Unable to set Acrobat as default app for pdfs after installing Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update (26220.7752)

Phil D 10 Reputation points
2026-02-05T13:10:11.5266667+00:00

Good morning. I've installed this update on 4 Windows 11 pcs with the same result. MS Edge has become the default app for opening PDFs. When attempting to change it back to Acrobat, the prompt flickers and then returns with Edge as the default app for pdfs. Attempted this with the default app and the default file type options in settings. Also, using Explorer, opened the properties of a pdf document to change the default app to Acrobat with no success.

Windows Insider program | Windows Insider preview | Desktop environment and Start menu
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  1. Phil D 10 Reputation points
    2026-02-16T13:45:59.84+00:00

    The issue disappeared the following day without any action or explanation

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  2. Phil D 10 Reputation points
    2026-02-06T13:53:16.3366667+00:00

    For some unknown reason, today I was successful in assigning Acrobat as the default application to open pdfs. Nothing on my 4 systems changed since this issue was reported.

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  3. CrazyKats 19,245 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-02-05T14:00:32.0733333+00:00

    Hi Phil,

    Please also report the issue in the

    Feedback Hub. Use WIN+F to open.

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  4. AI answer

    2026-02-05T13:10:20.4566667+00:00

    It seems that you are experiencing an issue with setting Adobe Acrobat as the default application for PDFs after installing a Windows 11 Insider Preview Quality Update. This is a known issue that can occur when updates change the default application settings. Here are some steps you can try to resolve this:

    1. Check Default Apps: Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. Scroll down to the PDF file type and ensure that Acrobat is selected as the default.
    2. Use Open With: Right-click on a PDF file, select "Open with," then choose "Choose another app." Select Acrobat and check the box that says "Always use this app to open .pdf files."
    3. Reinstall Acrobat: If the above steps do not work, try uninstalling and then reinstalling Adobe Acrobat. This can sometimes reset the default app settings.
    4. Registry Edit: As a last resort, you can edit the Windows Registry to set Acrobat as the default PDF viewer. Be cautious with this step, as incorrect changes to the registry can cause system issues.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be worth checking for further updates or patches from Microsoft that address this problem, as it can be related to the Insider Preview build you are using.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.

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