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Open documents in separate windows.

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My Acrobat Pro must've just updated, and I am no longer able to choose to open documents in seperate windows. This option appears to have disappeared from the preferences. Does anyone know how this can be switched back on? I cannot stand having to view docs in tabs within the same window. the version is 2023.001.20143 for MAC.

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Tariq DarCorrect answer

Legend

With Cascade, you'll need to select it each time as opposed to the documents opening in separate windows as before? Thanks.

Hi all,

This is to update you that the feature is available in Acrobat now. If it is disabled, please check this preference.

The preferences settings control how the application behaves whenever you use it; they are not associated with any particular PDF document.

1. To access the Preferences dialog, choose the hamburger menu(Windows) > Preferences or Acrobat / Adobe Acrobat > Preferences (macOS).
2. In the Preference's dialog box's left pane, select General, then uncheck the "Open documents as new tabs in the same window(requires relaunch)"

3. Click Ok

4. Relaunch Acrobat

To know more about opening documents: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/opening-pdfs.html

Let us know if that helps.

~Tariq

C

Cheerful_Zeste3d7

Participant

It’s August 2026 and still there is no option for separate windows.

I was keeping searching it and found this.

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Meenakshi Negi

Community Manager

Hi Cheerful_Zeste3d7,

Thank you for reaching out, and sorry for the trouble this has caused.

The option to open a PDF in a new window is available in the Acrobat New experience. Please use the steps as suggested below:

Open the PDF in Acrobat.
Now go to Menu > Window > New Window.

Let us know if that helps.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

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Peaceful_kindness02c6

Participant

Hi together,

could you please provide an option that ensures opening documents in a new window as a default? I use Acrobat 2024 and I can’t find any way to set this preference.

Thanks,

Christian

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RB3868

Participant

There IS NO OPTION for opening documents in the same window anymore as a It is the default, and Adobe does NOT provide a way to read two documents side by side in different windows as the default setting because they are idiots who have no idea how we use their products. so you open two files, hit cascade, then decide you want a thord, open that, then have to hit cascade again. That is moronic and a time suck.

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Amal Jaiswal

Community Manager

Hi @RB3868

Hope you are doing well and thanks for reaching out. I tried to replicate this at my end and the option is still there under preferences (Screenshot attached for reference)

Would you mind sharing the version of the Acrobat Application and the OS you are using? Also make sure the application is updated to the latest version 26.001.21691 Planned update, Jun 25, 2026 go to Help > Check for Updates and reboot the computer once.

~Amal

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jared_3337

Participant

I just bought a new computer and am using Adobe Acrobat 2024 and this option to default open PDFs in a new window is not on here. It is forced to open in the same window and tabs. It is a pain to separate. Is this option somewhere else in 2024 version?

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Ruth35283386lq1d

Participating Frequently

Hi,

Here's a solution posted earlier.

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R

Ruth35283386lq1d

Participating Frequently

To know more about opening documents: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/opening-pdfs.html

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William Ellet292449406562

Participant

Same issue.

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William Ellet292449406562

Participant

Doing a cascade opens in seprate windows.....

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erin_5635

Participant

Can you elaborate? Where do I find the Cascade?

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andret56848566

Participant

Urgent attention to this please

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Meenakshi_Negi

Legend

Hi All,

Thank you for reaching out, and sorry about the trouble.

The feature is still not available. However, this has been reported to the team, and they are looking into this. It will be provided in a future update. We will update you once the option is available again.

In the meantime, you can drag the tabs opened in Acrobat out of the application to open them in a new window.

Thanks,

Meenakshi

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deborahwork

Known Participant

Thank you, Meenakshi, for the follow-up. It is a mystery to me that a feature that was long available in earlier versions would 1) not be included in a new version and, 2) would apparently be so problematic to restore.

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kascb

Participant

It's not perfect, but I found even if they open in one window, you can drag the tab out of that window and it will then be in it's own.

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Steve Sulkin

Participant

PLEASE PLEASE ALLOW US TO OPEN DOCUMENTS IN SEPARATE WINDOWS. I'm a pro and have many screens and I want to look at multiple PDFs on different screens. I can NOT do that if they are all in one tab. PLEASE this is really ridiculous to not allow this. Thank you

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pamelar7132095

Participant

It's amazing that this has been almost a year with absolutely nothing from Adobe on this!!! They sure do care about their customers!

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Joao M S Biscardi

Participant

I am also supporting the request from @d3s1gnjet

"Adobe Acrobat 2023 ("New Acrobat") needs the option to open each document in a new window.

This should be possible without disabling New Acrobat."

How come it's been SO LONG without Adobe fixing it? Seriously thinking about SUSPENDING MY MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION PAYMENT while this VERY IMPORTANT and LARGELY REPORTED issue doesn't get fixed!

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