Can't make Reader my default in WIndows 10

Report · Dec 14, 2015

Truth be told, I'm a lifelong Mac person. I recently installed Parallels 11 along with Windows 10. I downloaded Acrobat Reader hoping to set it up as my default PDF program. Every time I open Reader, I am asked if I want to "make it default". I answer OK and then am asked by Windows if it's OK to modify the system, which I agree. I always get the return "Adobe Reader was unable to become your default PDF application".

How do I make Reader my default PDF application?

Report · Dec 14, 2015

Hi psurazz,

Open Acrobat Reader DC, navigate to Edit menu -> Preferences -> General -> click on "Set as my Default PDF Handler".

Let me know if it fixes your issue.

Regards,
Aadesh

Report · Dec 15, 2015

I am getting the same problems, No matter how many times you tell it, it keeps bringing up the message that it cant be made the default ..

I have tried the removal software suggested and reinstalled, still no joy ..

Any other suggestions???

Report · Dec 15, 2015

Did you try my suggestion? It is simple.

Report · Dec 17, 2015

Your suggestion was the only one that worked. I was skeptical at first. And it took several documents and a couple of tries. I continued to get Unable to Be Default Program. At some point, probably after a log out. It worked. Thanks.

Report · Dec 15, 2015

It's Wash-Rinse-Repeat for me. I tried your suggestion, which should have worked. I still keep getting the same error message. "Adobe Reader was unable to become your default PDF program" I tried about 5 times and gave up. I logged out tried again, same error. Reader opens and works normally, just not as my default.

Report · Dec 16, 2015

Hi Bill,

Please try this:

Change default PDF Viewer in Windows 10
1. Click on Start Menu > Settings > System > Default Apps
2. Scroll down and select 'Choose default Apps by file type'
3. Scroll down and look for .pdf on the left side, click on ‘Microsoft Edge‘ to select, once ‘Choose an app’ popup opens, select the application you want to set as default to open PDF file type, done.

Thanks,

Abhishek

Report · Dec 30, 2015

I upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 at the beginning of November, 2015. Since then I have tried about 100 times to make Acrobat Reader XI my default PDF handler but it never sticks. As soon as I double click on a PDF file to open it up comes Microsoft Edge. I have tried setting it from the Control Panel, using all three options under the Default Apps menu (i.e. "Choose default as by file type", "Choose default apps by protocol" and "Set defaults by app"). The "Set defaults by app" option listed the file extensions vertically in two sets, the top set included .pdf and was set to Microsoft Edge, I was not allowed to change it or any of the other file types listed in the top set, just those listed in the bottom set. The other two options allowed me to change them from MS Edge to Adobe Reader and I could exit and come back in and see that the settings had stuck, but when I then double clicked on a PDF file Edge would launch and if I went back into the Control Panel's settings all the settings I had changed would be reset to Edge. Today I uninstalled Reader with the aim of reinstalling it, but to my dismay keep getting redirected to Reader DC. So I downloaded and installed that. Same problem, I can't make DC the default PDF handler. When I launch DC it asks me if I want to make it the default handler so I say yes and it seems to proceed without errors but again, when I click on a PDF MS Edge opens. When I go to the Control Panel I can now set DC as the default in all 3 options listed above but again, clicking on a PDF file opens Edge and resets my default app settings from DC back to Edge. In the interim (since November) the option "Set defaults by app" has changed a little so it now goes to a different panel titled "Set Default Programs" where I can choose "Set this program as default" or "Choose defaults for this program", when I click on "Choose defaults for this program" it takes me to a pane with two lists arranged vertically, like before, but this time the top lists extensions while the bottom protocols (only ACROBAT is listed), in the top list all but PDF is checked. I can check PDF and it takes it and I can exit and come back in and see that it remains checked, but when I double click on a PDF file Edge opens and when I go back into this setting the only extension unchecked is PDF, which now has Edge listed for it.

Please advise.

Report · Dec 30, 2015

Forgot to say I also used the Reader DC's Edit | Preferences | General | "Select as Default PDF Handler" to no effect.

Report · Jan 04, 2016

Hi Gregory,

Please try this hotfix: Reader/Acrobat is not the default PDF owner | Windows 10 Threshold 2

Thanks,

Abhishek

Report · Sep 09, 2016

didn't work

Report · Apr 12, 2018

Finally! I had followed the onscreen directions a couple of times to change it: I clicked Yes (to set it as the default), the properties box popped up and I changed it there and saved it. But it never worked because every time Reader opened, it would ask me again.

It wasn't until I went into Adobe DC and clicked on Set this Program as Default that it worked. When I did that and clicked OK, it brought up the same properties box to change the default, but this time it actually saved the change. Thanks!!

Report · Dec 14, 2015

Try this-

Right click on any local .pdf file, select "Open With" from the tracking menu and choose desired available program from the list.

Report · Dec 18, 2015

All working here as well..

Although it has reverted to MS Edge on a couple of occasions, it does reset to Adobe with a couple of clicks..

Thank you

Report · Apr 22, 2016

Hi

I have the same issue with acrobat DC from the CC suite and with photoshop also. No matter how many times I set acrobat or photoshop as a default apps for pdfs, jpgs, etc. windows switches it out, it even alerts me saying there was an issue with the settings returning to the default. The fix above does not help and this is just crazy-making. I am sure the issue is with windows but they have no real solution. If anyone has a real fix please share.

RL

Report · Aug 17, 2016

Hi Bill,

Please try this:

Change default PDF Viewer in Windows 10
1. Click on Start Menu > Settings > System > Default Apps

2. Scroll down and select "Set defaults by app"

3. Select Adobe

4. Set this program as default

Because this won't work:

1. Click on Start Menu > Settings > System > Default Apps

2. Scroll down and select 'Choose default Apps by file type'

3. Scroll down and look for .pdf on the left side, click on ‘Microsoft Edge‘ to select, once ‘Choose an app’ popup opens, select the application you want to set as default to open PDF file type, done.

Report · Aug 17, 2016

Is Adobe now compatible with the Edge Browser? Thanks

Report · Sep 11, 2016

I tried everything mentioned in this thread, to no avail. PDF files would always open with Edge. However, I was able to solve the problem on my computer as follows.

Go to Settings -> Apps & Features and find Adobe Reader XI (I assume this works for Adobe Reader DC as well).
Click on it, and press "Modify", then "Modify" again in the pop-up.
Choose "Repair installation errors in the program. This option fixes missing or corrupt files, shortcuts, and registry entries." then click Next.

After completing the repair, PDF files now open with Acrobat Reader.

Report · Feb 28, 2018

If anybody missing the old panel from Windows 10 1709, then try this:

paste it to Run:

control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageDefaultProgram

click on Adobe DC,
click on Set this program as default at the bottom.

It sets the handler from windows side, so maybe this is best way to stay set.