Windows 10: Unable to change Default Apps by File Type

I'm trying to stop PDF files from opening in IE11, I want them to open in Adobe reader. When I go through the settings menu and get to the screen "Choose Default Apps by File Type" I cannot scroll down that page it stays locked on the top section. A screenshot is attached. Any idea of how I can get down to the PDF file type to change the default?





:)

 

Choose Default Apps by File Type

I have the same question. The program I want to use (Lightroom) is not listed.

 

Choose Default Apps by File Type

You will have to invoke classic interface to change this. This has been made hidden now.

Copy the following

control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageDefaultProgram

Windows Key+R

Paste the copied text > Enter

Now you have classic interface

You can change defaults for displayed programs

Reboot your computer

Source - Reply by DonLandis

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

 

@MSRadell

Try within Control Panel:

paste C:\Windows\explorer.exe shell:::{17cd9488-1228-4b2f-88ce-4298e93e0966} -Microsoft.DefaultPrograms\pageFileAssoc into a Run box and press Enter,

then:

 

Thanks, that got me into the filelist that I was wanting to get to, wishing would have left things well enough alone instead of having to go through the new settings menu! Unfortunately it didn't sound my problem. The screenshot below shows that a PDF file still opens with an IE and when it doesn't have a whole bunch of icons that I've never seen before. I'm attaching a screenshot to show what I'm getting. I just want PDF files to open in Adobe which used to be a very simple thing!

 

Anybody else have any ideas?

 

This question has repeatedly been asked in the forum and generally. It seems a peculiarity of Adobe that it behaves differently from most programs whose default is set via Windows Settings or the Control Panel.

try
How to set default pdf reader Solved - Windows 10 Forums
#8

If that doesn't help, please feel free to search the forum e.g.
Solved adobe default

 

Unfortunately I've tried all the simple solutions similar to that. I'm not sure what caused it or how to get back to having PDF files open directly into Adobe. I hate this format that opens in IE.

 

I just noticed that.. I'm on 1703, and that screen fails for me too the first time I tried it - it listed nothing, then Settings crashed.

But when I tried it again- after a lot of .... progress indication under the title, it worked.
If on yours
Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Set Associations
scrolls ok, then I suggest you consider re-registering Settings:
Reinstall and Re-register Apps in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

I suggest you experiment thus:
Set aside issues related to Adobe for the moment.
Install a free reader- like Sumatra.
See if you can set that as default.
If you can, then the problem centres around using Adobe.

 

Actually, I have PDF-XChange Editor that I you for viewing PDF drawings. I already tried setting that as the default and it made no difference to the problem I'm having. I'll try reregistering the settings later on today when I get some time.

Thanks

 

Ok, time to dig a little deeper.
Assuming you can set defaults for other file types successfully, and pdf is the only problem (please confirm) then
- what's the icon currently displayed for a pdf file?
- do pdf's currently open in IE11?
- here's a tool you can use to examine your pdf file type association:




Use that and check it matches with what you said above.
Try changing the association and see if you can see the change reflected using that tool.

I would also recommend if you've not already done so researching threads on this topic in this forum as Adobe association problems have been discussed quite a number of times.

There's a lengthy detailed discussion here, which moves on to Edge on about the 3rd page.
Can't change default app from Acrobat Reader DC to Acrobat - Windows 10 Forums

https://www.tenforums.com/software-apps/80003-acrobat-reader-microsoft-edge-default-pdf-reader.html


Another factor which has caused file associations to be reset on reboot, but not reported for quite a long time is having an old version of an unrelated program installed. One such was winzip- I think there was a second. However, that affected more than one file type. The Adobe association problem seems unique to Adobe/Edge.

 

The icon display for PDF files is the Adobe PDF icon like it normally is. All PDF open in IE 11. This is the only file type that's having a problem as far as I can tell. I downloaded the tool and it shows everything correctly (screenshot attached).

I read that thread that you posted as well as many others and I haven't yet found anything it helps.




　

 

As pdf's open in IE11 rather than Edge, try taking a different tack- restore the default association:
Restore Default File Type Associations in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

(find pdf).

It might also be interesting to check the behaviour if you create a new user for test purposes.

 

I did find something interesting out last night. If I open a document from the web that of the PDF it opens in IE 11 like I showed earlier in this thread but, if I open a PDF document that already stored on my computer it opens correctly. This leads me to believe that the problem lies somewhere in IE 11.

This problem didn't exist until a couple of weeks ago.

 

So your problem is actually pdf hyperlinks, not files on your PC?

You said

- which seems to mean pdf files open in IE.

Two quick suggestions:
- do you have a restore point that far back?
- have you tried uninstalling IE and letting it reinstall?
(E.g. via Control Panel, Programs and Features, Turn Windows Features On or Off)