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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

700+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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?

Was this answer helpful?

30+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

161 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2020-11-12T23:13:55+00:00

    We are using Adobe Acrobat Pro XI with a copyright date of 2012.  We have tried later versions and everybody still thinks that this was the best version.  Unfortunately, subsequent versions of Acrobat have emphasized cuteness rather than functionality of their GUI.  Many people have contacted Adobe in numerous forums and their response is that this is all Microsoft's problem and they say they can do nothing about it.

    It doesn't seem like Acrobat that is incorrectly setting the association.  I can manually change the association to Acrobat, and without ever running Acrobat, can sometimes within minutes see Edge change the association back, by watching the file icons change.

    We run a LOT of different software packages in our company and this is the only program that consistently has its file association changed.  The best solution would be to delete Edge rather than buying 100 new copies of Acrobat Pro at $500/seat for the office.  Especially when that version is not a good as the one we are presently using.

    How can we delete edge from windows?  In settings, the "Programs and Features" group will let you think that you have deleted edge, but it is actually still there on your computer stealing the PDF association.

    This isn't that difficult.  Edge Chromium is including lots of new great PDF editing features so you don't need Adobe Reader for most people.

    However, you can easily find how to change settings in Windows.  Is it that hard to use the search bar?

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2020-11-02T12:40:24+00:00

    Asking the user to set it as the default does not work.  I, The User, have set Adobe as the default pdf editor.  Windows fails to honor that assignment.  It does not matter if I set an older version of Acrobat as the default program, or the latest version of Acrobat Reader as the default, program, Edge still steals the extension.  Sometimes Edge steals back the extension 5 minutes after I set it, and sometimes I get 3 or 4 days of uninterrupted use of Acrobat before Edge steals back the extension.

    To force my company to buy 100 copies of the latest Acrobat at $400/seat because Windows wants to steal extensions and redirect them to their own programs, is unacceptable.  Why should my company spend $40,000 to work around Windows bugs, when 1, I see no indication that it will work, since it does not work for the latest version of Acrobat Reader, and 2, Microsoft should be able to fix their own bugs.

    I totally agree.

    Surely, it is entirely up to me what software I use to open PDFs, not Microsoft.

    If MS says it is doing it for my safety, then just ask me of I want to change if you feel there is a security issue.

    It is this type of arrogance that drives people to your competitors and gives a bad reputation.

    Was this answer helpful?

    5 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-30T15:52:22+00:00

    Adobe Reader is already set as default for .pdf files. Your method 1 doesn't change anything nor does it solve the issue.

    Edge still opens pdf's in the browser.

    Was this answer helpful?

    4 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments