An important change is coming for everyone who works with PitStop Pro. In August 2026, Adobe will roll out an update that forces plug-ins to run in Protected Mode. PitStop Pro 26.07 — available from 7 July 2026 — fully supports this and runs safely in it. Older PitStop versions will no longer be allowed by Acrobat. In short: anyone who wants to keep working needs to upgrade in time.
What is changing?
Protected Mode is a security measure in Adobe Acrobat that runs plug-ins in a shielded environment (a sandbox). Adobe has been pushing it as the default for a while, and from the update in August 2026 it becomes mandatory: plug-ins that are not prepared for it will be blocked. Until now PitStop Pro did not support Protected Mode and users worked around it by switching the option off. From PitStop Pro 26.07, Protected Mode is fully supported.
What does this mean for you?
Once Adobe pushes the update, older PitStop versions will no longer run in Acrobat. Upgrading to 26.07 is therefore not a luxury but a necessity — especially if you are still running an older version without an active Maintenance Contract. Keep in mind that an upgrade sometimes requires planning ahead: in some cases the operating system or hardware needs to be updated too. Map out in good time which workstations need attention, so you are not caught by surprise.
PitStop Pro moves to subscription
At the same time, the way PitStop Pro is offered is changing. From 1 July 2026, PitStop Pro is available to new customers as a subscription only. Customers with an active Maintenance Contract can simply keep renewing their contract and extend existing licences. No active contract? Then there is an attractive trade-in programme to switch over smoothly, and volume discounts are available for larger teams. Feel free to ask us about the options and the current terms for your situation.
Why 'it still works' is no longer a safe bet
Many businesses have run on a perpetual licence without maintenance for years without a hitch. But the fact that it works does not mean it is supported — it is more of an exception that keeps working as long as nothing changes. And with Protected Mode, something fundamental is about to change. Waiting does not solve that; it merely postpones the problem to a moment when downtime, urgency and cost all peak at the same time.
A perpetual licence without maintenance is no longer a safe choice — it just delays the pain.
Why a subscription makes sense
For some users, moving to a subscription feels like a hurdle, but in practice it mainly brings advantages. Six concrete reasons a subscription is more than just insurance:
Managed in My Enfocus. No keys to track: assign and reassign licences, and easily sign out on one computer and sign in on another.
Resource Syncing. Share Preflight Profiles and Action Lists via the cloud, so everyone works with the same up-to-date settings — no configuration drift.
Botus AI assistant. Instant product guidance inside PitStop that gets you going faster and reduces reliance on support.
Always covered. No maintenance contract to renew — updates and entitlement are part of your plan.
Cloud features over time. New services are added year after year, so your subscription becomes more valuable on its own.
Support & Learning. Access to the Enfocus Support Portal and the Learning platform for guided, self-paced training.
Perpetual without maintenance versus subscription
Put them side by side and the difference becomes clear quickly. The risk is on the left, the certainty on the right:
| Perpetual · no maintenance | Subscription |
|---|---|
| No upgrade rights | Always up to date |
| Compatibility uncertain | Aligned with every Acrobat release |
| Reactive, emergency purchases | Planned, included upgrades |
| No support | Support & Learning included |
| No bug fixes | Bugs fixed every release |
| High breakage risk | Lower operational risk |
| Increased vulnerability | Low vulnerability risk |
Common concerns
"It still works, right?" It works because nothing has changed yet — not because it is supported. Once Adobe enforces Protected Mode, that changes. A subscription replaces luck with entitlement.
"We rarely upgrade." Acrobat updates more frequently than ever and the gap between versions keeps growing. That turns upgrades from a choice into a necessity — and waiting turns them into emergencies.
"We don't want to pay every year." Your costs are actually unpredictable right now; you just don't see it yet. A fixed subscription fee is safer than a surprise bill after a breakdown.
"We'll be paying forever." What you buy with a subscription is not ownership, but continuity: software that always works, support and updates. Think of it as insurance against sudden breakage and emergency costs.
Ready to make the switch?
Do not wait until the Adobe update catches you off guard. Make the move to PitStop Pro 26.07 now and benefit from the advantages of a subscription right away. View PitStop Pro in our shop and arrange your upgrade in good time.
