Windows 10: Can't change default app from Acrobat Reader DC to Acrobat

Hi Florio, I still have Reader XI and Acrobat 9 installed so I can't answer your question but if you install Reader XI and not Reader DL then you should be fine as both products will behave and you'll be able to have PDFs open in Acrobat and not Reader. Although I set the preferences in Reader not to update it still kept nagging me to update to Reader DL. I eventually had to go to the Event Scheduler and turn off the Adobe Updater. Everything now works just like I want it to.
Happy Holidays

 

Hi SoFine409.
Just after writing earlier, I experienced a major Windows 10 upgrade, after which I noticed that a few programs had disappeared without trace (including CCleaner), and that Microsoft Edge was the default program for reading PDF files!! Anyway, I uninstalled Reader DC and installed Reader XI (choosing to update manually), but immediately I had no PDF previews in Windows Explorer. So I removed Reader XI and installed a program called PDF X-Change Viewer. Now I have my PDF previews again in Windows Explorer, but no Adobe icons when using 'details' view. And Microsoft Edge remains the default application for PDF files. How is that possible??!!*Mad

 

Hi Florio,
I don't think you need PDF X-Xchange as long as you still have Acrobat 8.3. I think all you need to do in WIN10 is goto Settings - System - Default Apps - Choose Default Apps by File Type. Then scroll down the list to find PDF and then click on Edge and change it to Acrobat. That should set everything right and restore your Adobe icons in File Explorer and on your desktop. You might also need to open Acrobat and go to Edit - Preferences -Internet and then uncheck "Display PDF in Browser" to open PDFs in Acrobat. Assuming that is the behaviour that you want. This should get you going. Let me know how it goes.

 

Hi SoFine409,
I've tried a few things, but am now practically back to square one. The only way I could get my PDF files to preview in Windows Explorer, and have Adobe icons as well was to reinstall Adobe Reader DC plus third-party software (I settled on Foxit PDF Reader). But PDF files will still open with the Reader as if this were the default application, unless I specifically (and individually) specify Adobe Acrobat 8.3 with mouse right click. At least I seem to have overridden the Microsoft Edge imposition!!

 

Well at least you've been able to remove Edge as the default PDF handler. Do you still have Acrobat 8.3 installed?

 

Yes, I won't be removing Acrobat 8.3 *Smile

 

Did you try right clicking on a PDF file and selecting Open With and then pick Acrobat 8.3 being sure the the Always Use This is checked. That might set Acrobat as the default viewer.

 

Yes, I've tried that. But even though Adobe Acrobat 8.3 is set as the default reader, PDF files will still open in Reader DC unless I specifically (and individually) specify Acrobat 8.3 with mouse right click.

 

I recall reading on the Adobe web site that Adobe considers Acrobat versions 9 and below to be less secure and therefor programmed Reader DL to take over as the default and not release it. That is why I removed Reader DL and replaced it with Reader XI. If you uninstall Reader DL you should be able to set Acrobat 8.3 as the default PDF handler. If you want Reader then install XL and NOT DL. This is what worked for me; the only difference is that I have Acrobet 9 but I don't think that will make any difference.

 

Yes, I'd read that too. I basically wanted just to have Adobe Acrobat as my PDF reader, but without having Adobe Reader installed on my PC as well, there were no previews of PDF files in Windows Explorer. Then at a certain point, Adobe Reader suddenly became the default program for opening PDF files, hence my writing on this forum.

Following the latest big Windows 10 update, Microsoft Edge became the default program for opening PDF files. I've had to revert to the original situation, so I currently have Adobe Reader DC and Adobe Acrobat 8.3 installed on my PC in addition to Foxit PDF reader. Only in this way can I see the preview of PDF files in Windows Explorer, plus have Adobe icons for all PDF files in my document folders. Microsoft Edge is no longer the default PDF reader, but it is Adobe Reader DC and not Adobe Acrobat as I specified. I have to use mouse right-click to get Adobe Acrobat to open a file.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, SoFine409.

 

I was having this problem, recently upgrading to Win10. I use Acrobat X (Pro) for editing/printing pdfs but figured I would install Reader DC before I saw how drastically they changed the UI.

I was only able to change the default PDF viewer by going into Acrobat preferences and setting X as the default pdf handler. It had been set to Reader DC. Changing it required the Acrobat X disc and a restart but it worked. Prior to that I changed all the Win10 internal pdf associated programs to Acrobat X to no avail with Reader DC always opening any pdf that was double-clicked (unless chosen manually as "open with...").

The responder at the beginning of this thread needs to realize that people want to keep using acrobat pro versions (even if they are slightly dated) and shouldn't make subtly rude comments about how stupid he/she thinks this preference is.

 

Please be aware that Win 10 has introduced a "NEW" type of default app selection. "Default Apps by Protocol"

You can see the link at the bottom of the Settings, System, Default Apps page.

If you install Adobe Acrobat Reader DC on Windows 10, then Acrobat Reader DC will be set in the Default Apps by Protocol to handle all Adobe Protocols.

It appears based on my testing, that the default by Protocol overrides Default by file type.

Since Acrobat Pro 10 (which is my favorite also) does not have a registry entry to allow it's selection as a Default App by Protocol, there is no way to fix this behavior without manual registry entries.

Alternatively, you can always open Acrobat Pro and use pro to open the file, or you can remove Reader DC (This is what I have done).

I am certain that Adobe does not consider this to be a problem, since Adobe cloud subscriptions work perfectly.

 

This is the way to solve the problem -- it turns out that some distributed PDF forms REQUIRE using the free Reader DC and will not work with the paid-for Acrobat Pro. When both are installed it was a real pain to have everything open in reader, and this post solves the question. Thanks.

 

I have been having the same problem for weeks and have tried every remedy listed in TenForums. ADOBE inserts its Reader DC into the registry in a way that is hard for user to change (so you will subscribed to their monthly pdf service!). I tried everything including trying to change the resgistry and eventually gave up and unistalled Adobe Reader DC.

 

Uninstall Reader DC and install Reader XI. You'll have to search around for the download on the Adobe site but it should still be available. Please read me post#22 for more information. After you get it installed you will also have to disable Reader searching for updates because it will try to get you to upgrade to Reader DL.