
        $originalPath = \"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Adobe\\Adobe Desktop Common\\ADS\\Adobe Desktop Service.exe.old\"
        $newPath = \"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Common Files\\Adobe\\Adobe Desktop Common\\ADS\\Adobe Desktop Service.exe\"

        if (Test-Path -Path $originalPath) {
            Rename-Item -Path $originalPath -NewName \"Adobe Desktop Service.exe\" -Force
            Write-Host \"Adobe Desktop Service has been restored.\"
        } else {
            Write-Host \"Backup file does not exist. No changes were made.\"
        }
      }

      function AcrobatUpdates {
        # Default Value:
        # 3 = Automatically download and install updates

        $rootPath = \"HKLM:\\SOFTWARE\\WOW6432Node\\Adobe\\Adobe ARM\\Legacy\\Acrobat\"

        # Get all subkeys under the specified root path
        $subKeys = Get-ChildItem -Path $rootPath | Where-Object { $_.PSChildName -like \"{*}\" }

        # Loop through each subkey
        foreach ($subKey in $subKeys) {
            # Get the full registry path
            $fullPath = Join-Path -Path $rootPath -ChildPath $subKey.PSChildName
            try {
                Set-ItemProperty -Path $fullPath -Name Mode -Value 3
            } catch {
                Write-Host \"Registry Key for changing Acrobat Updates does not exist in $fullPath\"
            }
        }
      }

      RestoreCCService
      AcrobatUpdates
      "
  ],
  "service": [
    {
      "Name": "AGSService",
      "StartupType": "Disabled",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "AGMService",
      "StartupType": "Disabled",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "AdobeUpdateService",
      "StartupType": "Manual",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "Adobe Acrobat Update",
      "StartupType": "Manual",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "Adobe Genuine Monitor Service",
      "StartupType": "Disabled",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "AdobeARMservice",
      "StartupType": "Manual",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "Adobe Licensing Console",
      "StartupType": "Manual",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "CCXProcess",
      "StartupType": "Manual",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "AdobeIPCBroker",
      "StartupType": "Manual",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    },
    {
      "Name": "CoreSync",
      "StartupType": "Manual",
      "OriginalType": "Automatic"
    }
  ],
  "link": "https://christitustech.github.io/winutil/dev/tweaks/z--Advanced-Tweaks---CAUTION/DebloatAdobe"
}

Invoke Script

      function CCStopper {
        $path = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Desktop Common\ADS\Adobe Desktop Service.exe"

        # Test if the path exists before proceeding
        if (Test-Path $path) {
            Takeown /f $path
            $acl = Get-Acl $path
            $acl.SetOwner([System.Security.Principal.NTAccount]"Administrators")
            $acl | Set-Acl $path

            Rename-Item -Path $path -NewName "Adobe Desktop Service.exe.old" -Force
        } else {
            Write-Host "Adobe Desktop Service is not in the default location."
        }
      }


      function AcrobatUpdates {
        # Editing Acrobat Updates. The last folder before the key is dynamic, therefore using a script.
        # Possible Values for the edited key:
        # 0 = Do not download or install updates automatically
        # 2 = Automatically download updates but let the user choose when to install them
        # 3 = Automatically download and install updates (default value)
        # 4 = Notify the user when an update is available but don't download or install it automatically
        #   = It notifies the user using Windows Notifications. It runs on startup without having to have a Service/Acrobat/Reader running, therefore 0 is the next best thing.

        $rootPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Acrobat"

        # Get all subkeys under the specified root path
        $subKeys = Get-ChildItem -Path $rootPath | Where-Object { $_.PSChildName -like "{*}" }

        # Loop through each subkey
        foreach ($subKey in $subKeys) {
            # Get the full registry path
            $fullPath = Join-Path -Path $rootPath -ChildPath $subKey.PSChildName
            try {
                Set-ItemProperty -Path $fullPath -Name Mode -Value 0
                Write-Host "Acrobat Updates have been disabled."
            } catch {
                Write-Host "Registry Key for changing Acrobat Updates does not exist in $fullPath"
            }
        }
      }

      CCStopper
      AcrobatUpdates
      

Undo Script

      function RestoreCCService {
        $originalPath = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Desktop Common\ADS\Adobe Desktop Service.exe.old"
        $newPath = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Desktop Common\ADS\Adobe Desktop Service.exe"

        if (Test-Path -Path $originalPath) {
            Rename-Item -Path $originalPath -NewName "Adobe Desktop Service.exe" -Force
            Write-Host "Adobe Desktop Service has been restored."
        } else {
            Write-Host "Backup file does not exist. No changes were made."
        }
      }

      function AcrobatUpdates {
        # Default Value:
        # 3 = Automatically download and install updates

        $rootPath = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Adobe\Adobe ARM\Legacy\Acrobat"

        # Get all subkeys under the specified root path
        $subKeys = Get-ChildItem -Path $rootPath | Where-Object { $_.PSChildName -like "{*}" }

        # Loop through each subkey
        foreach ($subKey in $subKeys) {
            # Get the full registry path
            $fullPath = Join-Path -Path $rootPath -ChildPath $subKey.PSChildName
            try {
                Set-ItemProperty -Path $fullPath -Name Mode -Value 3
            } catch {
                Write-Host "Registry Key for changing Acrobat Updates does not exist in $fullPath"
            }
        }
      }

      RestoreCCService
      AcrobatUpdates
      

Service Changes

Windows services are background processes for system functions or applications. Setting some to manual optimizes performance by starting them only when needed.

You can find information about services on Wikipedia and Microsoft's Website.

Service Name: AGSService

Startup Type: Disabled

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: AGMService

Startup Type: Disabled

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: AdobeUpdateService

Startup Type: Manual

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: Adobe Acrobat Update

Startup Type: Manual

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: Adobe Genuine Monitor Service

Startup Type: Disabled

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: AdobeARMservice

Startup Type: Manual

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: Adobe Licensing Console

Startup Type: Manual

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: CCXProcess

Startup Type: Manual

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: AdobeIPCBroker

Startup Type: Manual

Original Type: Automatic

Service Name: CoreSync

Startup Type: Manual

Original Type: Automatic

View the JSON file