Files incorrect format
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I have recently purchased Adobe Express (I had an old Adobe Distiller program) and when I go into File Explorer I have noticed that all my files especially docx are now showing as Adobe and will not open. I comes up with a message saying it is not supported and to go to the original source document and print and save as a pdf but this is the original source doucment?
Am I missing a setting for is there a preference I must change.
How can I fix this as it is not alowing me to open anything.
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Hello @SR1955 are you sure it's Adobe Express you are using? That is browser-based and downloaded files are jpg, png, pdf or mp4. I had to look up Adobe Distiller as I'd never heard of it and it seems that is for pdf files? So do you need Adobe Acrobat rather than Adobe Express? Yes, Adobe Express can open and edit pdf files, and you would go to https://new.express.adobe.com/ then click start from your content and uploade your pdf to edit.
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[cid:02a93832-b45e-4bf7-ae59-b169de7e1524]
As per the example below the files export_20170723151238 is in fact an xlsx file. The other file is in fact an Adobe Acrobat file and will not open. This situation is the same for documents with properties DOCX...ect.
Example:
[cid:fff7e7ec-f26b-4154-897a-e92c3707af84]
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As Adobe Express is a browser-based app it won't be changing anything in your file explorer; it doesn't install anything as a program to do that.
The only thing that may do that is another program being installed and somehow changing all your file associations. A Google search shows that Adobe Acrobat has done this in the past, so I wonder if that is your problem?
Have you recently installed Adobe Acrobat?
If so you will need to change the file association back. Try these steps:
- In File Explorer right-click on any random file (eg. .docx)
- Select Open With and it should give a list of apps.
- If the one you want isn't listed select Choose another app (e.g. for .docx files you would choose Word)
- Check Always use this app to open .docx files.
Follow the same steps to open any other file extension that is incorrect. If you have a Windows 11 system you can also change the default apps there.

