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setting default apps in Google Chrome

New Here ,
Sep 27, 2025 Sep 27, 2025

When trying to choose a default app in Google Chrome for file type ".pdf", Acrobat is not a choice even though the desktop version has been downloaded.

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General troubleshooting
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1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION
Community Expert ,
Sep 28, 2025 Sep 28, 2025

@singerdo The problem you're encountering is common because Google Chrome manages its own behavior for opening PDFs and doesn't directly offer local desktop applications like Adobe Acrobat as a "default app" choice in the way your operating system does. Chrome has a built-in PDF viewer, and the solution is to tell Chrome to stop viewing the PDF itself and instead download the file, which will then open using your operating system's default program (which should be Adobe Acrobat). Click the three-dot Menu in the top-right corner of Chrome, then go to SettingsNavigate to Privacy and security, then click on Site SettingsScroll all the way down to the Content section and select PDF documentsYou will see a setting labeled "Default behavior." You must select the option to "Download PDFs" instead of "Open PDFs in Chrome."

creativeexplorer_0-1759052440955.png

 

By making this one small change, you are essentially telling Chrome to step aside and stop using its built-in viewer. Now, when you click on a PDF link, it will automatically download to your computer, and when you open that file, your computer's own default setting (which you can set to your Acrobat desktop app) will take over, finally letting you use the robust tools you intended!

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Community Expert ,
Sep 28, 2025 Sep 28, 2025

@singerdo The problem you're encountering is common because Google Chrome manages its own behavior for opening PDFs and doesn't directly offer local desktop applications like Adobe Acrobat as a "default app" choice in the way your operating system does. Chrome has a built-in PDF viewer, and the solution is to tell Chrome to stop viewing the PDF itself and instead download the file, which will then open using your operating system's default program (which should be Adobe Acrobat). Click the three-dot Menu in the top-right corner of Chrome, then go to SettingsNavigate to Privacy and security, then click on Site SettingsScroll all the way down to the Content section and select PDF documentsYou will see a setting labeled "Default behavior." You must select the option to "Download PDFs" instead of "Open PDFs in Chrome."

creativeexplorer_0-1759052440955.png

 

By making this one small change, you are essentially telling Chrome to step aside and stop using its built-in viewer. Now, when you click on a PDF link, it will automatically download to your computer, and when you open that file, your computer's own default setting (which you can set to your Acrobat desktop app) will take over, finally letting you use the robust tools you intended!

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New Here ,
Sep 28, 2025 Sep 28, 2025
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Thank you for your prompt reply.

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