How do I turn OFF the setting that automatically displays bookmarks when I open a file?

[Guest]

Every time I open a PDF file, the bookmarks panel is automatically displayed, and I have to take the extra step of closing it, because I do not use bookmarks. I see that there is an option to change how a particular PDF file opens, but most of the PDFs I work with are not saved, so I want to change the settings for Adobe so that it does NOT open every PDF with the bookmarks panel displayed. Please help!

[Gwenael37041902trfl]

You're the boss. 1h looking and reading until here. Chat GPT doesn't read your post, it's too recent XD

[MyGirlsRock]

THANK YOU!!! I was ready to delete Adobe and go another route. This appears to have made it useable again!

[MyGirlsRock]

Mine just reverted back and I had to do the registry edit again. Any ideas or help as to why that would be? Thanks again!

[Drewstre]

This works on Acrobat Pro 2023 on my Mac, not sure about Windows... With a PDF open, right-click the little bookmark icon. Look for "Unpin Bookmarks". See if that does the trick.

I personally find it helpful to "Pin" the Page Thumbnails view, as I like to see that more often than not.

[jwakerly]

I found a simple solution that works for me in Windows, and there is probably an equivalent solution in MacOS.  Simply set the default app for opening pdf documents to Google Chrome. You get a nice full window or tab with the few basic tools you need for quick viewing those 99% of documents.

A corollary to this solution is do not renew your Acrobat subscription, if any.

[David247836165iho]

That decision occurs when the PDF is created. For instance if the File is printed in Solidworks it needs changed in the Options popup. Uncheck the Bookmark box.

[Curtis246310747wfb]

WOAH this did it for me!!

For AutoCAD users looking to solve this problem:

- PRINT command (opens print dialogue)

- in the window, under "Printer/plotter", with a PDF plotter selected (the one I was using is "AutoCAD PDF (General Documentation).pc3", click on the button that says "PDF Options..."

- Under "Data" section, uncheck the box that says "Create bookmarks"

- Click OK, and save the changes to the pc3 file

Thank you @David247836165iho !

[dimitard90784143]

Yes, it is so annoying. It is a waste of time when you have to open tens and even hundreds of PDFs every day to do the extra step and close the Bookmarks simply because most people don't need it. Hopefully, it will be fixed soon. 

[John_Finlayson]

I give up, I just need a pdf reader and not this complicated piece of over engineering

[RainbowChaser]

ADOBE: Stop creating extra work for people. If I want the Bookmarks tab on I'll turn it on. Keep it off so I don't have to turn it off for the hundreds of PDFs I have to open every year. Get rid of this annoying default feature. 

[MWMc61]

well said; thank you