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?

[Corey26179721ip0x]

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

[PeregrinoHTX]

After all the other advice failed, I also opened up the registry, and mine already has a 0 there, so no clue how it is even opening the PDFs since Windows is telling it not to.   I agree with others - this is basic malware behavior, added to their recent attempt to steal everyone's data via an AI agreement, Adobe is losing their mind. 

[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?

[Shelby38170206qvjk · Accepted solution]

I finally figured out it's in my Chrome setting, not Adobe, that I had to change.

2 Correct answers

1. Open Chrome Settings.
2. Expand Advanced.
3. Select Downloads.
4. Select Clear next to "Open certain file types automatically after downloading" ...
5. Go to Privacy and security.
6. Expand Site Settings.
7. Click on PDF Documents.
8. Make sure Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome is enabled.

[Amber-marie38231918cnie]

I am having the same problem. I have followed an above suggestion to make sure that you are using the "New Acrobat" when changing the setting, and "Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser" is still not an available option for me to uncheck.

[Katya38116196120n]

Ok, It is adobe issue and not Chrome. Try this. It worked for me.

Open adobe and go to the menue button on top left corner. Preferences> Internet > unclick the "display in read mode by default" 
save changes and restart your adobe 

[defaultq5cc3z5s0ck1]

I have the same problem.

I uninstalled google chrome app from my computer and re-install it. The auto opening problem disapeard. You can try uninstall and reinstall the chrome.

[Nigel_WFP]

Reiterating this experience! Even after enabling the new Adobe view, I see the same Preferences > General options. There is no box to check/uncheck for "Open PDFs automatically..." Similarly my registry key is already set to 0 as well. I am considering deleting the "blsAutoDocOpenFeatureEnabled" REG_DWORD but am worried about the unintended consequences.

[Blake32312064c85f]

I also do not have an option to disable "Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser." Nor do I have this option in the Chrome download settings. Replying in case someone finds an answer to this issue, or Adobe decides to actually fix something for once instead of creating more problems.

[Alessio37595402fjz7]

THANK YOU!!!
I have no idea why Adobe would think they are entitled to force such an option on us without even asking, thank goodness I found this post because I was trying to fix the problem in chrome

[Lucia37825987txnc]

Thank you. 

[Arnas23116236874m]

Has anyone raised this with Adobe to see why the option has been removed from the recent update?

[ConveyBC]

Does anyone have a recent solution for this? The "Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser".  isn't available in Chrome settings anymore after the recent update and all my PDFs are opening after download which I need to turn off. Thank you!

[Nigel_WFP]

chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments

Enter that into a URL and check “open PDFs in Chrome” rather than “Download PDFs”

[ConveyBC]

Thank you, though this does not solve the issue either as the issue is that when dowloaded, the file automatically opens. I still want to be able to 'view' (open) PDFs in Chrome to preview them before downloading, but do not want PDF to open in Adobe once downloaded.

[Nigel_WFP]

Yes this is only the Chrome half of the solution. Katya's solution seems to have worked for the Adobe half, although I also uninstalled and reinstalled adobe so it's unclear what role both those actions played.

"Preferences> Internet > unclick the "display in read mode by default," save changes, and restart your adobe"

[MeenakshiNegi]

Hi Nigel_WFP,

Thank you for reaching out and reporting this.

The team is aware of the issue and currently investigating this behavior. Would you mind confirming if you experienced this behavior in Acrobat or the Acrobat Reader application? 

Please check your inbox. We have shared some information in private messages. 

Thanks,

Meenakshi

[Nigel_WFP]

This is in Acrobat Pro, not reader.

[MeenakshiNegi]

Hi Nigel_WFP,

Thank you for the confirmation.

Please check the inbox and share the required information.

Thanks,

Meenakshi