Microsoft Edge keeps changing default app for PDF

Question

I have tried every single possible way for windows10 to stop using Edge to open PDF's. I have changed by protocol, my file type, by "by app", I've tried to get Acrobat to always register its file associations, but after a while, Win10/Edge "resets" it to open files with Edge. I have to change it back 2-3 times A DAY in order to be able to actually work.

Does anyone know how to permanently make it use what I choose and not what Microsoft is trying to push?

Answer 1

I've tried to get Acrobat to always register its file associations, ...

This is the problem. Windows 10 doesn't allow programs to change the defaults that the user has set. If a program does try to change a default file association, Windows will reject the change and re-instate its own default, which for PDFs is Edge. This insistence on user choice is partly a security feature, to prevent malicious software from hijacking file associations for its own nefarious purposes.

Adobe made a change to its PDF readers in 2018 to respect this Windows requirement. If your copy of Acrobat is older, you're out of luck, I'm afraid, unless you can stop Acrobat from trying to register its file associations.

Answer 2

Hi dmo. I'm Greg, awarded MVP for eleven years, Volunteer Moderator, and Independent Advisor here to help you until this is resolved.

This was a major issue a few years but I have not seen it since. What I recall worked then is to NOT set Adobe Reader as default in it's own Settings, only in Windows Settings > Apps > Default Apps. At least that was what worked several years ago.

There is also this recent tutorial on the subject from a usually reliable source:

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-ditch-micros...

I hope this helps. Based on what you report back I can answer any questions and may have other steps to perform. If you'll wait to rate whether my post was helpful, I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

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