How To Set Adobe As Default Pdf Reader Windows 11
Brian Scarano
Truth be told, I'm a lifelong Mac person. I recently installed Parallels 11 along with Windows 10. I downloaded Acrobat Reader hoping to set it up as my default PDF program. Every time I open Reader, I am asked if I want to "make it default". I answer OK and then am asked by Windows if it's OK to modify the system, which I agree. I always get the return "Adobe Reader was unable to become your default PDF application".
Your suggestion was the only one that worked. I was skeptical at first. And it took several documents and a couple of tries. I continued to get Unable to Be Default Program. At some point, probably after a log out. It worked. Thanks.
It's Wash-Rinse-Repeat for me. I tried your suggestion, which should have worked. I still keep getting the same error message. "Adobe Reader was unable to become your default PDF program" I tried about 5 times and gave up. I logged out tried again, same error. Reader opens and works normally, just not as my default.
I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 at the beginning of November, 2015. Since then I have tried about 100 times to make Acrobat Reader XI my default PDF handler but it never sticks. As soon as I double click on a PDF file to open it up comes Microsoft Edge. I have tried setting it from the Control Panel, using all three options under the Default Apps menu (i.e. "Choose default as by file type", "Choose default apps by protocol" and "Set defaults by app"). The "Set defaults by app" option listed the file extensions vertically in two sets, the top set included .pdf and was set to Microsoft Edge, I was not allowed to change it or any of the other file types listed in the top set, just those listed in the bottom set. The other two options allowed me to change them from MS Edge to Adobe Reader and I could exit and come back in and see that the settings had stuck, but when I then double clicked on a PDF file Edge would launch and if I went back into the Control Panel's settings all the settings I had changed would be reset to Edge. Today I uninstalled Reader with the aim of reinstalling it, but to my dismay keep getting redirected to Reader DC. So I downloaded and installed that. Same problem, I can't make DC the default PDF handler. When I launch DC it asks me if I want to make it the default handler so I say yes and it seems to proceed without errors but again, when I click on a PDF MS Edge opens. When I go to the Control Panel I can now set DC as the default in all 3 options listed above but again, clicking on a PDF file opens Edge and resets my default app settings from DC back to Edge. In the interim (since November) the option "Set defaults by app" has changed a little so it now goes to a different panel titled "Set Default Programs" where I can choose "Set this program as default" or "Choose defaults for this program", when I click on "Choose defaults for this program" it takes me to a pane with two lists arranged vertically, like before, but this time the top lists extensions while the bottom protocols (only ACROBAT is listed), in the top list all but PDF is checked. I can check PDF and it takes it and I can exit and come back in and see that it remains checked, but when I double click on a PDF file Edge opens and when I go back into this setting the only extension unchecked is PDF, which now has Edge listed for it.
Finally! I had followed the onscreen directions a couple of times to change it: I clicked Yes (to set it as the default), the properties box popped up and I changed it there and saved it. But it never worked because every time Reader opened, it would ask me again.
It wasn't until I went into Adobe DC and clicked on Set this Program as Default that it worked. When I did that and clicked OK, it brought up the same properties box to change the default, but this time it actually saved the change. Thanks!!
I have the same issue with acrobat DC from the CC suite and with photoshop also. No matter how many times I set acrobat or photoshop as a default apps for pdfs, jpgs, etc. windows switches it out, it even alerts me saying there was an issue with the settings returning to the default. The fix above does not help and this is just crazy-making. I am sure the issue is with windows but they have no real solution. If anyone has a real fix please share.
I can't really figure out what you are saying. A PDF file is just a PDF file, whatever it opens in. Do you mean that you want to go back to the app (Preview) that a Mac would use, out of the box, for a PDF?
How aqbout how to remove adobe as the always default for pdf view? I don't mind the view but it has taken over my printer and i do not want to print from Adobe's options... i need to access the Preview options and not have to do this for every document I want to open and view in Preview. IS that possible? thanks
Hi Meenakshi
I am trying to save some PDF files in Word to send to a client who only uses Word but my Adobe Acrobat is taking over the files and corrupting them for my client.
I have tried your "Open with" solution and it worked for one file however not the rest. I can't workout why that was.
