Which program opens your PDFs right now

Your default PDF viewer is whichever program launches automatically when you click a PDF file. On most Windows computers, that's Microsoft Edge or Adobe Acrobat Reader. On Mac, it's usually Preview or Adobe Acrobat Reader. You can change this to any PDF reader you prefer — whether that's a different Adobe product, a web browser, or a lightweight alternative like Foxit Reader or PDF-XChange.

The process differs between Windows and Mac, and it also depends on whether you want to change the default for all PDFs or just for PDFs you open from a specific location. Most people want to change it globally, so that's what we'll cover first.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, you change the default PDF viewer through Settings > Apps > Default Apps, then search for PDF and select your preferred program.
  • On Mac, right-click any PDF file, select "Open With," choose your preferred program, then click "Change All" to make it the default for all PDFs.
  • You can also change the default by opening a PDF with your preferred program, then setting it as default from within that program's preferences or settings.
  • If your preferred program doesn't appear in the list, you may need to install it first or look for a "Set as Default" option in that program's own settings menu.

Changing the default PDF viewer on Windows 10 and 11

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then pressing Enter. Navigate to Apps, then select Default Apps from the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see the section for file types, or use the search box at the top to search for "PDF."

Click on the current default program listed next to PDF. A menu will appear showing all programs on your computer that can open PDFs. Select the program you want to use, and it will become your new default immediately. If the program you want doesn't appear in the list, you may need to install it first, or check that program's own settings to see if there's a "Set as Default" option.

On Windows 10, the path is slightly different: go to Settings > System > Default Apps, scroll down to "Web browser" or search for PDF, then click the current default and choose a new one from the list.

Changing the default PDF viewer on Mac

Open Finder and locate any PDF file on your computer. Right-click (or Control-click) the file and select Open With from the menu. A submenu will appear showing all programs that can open PDFs. Select the program you want to use as your default.

After you've selected it, a dialog box will appear asking if you want to change all PDFs to open with this program. Click Change All to confirm. From that point forward, all PDF files will open with your chosen program by default.

If you don't see the program you want in the "Open With" menu, you can click Other at the bottom of the menu to browse your Applications folder and select a program manually. Once you've selected it and clicked "Change All," it will become your default.

Setting a default PDF viewer from within the program itself

Many PDF readers have their own settings menu where you can set them as the default. This is often faster than going through your system settings, especially if you're already using that program.

In Adobe Acrobat Reader, go to Edit > Preferences (Windows) or Adobe Acrobat Reader > Preferences (Mac), then look for an option like "Set as Default PDF Handler" or "Default PDF Viewer." In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > PDF Documents and toggle "Download PDFs instead of opening them in Chrome" off, which makes Chrome your default. In Firefox, go to Preferences > Files and look for the PDF section, then select "Use Firefox" or your preferred program.

Not all PDF readers have this option, so if you don't find it, use the system-level method described above instead.

What to do if your preferred program doesn't appear in the list

If the PDF reader you want to use doesn't show up when you search for it, the program may not be installed on your computer yet. Download and install it first, then return to your default apps settings. The newly installed program should now appear in the list.

If the program is installed but still doesn't appear, try opening it directly and looking for a "Set as Default" or "Make Default" option in its preferences or settings menu. Some programs, particularly older ones or portable versions, don't register themselves with your system's default app list and require this manual step instead.

As a last resort, you can open a PDF file with your preferred program by right-clicking it, selecting "Open With," and browsing to the program's executable file directly. Then follow the steps above to set it as your default.

Changing the default for PDFs in a specific folder or location

Windows and Mac both allow you to set different defaults for different locations. On Windows, you can right-click a PDF file in a specific folder, select "Open With," choose your program, and check the box that says "Always use this app to open PDF files" — though this applies to all PDFs, not just that folder.

On Mac, the "Change All" option in the "Open With" menu always applies to all PDFs system-wide, not just one folder. If you want different programs to open PDFs in different contexts, your best option is to manually select "Open With" each time, or to use your file manager's search and filter features to organize PDFs by type or source.

Reverting to your original default PDF viewer

If you change your default and later want to switch back, follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. On Windows, go back to Settings > Apps > Default Apps, search for PDF, and select your original program. On Mac, right-click a PDF, select "Open With," choose your original program, and click "Change All."

If you can't remember which program was your original default, Windows typically defaults to Microsoft Edge and Mac typically defaults to Preview. You can always set one of these as your default and then switch again if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default PDF viewer affect PDFs I open from email or the web?

Usually yes, but it depends on the program. If you open a PDF link in your email client or web browser, your system default will typically launch. However, some email clients and browsers have their own PDF viewer settings that override the system default. Check your email or browser settings if you want PDFs to open in a specific program from those sources.

Can I set different default PDF viewers for different file types?

No. Your default PDF viewer applies to all PDF files. If you want different programs to open different types of files, you can set defaults for other formats (like .docx for Word or .xlsx for Excel), but all PDFs will use the same default you've chosen.

What if a program asks me to set it as default every time I open it?

This usually means the program didn't register itself correctly with your system when it was installed. Try uninstalling and reinstalling the program, or look in its settings menu for a "Set as Default" button. If the problem persists, try a different PDF reader instead.

Does changing my default PDF viewer delete or move my PDF files?

No. Changing your default viewer only changes which program opens when you click a PDF. Your files stay exactly where they are, and you can still open them with any program you want by right-clicking and selecting "Open With."