Setting Foxit Reader as the new default on Mac OSX: Go to the Mac's Finder. Find the PDF file type you'd like to open with a specific app, and select it. Click on the File menu and select Get Info. Step 2: Select Default apps on the left-side pane, and then click the link 'Choose default apps by file type' on the right-side pane. Step 3: Slide down your mouse wheel until you find the.pdf (PDF File), then click on the current default PDF viewer's icon, and then choose a program to set it as the default PDF viewer in the drop-down menu.
Both Acrobat and Reader can reside on the same machine, and the default handler can be set in the following ways:
Set the default handler at install time.
Configure the installer prior to deployment via the Wizard or command line.
After a product install, choose Preferences > General > Select Default PDF Handler.
Windows 8-10¶
System requirements¶
Acrobat and Acrobat Reader: 11.x-DC
Supported Platforms: Windows 8 and above
The problem¶
Admins often want to reliably set Acrobat and Reader as the default PDF owners on their organization's desktops. Since Windows 8, it has become more difficult for applications to take ownership of certain filetypes. Even when admins have a method for setting a default handler (described above), once the application is installed end users can change the file type associations via the Control Panel or with Right Click > Open With. Additionally, other applications sometimes force Windows to show an application selection dialog when a user clicks on a file, thereby allowing users to select a different application for that file type. Thus, since Windows 8, admins have little control over file type associations after installing an application.
Solution 1: DISM¶
Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) is a way to enforce file type associations. While it remains difficult to prevent users from selecting alternative default applications, Microsoft addresses this problem by providing DISM as a way for admins to reinstate the defaults when a user logs off and on.
While DISM is a command-line tool that is used to mount and service Windows images before deployment, it can also be used to set file type owners on Windows 8 and above. How to use macintosh hd. Admins can use the default application association-servicing commands to import, export, list, and remove the settings that specify which application opens a file based on the file name extension or protocol. Microsoft provides many DISM command line options for performing these steps.
Note
Some admins have been troubleshooting issues here: https://forums.adobe.com/message/10429439#10429439
Solution 2: GPO policy¶
You can also enforce the filetype via GPO policies. Using Group policy admins can force file associations each time a user logs in. This way even if a user changes the default PDF handler in a particular session or an OS update changes it, the next time the user logs in, it will be changed back to what the admin has specified.
To set the file handler via a GPO:
Download the sample file association files. These files include all the file types supported by Acrobat and Reader. To create your own XML files:
Run an elevated command prompt on a machine that has your default application set correctly.
Type
Dism/Online/Export-DefaultAppAssociations:path>AppAssoc.xml. This creates an XML file that has all your file types and their current associations.Edit the XML file to include only the file associations that you wish to enforce.
Note
You can create different files for different groups in your organization. For example, one group may use Adobe Reader as the default while another uses Acrobat.
Place this XML on a shared network location or push this XML to all your machine-specific locations via a script. For example,
C:WindowsSystem32(do not use a user-specific location).Set the XML configured with your preferences in a Windows 8 Group Policy setting, and enable the setting as follows:
Open up the Group Policy MMC (open a command prompt and type
gpedit.msc) on your Server 2012 instance.Locate the policy under
ComputerConfigurationAdministrativeTemplatesWindowsComponentsFileExplorerSetadefaultassociationsconfigurationfile. This policy specifies the path for the XML file that can be either stored locally or on a network location.
Note
This is a machine-level policy. It is not possible to create user-level policy.
Enable the policy, and specify the location where you have stored the XML file. The corresponding registry entry is
HKLMSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftWindowsSystemDefaultAssociationsConfiguration.
File associations will now be enforced on user logon.
Local Group Policy Editor
Set a file association configuration file
Limitations¶
The end user machine needs to be domain-joined for this method to work.
Users can change the file associations during the current session. However, admin settings are reinstated at next logon.
As of 5th Feb 2016, it is a known limitation of Windows 10 that when new user is created on the machine after enforcing the GPO Policy, then on first login ownership is not set. However, the correct settings are applied on subsequent logins.
Command line control (pre DC)¶
At install time, the last installed product will wrest ownership from the existing install. Change this behavior by using LEAVE_PDFOWNERSHIP=YES during a command line install.
