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August 31, 2017
Answered

PDFs keep opening in acrobat reader DC instead of as a Chrome tab

  • August 31, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 28909 views

Yesterday I was playing around with adobe, right clicked a downloaded file, and checked a box that said something like "open all pdfs in acrobat reader". I soon realized this made all files open outside of chrome in adobe itself rather than the chrome extension. How do I reverse this? Its extremely inconvenient at the moment.

thanks

    Correct answer S_S

    Just as I thought it opened in adobe.  THe adobe "Save on this computer" is grayed out.  When I tell chrome to handle pdf as a download instead of opening in chrome, it does the same as before.  I don't want to open .pdf somewhere "instead of Chrome".  I want it to download for saving on disk, or open in Chrome.  The only thing I don't want is open in adobe.  Because it doesn't work, I need to save a .pdf..  Why don't you guys answer the question instead of providing solutions to a different question.


    Hi @kent_1933,

     

    Hope you are doing well. Sorry for the trouble.

     

    The below settings (as also shared above) should be optimal for web browsers to work as per instructions. 

     

     

    However, if this is not how it works, have you checked if you can open the file in Acrobat> File menu> Save As.

    Doing so should launch the MacOS finder window for you to select the location and save the file on your computer.

     

    Let us know if this is not what you see, and we can troubleshoot further.


    Regards,
    Souvik.

    2 replies

    New Participant
    May 16, 2024

    I had the same issue and it was resolved by Adobe Support team. If you are using a MAC maybe this would help:

    "Looks like Acrobat has been set as the default application to launch PDF files on your Mac. Would you mind changing it and checking if it works? You can check the steps here: https://adobe.ly/4dLu78k."

     

    Abambo
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    May 16, 2024

    This is indeed an OS or browser issue. Acrobat is performing as instructed.

    ABAMBO | Hard- and Software Engineer | Photographer
    New Participant
    April 3, 2025

    No there is a problem in adobe also. Bad Marketing. Well the Adobe trial version has deleted the download function.  So when I download a pdf or click on a link it opens in adobe but I can't put it on the hard drive.  Foul.  I have set the app on chrome from open in chrome to just download.  It will probably open in adobe again.

    ~graffiti
    Legend
    August 31, 2017

    This isn't a Reader or an Adobe issue at all but:

    In Chrome, Type in "about:plugins" in the address bar (no quotes).

    Find the Chrome PDF Viewer and click enable.

    Keep in mind that Chrome uses it's own viewer which for the most part s ok but you may experience issues with it when viewing certain fillable forms.

    August 31, 2017

    Thanks, but about:plugins was removed from the newest chrome build. I went to advanced settings, content settings, pdf, but could not find anything about chrome pdf viewer. Any other ideas?

    ~graffiti
    Legend
    August 31, 2017

    Sorry. Hadn't been in there in a while. So now it's Settings>Advanced>Privacy and security>Content settings>PDF Documents. Turn off "Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome".