3 Ways to Make Adobe Acrobat Reader Your Default PDF Viewer

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Change your default PDF viewer to Adobe Acrobat Reader

Written by Nicole Levine, MFA

Last Updated: May 22, 2023 Tested

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• Windows (File Explorer)
|
• Windows (Settings App)
|
• Mac

|Show more |Show less

Are your PDFs opening in Edge, Chrome, or Preview instead of Adobe Reader? If you prefer Adobe Reader, there's an easy way to make it your default PDF viewer. This wikiHow teaches you how to set Adobe Acrobat Reader as your default PDF app in Windows and macOS.

Things You Should Know

• Windows: Right-click a PDF, select Open with > Choose another app, select Adobe Acrobat Reader, then choose "Always use this app to open .pdf files."
• Mac: Ctrl + Click a PDF, select File > Get Info, select Adobe Acrobat Reader, and then choose Change All.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Windows (File Explorer)

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1. 
   1
   Open the Windows File Explorer. An easy way to do this is to press ⊞ Win+E.
2. 
   2
   Open the folder that contains a PDF file.
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3. 
   3
   Right-click the PDF. A context menu will appear.
4. 
   4
   Click Open with. Another menu will expand.
5. 
   5
   Click Choose another app. Even if you have Acrobat Reader showing as one of the option, you should still select this option.
6. 
   6
   Select Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
7. 
   7
   Check the box next to “Always use this app to open .pdf files.”
8. 
   8
   Click OK. Adobe Acrobat Reader is now your PDF default viewer.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Windows (Settings App)

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1. 
   1
   Click the search button. It’s either a magnifying glass or a circle to the right of the Start menu.
2. 
   2
   Type default app into the search bar. A list of matches will appear.
3. 
   3
   Click Default app settings.
4. 
   4
   Scroll down and click Choose default app by file type.
5. 
   5
   Scroll down to find the “.pdf” format. The current default app appears to the right.
6. 
   6
   Click the current default app. A list of apps will appear.
7. 
   7
   Click Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. Adobe Acrobat Reader is now the default PDF viewer.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Mac

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1. 
   1
   Open Finder on your Mac

   

   . You’ll find this icon in the Dock, which is usually at the bottom of the screen.
2. 
   2
   Browse to a folder that contains a PDF.
3. 
   3
   Press Ctrl as you click the file. A menu will appear.
4. 
   4
   Click Get info.
5. 
   5
   Select Adobe Reader from the “Open With” drop-down.
6. 
   6
   Click Change all. A confirmation message will appear.
7. 
   7
   Click Continue. Adobe Reader is now your default PDF viewer.
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