Resetting the default PDF handler¶
To make Reader the default PDF handler after installing Acrobat, find and run ADelRCP.exe in elevated mode. ADelRCP.exe is Acrobat's PDF handler program for Windows.
Affected ProgIDs for various products¶
File Type | ProgID |
|---|---|
AcroExch.Document.DC | |
.pdfxml | AcroExch.pdfxml |
.acrobatsecuritysettings | AcroExch.acrobatsecuritysettings |
.fdf | AcroExch.FDFDoc |
.xfdf | AcroExch.XFDFDoc |
.xdp | AcroExch.XDPDoc |
.pdx | PDXFileType |
.api | AcroExch.Plugin |
.secstore | AcroExch.SecStore |
File Type | ProgID |
|---|---|
Acrobat.Document.DC | |
.pdfxml | Acrobat.pdfxml |
.acrobatsecuritysettings | Acrobat.acrobatsecuritysettings |
.fdf | Acrobat.FDFDoc |
.xfdf | Acrobat.XFDFDoc |
.xdp | Acrobat.XDPDoc |
.pdx | PDXFileType |
.api | Acrobat.Plugin |
.secstore | Acrobat.SecStore |
.sequ | Acrobat.Sequence |
.rmf | Acrobat.RMFFile |
.bpdx | AcrobatBPDXFileType |
File Type | ProgID |
|---|---|
AcroExch.Document.2020 (version 2020 only) | |
.pdf How do you update roblox on computer. | AcroExch.Document.2017 (version 2017 only) |
AcroExch.Document.2015 (version 2015 only) | |
.pdfxml | AcroExch.pdfxml |
.acrobatsecuritysettings | AcroExch.acrobatsecuritysettings |
.fdf | AcroExch.FDFDoc |
.xfdf | AcroExch.XFDFDoc |
.xdp | AcroExch.XDPDoc |
.pdx | PDXFileType |
.api | AcroExch.Plugin |
.secstore | AcroExch.SecStore |
How To Make Pdf The Default Word
File Type | ProgID |
|---|---|
Acrobat.Document.2020 (version 2020 only) | |
Acrobat.Document.2017 (version 2017 only) | |
Acrobat.Document.2015 (version 2015 only) | |
.pdfxml | Acrobat.pdfxml |
.acrobatsecuritysettings | Acrobat.acrobatsecuritysettings |
.fdf | Acrobat.FDFDoc |
.xfdf | Acrobat.XFDFDoc |
.xdp | Acrobat.XDPDoc |
.pdx | PDXFileType |
.api | Acrobat.Plugin |
.secstore | Acrobat.SecStore |
.sequ | Acrobat.Sequence |
.rmf | Acrobat.RMFFile |
.bpdx | AcrobatBPDXFileType |
Locking the PDF viewer¶
Admins can prevent end users from changing the setting by using the HKLM feature lockdown preference DisablePDFHandlerSwitching.
Note
This does not prevent users from changing PDF ownership using Windows Explorer.
When you open any file on your Android phone for the first time, your phone asks you to choose a default app for viewing that type of file. You will see two options — Always and Just once. Tapping the latter will open the file in the selected app only once, and then Android OS will ask you to make a choice again.
If you go with Always, you will not be asked again. When you are familiar with the app, and you want it to be your default app, tapping Always comes handy. But sometimes, we accidentally tap Always which results in opening the file in the wrong app. What if the app can no longer support those files or keeps crashing?
The same happened with a friend of mine a few days back with the PDF files. Instead of launching in her preferred PDF viewer app, now the PDF files were opening in a different app. The worst thing, some files were not opening at all.
What does one do in such situations? The solution is easy. You just have to change the default PDF viewer on your phone. Here's how to go about it.
View PDF Files in Different PDF Viewer App
To change the default PDF viewer, first, you need to identify the app that has hijacked your PDF files. Then you have to remove it as your default PDF viewer app. When you do so, you will be asked again to choose a default app.
Here are the steps in detail.
1. Find the Culprit App
For that, open any PDF file. Once it launches in the new PDF viewer, tap the Recent apps key on your phone to view all the open apps. Notice the name of the app opening your PDF file.
