Lost acrobat X file association

[Malik5E2E]

I have been using Acobat X Pro for many years. Recently I tried to install Acrobat Reader DC and it removed Acrobat X Pro from pdf file association without any notification. I uninstalled Acrobat Reader DC but still cannot restore my pdf file association to Acrobat X Pro.

I have committed to never install Acorbat Reader again on this laptop but how do I restore pdf file association to Acrobat X Pro?

[try67]

Try this: Open Acrobat, go to Edit - Preferences - General, click Select Default PDF Handler and then follow the instructions from there.

[Malik5E2E]

I tried that but it asks for Acrobat medi which I don't have anymore and If I try to register it with Adobe, it says it is already used.

[Malik5E2E]

I wish I had knowne that following this advice requires access to installation media. Now I can't even successfully launch Acrobat since there's no known option to back out of this step of Select Default PDF Handler.

[jane-e]

@Malik5E2E 

Another way is to follow the steps in Adobe's Help file. It includes a video.

https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/not-default-pdf-owner-windows10.html

Jane

[Malik5E2E]

Thank you but it doesn't help. I have also tried rest of Windows defaults but that changes it to Edge.

If I manually try to change as described in the link, it still does not change file icon (second image) and only offers a pop-up where I can choose Acrobat.

[jane-e]

Hi @Malik5E2E 

When you launch Acrobat Pro first, can you choose File menu > Open from the Acrobat menu bar and open the PDFs that way? Let's make sure that works first.

Jane

[Malik5E2E]

I'm unable to start Acrobat from Windows Start menu because I previously tried Edit>Preferences>General>Select Default PDF handler (image attached) which failed because it could not find the AcroPro.msi file (image attached). It is stuck in this update cycle that I don't know how to get it out of.

I am able to start Acrobat X Pro and open .pdf files by choosing "Open With" and when there, I am able to open other .pdf files using the method described in your message. So Acrobat X Pro works normally if opened in this manner.

[Malik5E2E]

The only way for me to launch Adobe Acrobat is by opening a pdf file through contect menu. Directly launching it puts it in the Select Default PDF Handler configuration mode where it searches for the source media. I was able to restore the icon using FileTypeMan utility from Nirsoft.

How do I get Acrobat out of the Select Default PDF Handler configuration mode and become the default handler in the absence of required media?

[jane-e]

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@Malik5E2E wrote:

How do I get Acrobat out of the Select Default PDF Handler configuration mode and become the default handler in the absence of required media?

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The PDF File Handler appears to be Windows only, and I am on Mac. See if this Adobe Help page helps:

https://helpx.adobe.com/mt/acrobat/kb/pdf-ownership-reader-x-installed.html

If @try67 who gave you this advice doesn't come back to this thread, start a new thread and ask this new question. I've just tagged him, so he may see the tag.

Jane

Forum volunteer

[try67]

Sorry, I have no answer to this. Acrobat X is old, not supported by Adobe and not compatible with current operating systems, which means it can behave in strange ways, just like this.

[try67]

I saw in another thread you were able to open it manually. Try running a Repair Installation from the Help menu, then.