How can I make jpeg the default save from raw files? Right know it keeps saving as psd.

I open a file in ACR, do my conversions, then open straight to photoshop, do more edits/crop etc. then save as.  It defaults to psd. 

I recently discovered that my ACR was set to open the image in photoshop as 16bits.  Jpgs don't do 16bits and so photoshop won't default to jpg. 

I changed my ACR to default to open my image in PS as 8 bits and now save as defaults to jpg.

It should be mentioned that ACR can directly output one or a batch of multiple raw files to various file formats, including JPEG - without having to open the images into Photoshop.

omg I don't understand why this is so complicated!  All we want to do is save a jpg we've opened as a jpg without having to deal w a drop-down menu!  Like we've all been doing for more than a decade now!

I spoke to Acrobat support the other day. After several tests of workarounds (some were mentioned in earlier answers) the final outcome was to use Photoshop Version 23.5.5 instead of the latest version 24.7.0. You'll have to use "save a copy" instead "save as". I asked Acrobat support to implement the option to save as JPG by default again; I frankly speaking do not understand at all why this option was removed. The support agent did not have an explanation either. 

@Porcelain.Street please be aware of the issues associated with JPEG: 

JPEG files have compression applied, changing resolution or cropping and re-saving enhances the compression artefacts - this means that Jpeg is only really suitable for final file delivery/transfer - once size and resolution (and any sharpening) have been completed. 

Jpeg is not OK for editing or archiving or for any file that may need to be resaved, resized or cropped down the line. 

Jpeg is the worst possible format if you want to keep high quality - you should always archive a copy of your original, with adjustment layers intact - if that’s how you work.

Jpeg compression (at any setting*) really is "lossy”, irreversible and cumulative, so should ONLY be used only for final delivery AFTER resizing & cropping to the FINAL size and crop.

Why? Any edits to size or crop, or even just re-saving a Jpeg file means further compression, potentially that’s very damaging.

The jpeg damage is not always immediately apparent, which is perhaps why it's still widely used - however, the compression will soon cause issues if you do further work and save again. That’s when you’ll see a jpeg with some real issues.

*don’t imagine that selecting maximum quality for your Jpeg is preserving the original data, it’s still compressing a lot which discards information.

I hope this helps
neil barstow, colourmanagement net - adobe forum volunteer - co-author: 'getting colour right'
google me "neil barstow colourmanagement" for lots of free articles on colour managementh

Yes, @Trevor.Dennis has the right way to do this. A save to jpeg action is by far the simplest and most effective way.

However, it's not enough to flatten. It also needs to be converted to 8 bits per channel. If you have alpha channels, they also need to go, and for this you need to call a very short and simple script from the action. I picked this up somewhere here in the forum:

activeDocument.channels.removeAll();

Then the document will fully comply with the jpeg specification, and jpeg is available under "Save As". There is no need for Save A Copy.

Assign an F key, and it's push-button save.

It also makes things very much simpler if you have a fixed folder to receive these jpegs. I just have an "outbox" on my desktop. The thinking is that I never keep these jpegs anyway, they're always headed somewhere. They can be recreated with one click, so no reason to keep.

Make an action that Flattens the image. That removes anything that would force the save to PSD.  I use F4 to trigger a similar Action and it is a huge time saver for bulk processing.

You can do all this within Adobe Camera Raw (as outlined) but maybe you need to view a screen capture and give it a try:

My basic understanding is this-

Ps uses .PSD or .TIF as a default to enforce the preservation of Layers, Bit Depth, etc, in the active document.

The 'modern' method of saving JPGs is to use [Save a Copy] when you can select JPG as the filetype,

( [Save As.] is an option if Preferences are set in File Handling > legacy.)

or, instead use the 'Export' functions-  [Quick Export as JPG]. Set the 'Quick' preferences in MENU: Edit > Preferences > Export  

(A Hint: You can change the [Alt+Shift+Ctrl+W] shortcut to be a "Quick Export as JPG")

or [Export As...] with options.

(I have not fully explored the implications of 'embedded Profiles' of JPGs in the export methods.)