Why can I not change my default .pdf app to anything other than Microsoft Edge?

Anonymous

I follow the steps (via Settings) and no change. I try to open Adobe Reader and it will not open on my PC. I see from a search that this is not a new issue and it's frustrating. This feels predatory and proprietary - forcing us to use Microsoft products. I'm thinking of stopping my personal subscription and moving to another option.

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

81 answers

Paulo GM 72,400 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2024-04-29T13:00:04+00:00

Hi Karen, I am Paulo and I'd like to help.

I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing issues with setting a different default PDF viewer. Have you checked Edge settings if it is configured to open PDF files within the browser?

Go to Edge Settings > Cookies and site permissions > PDF Documents and ensure "Always download PDF files" is enabled.

I also suggest checking Edge Settings > Downloads and ensure "Ask me what to do with each download" is enabled.

Once it is configured, right-click on a PDF file > Properties > Change... > Choose Adobe Acrobat > Set default.

If in case, Adobe still doesn't open, I recommend reinstalling the app to make sure it is working properly and updated.
Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.

0 comments No comments