PDF downloaded from Chrome automatically opening in Acrobat Reader

[michaelr73758304]

We had a user report an issue to our helpdesk yesterday, she was downloading a PDF document via Chrome, and the document was opening up in Adobe Reader automatically.

We checked the settings in Chrome and it was not set to automatically open Adobe Reader after downloading the PDF, and the Adobe Reader extension was not installed, so we weren't sure why this was happening.

On further investigation we found a setting in the Preferences - General tab called "Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser". Initially when we tried to turn this setting off it would re-enable itself when we closed and reopened Adobe Reader, however clearing the user's preferences from the registry and trying again worked for us. The setting is under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\AutoDocOpen - bIsAutoDocOpenFeatureEnabled dWord 1.

The user is on the current DC build 2003.006.20360.

Has anybody else experienced this, and is there any further documentation available about this feature?

[Hunter35039039kofm]

Uncheck the box that says  "Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser" then press "Enter" That saves the settings. If you just un check it and then close out it will default back on. 

Cheers

[Sara358609490byy]

Also, if you scroll to the bottom of the window, there will be an "OK" button.

[jaredjeya]

This is malware-like behaviour. Actually astonishing for Adobe to try and pull this off. Think I'm going to uninstall Adobe immediately and find a free open source alternative.

[X1761]

Not open source, but PDFgear is free and works great

[tiktoksaverpr0]

It appears the issue stemmed from a specific Adobe Acrobat setting in the Preferences - General tab, related to automatically opening PDFs in Chrome. Despite Chrome settings indicating otherwise, Adobe's setting overrode it. Clearing user preferences from the registry resolved the problem. Further documentation on this feature may be available from Adobe support or forums.

[Frank33016732s7p1]

This issue has started for me as well all of a sudden but neither of those options show in Chrome or Adobe. They've probably updated/changed by now but I can't see how to find how to fix it now.

[defaultmouzas9a8fq7]

Just fixed this for someone.  There is two views of Adobe, "New Adobe" and "Old Adobe".  You likely have "Old Adobe" going at the moment and that is why you cannot see the feature.  I think this is a bug on the "Old Adobe" settings view.

To correct this, you'll want to go to View at the top and select Enable new Acrobat (about 2/3 of the way down).  It'll prompt you to relaunch.  From here follow the instructions from above by clicking on menu on the top left and going to prefrences.  Uncheck the box and scroll down and click Ok. 

Next is just a precaution for me, but close out of Adobe and reopen it.  Then under the menu option there should be something about Disable New Acrobat, also about 2/3 of the way down.  Click that and it'll prompt to relaunch.  When it does, you'll have the old layout back and hopefully the automatic opening of your PDF files will stop.  

Once again, I think this is a bug not being able to see the function under the Old Adobe layout.  It exists, but end users can't manage it without being under the new view they made.

[Frank33016732s7p1]

Thank you thank you so much! That was absolutely what was happening to me. Hopefully this helps anyone else out there too!

[defaultmouzas9a8fq7]

You're welcome, and glad to hear it worked!

Have a good rest of your week!

[Rebekah368398854h4b]

This answer did fix it for me. Thanks heaps 

I am curious why this just turned on when it wasn't doing this a few days ago. Why do they do that? 

[Corey26179721ip0x]

My issue started after a Adobe auto update.  Mine has worked fine for years.  I edited the Adobe registry key and changed the value from 1 to 0

[Duane Kirby36888049wqzs]

Thanks! Great help

[Michael37013771mdc1]

Perfect!  Thank you... was driving me crazy

[christinemarie13]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

I've been trying everything and couldn't find someone who had fixed this issue. Your solution was exactly what I needed and will save me from much aggravation as I work. 

You're awesome and I'm sending you mental hugs lol.

[Don3738110518lm]

Cheers mate.

Top banana !!  🙂

[Toni37758056zxc4]

Thank you! Fixed the problem!

[Corey26179721ip0x]

Changing the Reg Key value from 1 to 0 fixed the issue for me as well.  Thanks!

[Uberpaws_69420]

Hello everyone,

I agree with the user who said that this is basically malware behavior.  Fix this, Adobe.

Here is the solution that I found.  Go into Adobe-->Menu-->Preferences-->General

About halfway down the screen, you will see a checkmarked box for "Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser."  See the attached image.

WTH, Adobe.  This should not be a default.

[Kamal374323647xb7]

Great... Its working perfectly without making any change in the registry key

[michaele82077847]

I need help!!  Somehow I am stuck from poor Adobe software implementation. 

Using Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024.002.20736 - but considering cancelling as a paid customer due to unwanted product updates, broken features, loss of previous functionalities in the new versions, Adobe is messing up a good product IMHO.

The General > Preferences does not have this option:

The REGEDIT key: is already set to 0.

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\DC\AutoDocOpen

Please advise on how to remove the auto doc open as I wish to opt-out from this feature I never asked for.

[ELIZABETH38099352g1c9]

I also am not seeing that "Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser." option.  I'm using Adobe Acrobat Pro 2024.002-20857.

How can we turn this off?

[Sara358609490byy]

[image: image.png]
Preferences (Ctrl-K) > General > Uncheck Box "Open PDF's automatically
etc." > Scroll down > Press OK

[Katya38116196120n]

this isnt an option

[LSR5EEA]

I also don't have the option to uncheck that box. Has anyone figured this out?