Guide: How to Open PDF Document in Adobe Reader By Default
Do your PDF files open in Microsoft Edge on a Windows 10 PC? That’s because Microsoft Edge is the default PDF reader for Windows, especially if you’re using the recent Windows 10. Does that mean you cannot view your PDF files in another app of your choice, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader? Not at all. You can easily change the default behavior for opening PDF files in Adobe Reader instead of Chrome or Edge. While the ability to view PDF files on Windows computer without downloading a third-party app is a welcome step, the PDF readers present in browsers provide features nothing but. That means that people are looking for alternatives such as Adobe Reader. So if you want to open your PDF documents in Acrobat Reader instead of a browser, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s take a look at different methods for doing that. However, if you want to prevent PDF files from opening in your browser, make sure your PDF is downloaded to your computer first. Let’s check how to do that.
Download PDF files instead of opening them in the browser
To do that, you need to change a setting in your browser to prevent PDFs from opening in a new tab. Note You only need to change this setting in the browser from which you are downloading your PDF. Here are the steps for Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browser.
Download PDF and don’t open it in Google Chrome
Step 1: Start Chrome on your PC and click on the three dots at the top. Then select Settings. Or click on chrome: // settings. Step 2: Click on Privacy and Security in the left bar. In the right pane, click Site Settings.
Step 3: Scroll down and click on PDF Documents.
Step 4: Turn on the toggle next to ‘Download PDF files instead of opening them automatically in Chrome’.
Go back and click on a PDF file. Chrome will download it directly to your computer instead of opening it in the Chrome tab.
Download PDF and don’t open it in Microsoft Edge
Step 1: Start the Edge browser and click the three dots at the top. Choose settings. You can easily access the settings by going to edge: // settings / in your browser. Step 2: Click Site Permissions on the left. Scroll down on the right and click PDF Documents
Step 3: Turn on the toggle next to “Always open PDF files externally.”
Now when you try to open a PDF file in Edge, you will get a popup up that says ‘PDF reading is disabled’. Click on Download button to download the file to your Windows 10 PC.
Open PDF in Adobe Reader and not in browser
If the downloaded PDF file still opens in your browser instead of Acrobat Reader, check these methods to change that behavior. Before trying these methods, make sure you have downloaded Adobe Acrobat Reader on your PC. Download Adobe Acrobat Reader
Method 1: Open with changing behavior
Follow these steps to change how a PDF file opens on your computer: Step 1: Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your PDF file is located on your Windows 10 PC. Step 2: Right-click on the file and choose Open with. If Adobe Reader is listed, click on it. Otherwise, click on Choose another app and select Adobe Reader.
To open all PDF files in Adobe Reader only, click Choose another app. In the pop-up that opens, select Adobe Reader and check the box next to Always use this app to open .pdf files.
Method 2: Change the default PDF viewer in Properties
Step 1: Navigate to the PDF file in the file explorer. Right-click on it and select Properties from the menu.
Step 2: Click Change next to Opens with.
Step 3: Select Adobe Reader on the next screen. Then click Ok in the same pop-up window. You must also click Ok in the Properties window to save the changes.
Method 3: change from PC settings
Step 1: Open Settings on your Windows 10 PC from the Start menu icon or use the Windows key + I shortcut. Click on Apps.
Step 2: Click Default apps in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the right and click on Choose default apps by file type.
Step 3: Wait for a while for the different file types to load. Once loaded, scroll down and click on the app listed next to .pdf. Choose Adobe Reader from the list.
Or go to Control Panel (Icon View) and click Default Programs. Click on the link that says “Associate a file type or protocol with a program.” Wait a minute and then change the app to .pdf. Tip Find out how to fix default programs and apps that are missing in Windows 10.
Method 4: Set Adobe Reader as default
In this method, we will set Adobe Reader as the default PDF viewer using the built-in app settings. To do this, follow these steps: Step 1: Open Adobe Reader on your PC. Step 2: Click Edit followed by Preferences.
Step 3: Click General in the left pane.
Step 4: Scroll down and click Select as Default PDF Handler. Follow the instructions on the screen.
Bonus: How to Prevent PDFs from opening in Internet Explorer
Did poor old Internet Explorer surprise you when you tried to open a PDF file? Woah! The file is open in Internet Explorer. Do not you worry. Internet Explorer is not there to take over your life. You can easily open PDF files in other browsers or Adobe Reader instead of Internet Explorer. To do this, follow these steps: Step 1: Start Internet Explorer on your computer. Use the search to find it. Step 2: Click the Settings icon at the top and choose Manage add-ons.
Step 3: In the Manage Add-ons window, click Toolbars and Extensions. Then click the drop-down list under Show. Choose All add-ons.
Search for Adobe Reader in the right pane. If available, go to the next step. If it is not available, click the box again and choose Run without permission.
Step 4: Click Adobe PDF Reader. Then click on Disable in the bottom panel. Close the window.
Step 5: Open your PDF file again. It will now open in Adobe Reader and not Internet Explorer.
Try other tools
Using browsers to open PDF files is not a bad idea when you need to view the files. But if you want to perform advanced functions or edit PDF files, you need to download dedicated PDF editors. The above methods can be used to set any other PDF reader or editor as the default as well. The next up: Once your PDF files are open in Adobe Reader, you will know how to open different files in separate windows on different Adobe Readers from the following link.
How to Open PDF Document in Adobe Reader By Default: benefits
Faq
Final note
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