2. Clear Defaults
Now that you know the guilty app, it's time to slash its powers for opening the PDF files. There are two ways to do that.
Clear Defaults from Recent apps
Step 1: Open the Recent apps screen. Then tap and hold the app icon that is launching your PDF files. Tap on the App info option.
Step 2: You will be taken to the App info screen. Hit Advanced followed by Open by default.
Step 3: Tap on Clear defaults.
Note: On some phones, you will directly find the Clear defaults option in the App info screen. Also on Guiding Tech 7 Tips to Survive on Android with Low Internal Storage Read MoreClear Defaults from Settings
If you don't see the App info button, here's another way to change the PDF app.
Step 1: Go to Settings of your phone and tap on Apps & notifications/Installed Apps/App Manager depending on the option available on your phone.
Step 2: Tap on the app that is opening your PDF file.
Step 3: Tap on Clear defaults, if available on your phone. But if the option is missing, tap on Open by default followed by Clear defaults.
3. Set New PDF Viewer as Default
Once you clear the defaults for the new PDF reader, you will be asked to set a default app when you open any PDF file. Select the app and tap on Always.
How to Change Default PDF Viewer in WhatsApp
WhatsApp uses the default PDF reader of your phone to open the PDF files. So follow the above methods to change the default PDF viewer of your phone and then it will be changed for WhatsApp too.
Issue 1: Cannot Identify the App
Some phones only show the app icon and not the name in the recent apps screen. To find the name, tap and hold the app icon in the recent apps screen. The name will be revealed. In case, the name is still not visible, you need to identify the app from its icon and then follow the steps mentioned above.
If you still aren't able to identify the app from its icon, then don't worry. It's possible that one of the recently downloaded apps might be causing the problem. Usually, browsers such as UC Browser is downloaded accidentally by clicking on ads. These browsers come with PDF viewer capabilities and apps built-in. Such apps are responsible for taking over the default PDF viewer app.
So check your phone if you've recently downloaded any such app. Then clear its defaults as mentioned in the above method.
Also on Guiding Tech #How-to/Guides Click here to see our How-to/Guides articles pageIssue 2: Clearing Defaults Not Working
At times, clearing the defaults also doesn't reset the default PDF preferences. It usually happens with Google Drive's PDF viewer. If that's happening, you will have to disable or uninstall your PDF reader app. After that, open any PDF file, and you will be asked to choose a PDF reader. Select the app of your choice from the available list. Then enable or install the app again.
To disable or uninstall an app, go to Settings > Apps and notifications/Installed apps. Tap on the app that you want to disable/uninstall. Then hit the Disable or Uninstall button.
Note: Disable button is available for pre-installed apps only. You will see the Uninstall button for the apps installed from the Play Store.Best PDF Viewers for Android
Now that we are talking about PDF viewers, the post will remain incomplete if we don't suggest a few good ones.
Here are three apps that I like:
1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
You must be familiar with the Adobe Reader on your PCs. It is the most popular PDF app that offers additional features like annotations, collaboration, filling out PDF forms, print documents from the app, and much more. The app is free without any ads.
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader2. Xodo PDF Reader & Editor
Another ad-free app is the Xodo PDF reader. It offers similar features to Adobe Reader along with night mode. You can also create PDF files from your images using this app.
Download Xodo PDF Reader & Editor3. Moon+ Reader
With the Moon+ Reader, you can read other types of documents too especially books in EPUB, MOBI, etc. formats. The app offers several themes, dual page mode, and tones of auto-scroll modes among a dozen other features.
Download Moon+ Reader Also on Guiding Tech Top 4 PDF Readers with Night Mode Read MoreChange Other Default Apps
So that's how to switch the PDF reader on your Android phone. You can use the same methods to change other default apps. For browser, launcher, phone, and SMS, Android phones come with a dedicated setting to change the default app. Navigate to Settings > Apps > Default apps. I hope Google adds a dedicated setting for PDF files too.
How To Make Pdf The Default Opener
Next up: You may have heard about resetting app preferences to troubleshoot issues on Android. What is it and how is it helpful. Find the answer next.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextWhat Does Reset App Preferences Mean on Android? And How to Do ItAlso See#PDF #troubleshooting
How To Make Pdf The Default Page
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