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KenWi11iams
KenWi11iams
Participant
January 4, 2016
Question

Keep Adobe Acrobat Reader as default PDF program

  • January 4, 2016
  • 5 replies
  • 75608 views

Many times I have gone to settings / system / default apps / choose default apps by file type, under Windows 10 to set Adobe Acrobat Reader as the default for PDF files.  This will work for a day or so and then gets automatically changed back to Microsoft Edge.  How can I keep it to Acrobat Reader?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    5 replies

    M
    marjans66306784
    Participant
    September 13, 2016

    You can do a batch file and run it every time you need. .-)

    There is a code to make: (first you have to put AcroRd32.exe between default programs)

    •     IE Default browser for WIN10
    •     Adobe Reader default PDF viewer in win10

    ===AcroRd32_exe_Microsoft_DefaultPrograms.bat===

    @echo off

    cls

    echo   --==**##  IE prizet brskalnik in Adobe Reader privzet za PDF datoteke ##**==--

    REM Turn off Help Improve the Adobe Reader Experience nag screen *before* it first appears

    Reg add "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Adobe\CommonFiles\Usage\Reader 10" /v OptIn /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

    REM AcroRd32 appear between default programs ##**==--

    REM Copy Adobe icon...

    if exist "c:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\" copy /Y "bin\Adobe_PDF_file_icon_24x24.png" "c:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\" 1> NUL

    REM      http://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/23509-how-add-my-own-program-list-default-programs.html

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\AcroRd32.exe\shell\open\command /ve /d "\"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe\" \"%%1\"" /f >nul

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AcroRd32.bmp\DefaultIcon /ve /d "\"c:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\Adobe_PDF_file_icon_24x24.png" /f

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\AcroRd32.pdf\shell\open\command /ve /d "\"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe\" \"%%1\"" /f >nul

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegisteredApplications /d "AcroRd32"="Software\AcroRd32\Capabilities" /f >nul

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AcroRd32\Capabilities /v "ApplicationDescription" /d "AcroRd32 je program za ogledovanje PDF datotek." /f >nul

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AcroRd32\Capabilities /v "ApplicationName" /d "AcroRd32" /f >nul

    reg add HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\AcroRd32\Capabilities\FileAssociations /v ".pdf" /d "AcroRd32.pdf" /f >nul

    REM Run GUI

    cscript //NoLogo IEdefault_PDFdefault.vbs

    timeout /t 1 /nobreak > NUL

    echo Done

    ==========

    ===IEdefault_PDFdefault.vbs===

    Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

    ' IE Default browser for WIN10

    WshShell.Run "%windir%\system32\control.exe /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageDefaultProgram\pageAdvancedSettings?pszAppName=Internet%20Explorer"

    ' Give Default Programs time to load

    WScript.Sleep 2000

    ' WshShell.AppActivate "Set Program Associations"

    WshShell.SendKeys "{TAB}"

    WshShell.SendKeys " "

    WshShell.SendKeys "{TAB}"

    WshShell.SendKeys "{TAB}"

    WScript.Sleep 500

    WshShell.SendKeys " "

    ' Adobe Reader default PDF viewer in win10 - but first you have to put AcroRd32.exe between default programs.'      You need to add some lines in registry before.... (see attached file WshShell.Run "%windir%\system32\control.exe /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageDefaultProgram\pageAdvancedSettings?pszAppName=AcroRd32"

    WScript.Sleep 500

    WshShell.SendKeys "{TAB}"

    WshShell.SendKeys " "

    WshShell.SendKeys "{TAB}"

    WshShell.SendKeys "{TAB}"

    WScript.Sleep 500

    WshShell.SendKeys " "

    Msgbox "Default browser is Internet Explorer."  & vbcrlf & "Default viewer for PDF files is AdobeReader."

    WScript.Quit

    =========

    C
    camadyg39612906
    Participant
    April 6, 2017

    Do I create 2 files to do this? A .bat and a .vbs file?

    What do you mean by "(first you have to put AcroRd32.exe between default programs)"??

    I created both files, modified the \Reader 10.0\ to \Acrobat Reader DC\ and ran the AcroRd32_exe_Microsoft_DefaultPrograms.bat file from an admin command prompt. I received the error,

    the operation completed successfully

    the operation completed successfully

    Input Error: Can not find script file "C:\windows\system32\IEdefault_PDFdefault.vbs"..

    Done

    What am I doing wrong?

    barbarap87060898
    barbarap87060898
    Participating Frequently
    May 30, 2016

    Having the same problem and it is really starting to p**** me off!!!  

    I have tried everything to make Adobe Reader the default for pdf's but it just keeps going back to Edge!

      AbhigyanModi
      Community Manager
      AbhigyanModiCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      May 31, 2016

      Hi Barbara -

      when you tried the steps at:

      Associate PDF files to always open in Acrobat or Reader on Windows 10 Threshold 2

      did you remember to turn on the checkbox that says  "Always use this app to open .pdf files" ?

      There are other (more) painful ways to change the defaults on Windows 10 TH2. If this didn't work, we'll have someone write out those instructions as well.

      -abhigyan

      R
      raja5773
      Participant
      August 26, 2016

      Hi Abhigyan,

      I have tried to capture the steps which is menioned by you in the above link.

      and i found few registries are added and modified under "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExists","HKCU\...\Shell\MIMI Association"..

      I exported the above registries and when import these registries into the new machine which is having Adobe Reader DC installed.

      But it was not effected. The PDF files are still associated with the Edge.

      Anyone help on this.

      Thanks in advance.

      W
      WxGuesser52
      Inspiring
      February 26, 2016

      Don't know why, but Windows has stopped this stupid behavior.

        W
        WxGuesser52
        Inspiring
        January 26, 2016

        Do your have similar instructions for Acrobat DC? That is my preferred reader/editor.

          S
          sourabsharma
          Participating Frequently
          January 27, 2016

          Yes WxGuesser , You can try this for Acrobat as well,but in case of Acrobat 'itookOwnershipAfterUpgrade' key will be under Acrobat Hive.

          abhissha
          Community Manager
          abhisshaCommunity Manager
          Community Manager
          January 4, 2016

          Hi Kenneth,

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

          Thanks,

          Abhishek

          KenWi11iams
          KenWi11iamsAuthor
          Participant
          January 10, 2016

          The problem I am having is not that I cannot change my default PDF viewer to Adobe Acrobat Reader, but it does not stay changed.  After changing it, the next day it has been changed back to Microsoft Edge.  I want to change my default PDF viewer to Acrobat and have it stay that way.

          Adobe should be extremely concerned about this.  It is becoming increasingly difficult to use Adobe products.

          Thank you,

          Ken Williams

            abhissha
            Community Manager
            abhisshaCommunity Manager
            Community Manager
            January 10, 2016

            Hi Kenneth,

            The hotfix was released which I provided above is for the same reason as we are aware of the problem. Please try it and I am sure this will fix the issue.

            Thanks,

            Abhishek

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