How do I stop Edge from opening PDF files?

Anonymous
2020-04-16T12:40:17+00:00

How do I stop Microsoft edge from opening? everytime I do the system performance check from dell it sets up Microsoft edge to open PDF files and I have my own program I use, however I cant set it as my default program.... 

* Original title: Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge | Read PDFs | Windows 10

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2020-04-17T08:41:58+00:00

Hi,

Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.

We understand your concern as you would like to change the default app for PDF file from Edge to Adobe.

In this scenario, we would suggest you to perform these methods and check.

Method 1: Change the setting for Apps

  1. Press Windows + I key to launch Windows Settings.
  2. Click on Apps and select Default apps from the left pane.
  3. Now scroll down and click on Choose default apps by file type.
  4. Scroll and look for .pdf, .pdxml, and .pdx file type, then click on the + sign to change it to Adobe Reader.

Method 2: Stop opening PDF file if you are using New Edge Chromium.

  1. Open Microsoft Edge
  2. Click on the three dots (…) from the right top corner.
  3. Select Settings from the drop down and click on Site permissions from the left pane.
  4. Scroll down and click on PDF documents, Toggle the switch to On for Always open PDF files externally.

Notes: If the Always open PDF files externally is on then if you try to open any online PDF document, it will prompt you to download and later you can use Adobe Reader to view.

Regards,

Aditya Roy

Microsoft Community – Moderator

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Anonymous
2020-08-14T08:06:25+00:00

Adobe Acrobat professional is not changing the default app.  

It was in 2018 that Windows tightened up the file association protection measures that you seem to be running into. I can't find documentation for this, but versions newer than Acrobat Pro DC 18 shouldn't be doing this. It's likely that Acrobat Pro 2017 writes to registry keys that only users are allowed to change (by using the default apps settings available).

Could it be that you're using an older version of Acrobat?

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-03-30T14:08:41+00:00

    I have done this several times but Edge keeps hijacking this setting, and this keeps wasting valuable time. There are reasons for wanting to use Adobe. It would seem to me that this MS action would violate terms of anti-trust regulations.

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  2. Anonymous
    2021-03-29T13:35:25+00:00

    Thank you for this information.

    As a follow up, how do I stop Edge from taking over as the default app for pdfs and web browsing?

    I have used the reset you describe above, but every time there is an update of some sort, Edge once again pirates the defaults and I have to manually reset them.

    It has gotten both tiresome and frustrating.

    It is also disrespectful to your customers.

    You are obliviously doing it on purpose.

    Please stop.

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  3. Anonymous
    2021-03-29T10:15:23+00:00

    Thank you very much for a helpful hint. I think it should only be added that before Windows 10 lets you change the setting for e.g. Foxit Phantom, it forces you to click on trying out the MS Edge, eventhough you have the Edge downloaded and running already. M.A.

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