Is there a way to un-select Acrobat from being the default for my PDF's and back to word other than the "Open with" option??
I'd rather not un-install due to time constraints but if I have to I have no choice.
Kind Regards
Bec
"open with" is not an option on my screen... when i want to view and print a document from an email... adobe takes over... I tried to do everything to just "open with" or view with Preview... i want to choose for myself when i want or need to use Adobe ... suggestions other than uninstall?
Why in the world would have both Acrobat Standard and Acrobat Reader installed on a single system? Acrobat is a superset of Reader. There is no added value to Reader for you. Despite what anyone from Adobe might tell you, having both Acrobat and Reader or multiple different versions of Acrobat installed simultaneously on the same system is very problematic, at best!
Hi. I would also like to use Acrobate reader, rather than acrobate Pro. Acrobat Pro has more feastures and option, and hence is less easy to use and less userfriendly. Because of this I want to use Acrobat Reader as default to open PDF file. I understand that one option might be do delete the Acrobat Pro app in order to be able to use Acrobat Reader. If this is the only option then I will do this. If however it is possible to use Acrobat reader as default to open PDF files while at the same time have access to Acrobat Pro, then I could continue to have Acrobat Pro installed my My Mac (and hence also continue to pay for the Acrobat Pro. If I have to delete Acrobat Pro in order to use Acrobat readere, then I dont have much reason to continue to pay for Acrobat Pro).
The problem is slightly different: most times I want to use my old Acrobat Pro 9 instead of Reader DC. In my up-to-date Windows 10 Home, even after requesting the Always Use This App To Open .pdf Files I still get the DC version for all files, including the one I just changed. Is there any way to change that?
This fix did not work for me. I keep getting an error that the file I am trying to change to open with Preview was created by someont unknown. I mistakenly set the default to Adobe this morning because a document was not opening and it said to change to Adobe format. Unfortunately, now I can't save files that I need for work that way I need to. Adobe has changed everything. I need to change it back ASAP. Thanks
Fix doesn't work for me either. I've unisntalled Pro just so I can use Reader as default and as soon as I reinstall Pro it goes back to default. OBVIOUSLY I have Reader selected as default and it even shows that way. I have chosen and rechosen Reader as default a bunch of times and still doesn't work. It blows me away that Adobe employees are unable to assist with this. IT'S A BUG IN YOUR PROGRAMS!
The newest versions of both. This is a brand new computer. I did not have this problem on my previous computer. The only way to fix it is to unistall Acrobat Pro and then when I need to use it again, must reinstall it. Horrible solution.
I have reset my default pdf reader to something else 5 times already (yes, clicked the "always" box as well) and Adobe seems to override it. I cannot find settings in Adobe to stop it asserting itself as the default pdf reader. I suppose nothing for it but to deinstall this aggressive program.
Thank-you so much Amal - I was having this issue (on a Mac) and your Mac OS link above finally provided the instructions that did the trick after repeated attempts to reverse the Adobe default by other means (including removing and reinstalling the Reader app).
With all the replies to this since 2017 I would think that Adobe would look into making this a preference. I can move Adobe from my closed laptop (if I open it and move it manually) and as long as I don't restart my computer it will open on the last screen I used it. Once I reboot I have to open my laptop and move Adobe. Clicking "move" from the icon on the task bar doesn't move adobe to the other screen. This is a HUGE pain in the butt. Please fix this.
I have Windows 10 and it has been working great until last week. Now I cannot get any PDF documents to open in any window other than the one it is opening now which is the incorrect window I want to open PDFs in. I 2 external screens and one monitor screen in the middle. (external (1), laptop screen (2) and External (3)). PDFs only open in external 3. My main default window is External 1. I have performed the steps ope, move, max, close window multiple times. Tried rebooting after as well. Cant get PDFs open on screen 1 or 2.....ONLY 3. Help Please! Thanks
My issue : I receive batches of PDFs that mostly open where they should, but some documents apparently force the window to move to the other monitor. I need a way to have them open without moving, without having the window maximized. But I have a feeling this is a setting of those specific documents, is there a way to bypass this? Javascript has already been disabled to avoid other annoying things like forcing open the print dialog... so it's not a javascript gimmick.
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