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Lori24955494p3jw
Participant
June 9, 2025
Answered

How Do I Get PDF files to Stop Opening When I download Them?

  • June 9, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 21929 views

How do I get the PDF file to stop automatically opening in Adobe when I download a PDF?  This is not a browser issue, as it is not opening up in my Chrome browser; it is opening up on my computer with Adobe. This just started a few days ago, and I have not changed any of my Adobe settings. Thanks!  

Correct answer shubham_4998

Hi Lori,
Hope you are doing well!

It sounds like Adobe Acrobat is currently set to automatically open PDF files right after downloading — a behaviour controlled by a setting within the Acrobat application itself.

Here's how you can disable it:

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat.
  2. Press Ctrl + K to open the Preferences window.
  3. In the left-hand menu, select the General tab.
  4. Look for the option that says either:
    • “Open PDFs automatically in Acrobat when they are downloaded in Chrome browser." or,
    • "Always open PDFs downloaded from the web."

      Note: The wording may vary slightly depending on your version of Acrobat but unchecking that setting will stop PDFs from opening automatically after download.
  5. Uncheck this option
  6. Click OK to save your changes.

Once you've done this, PDF files will download normally without automatically opening in Acrobat.

 

2 replies

S
Adobe Employee
shubham_4998Correct answer
Adobe Employee
July 3, 2025

Hi Lori,
Hope you are doing well!

It sounds like Adobe Acrobat is currently set to automatically open PDF files right after downloading — a behaviour controlled by a setting within the Acrobat application itself.

Here's how you can disable it:

  1. Open Adobe Acrobat.
  2. Press Ctrl + K to open the Preferences window.
  3. In the left-hand menu, select the General tab.
  4. Look for the option that says either:
    • “Open PDFs automatically in Acrobat when they are downloaded in Chrome browser." or,
    • "Always open PDFs downloaded from the web."

      Note: The wording may vary slightly depending on your version of Acrobat but unchecking that setting will stop PDFs from opening automatically after download.
  5. Uncheck this option
  6. Click OK to save your changes.

Once you've done this, PDF files will download normally without automatically opening in Acrobat.

 

    D
    dawnya_4216
    Participant
    October 10, 2025

    I have the same issue but couldn't find these options. Do you see what I need to change? Thanks for any help.

    J
    JEFF320029255v1g
    Participant
    October 31, 2025

    Same here - the options mentioned aren't in my General settings - mine look exactly like the screenshot posted above.

    creative explorer
    Community Expert
    creative explorerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 11, 2025

    @Lori24955494p3jw did you also briefly change the default application for PDFs. To resolve this, you need to adjust your Windows default app settings for PDF files. Simply locate the puzzle icon (extensions) in your Chrome browser:

     

    Click on 'extensions'

     

    Slide the radio button to the left. Make sure you save this.

     



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