Share via

Why can I not change my default .pdf app to anything other than Microsoft Edge?

Anonymous
2024-04-29T11:48:46+00:00

I follow the steps (via Settings) and no change. I try to open Adobe Reader and it will not open on my PC. I see from a search that this is not a new issue and it's frustrating. This feels predatory and proprietary - forcing us to use Microsoft products. I'm thinking of stopping my personal subscription and moving to another option.

Microsoft Edge | Read PDFs | Windows 11

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

81 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2024-04-29T19:17:36+00:00

    I had to kill all msEdge.exe instances from the Task Manager, and it finally let me. Using Edge 124.02478.67 64-bit.

    200+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2024-04-30T17:32:03+00:00

    I had to kill all msEdge.exe instances from the Task Manager, and it finally let me. Using Edge 124.02478.67 64-bit.

    FINALLY! This worked for me. Thanks!

    50+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2024-04-29T18:41:23+00:00

    I have this same issue and this answer does not resolve it. I have reinstalled adobe and it still does the same thing. I go into default apps and attempt to change it from edge to adobe and nothing happens. I go into app properties and try to change it there. I also went into the application pdf handler and tried to change it there. It doesn't even register that you made the change. It just constantly says edge.

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2024-04-29T22:28:52+00:00

    I did what Paolo suggested and it didn't work, BUT after I followed his steps I was able to at least set the default program to Google Chrome THEN it let me switch to Adobe and it worked. I just couldn't go straight from Microsoft Edge to Adobe. Highly predatory practices of Microsoft strikes again!

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2024-04-30T19:42:50+00:00

    It would be nice if Microsoft finally realized that no one wants to use Edge for anything. Ever.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments No comments