Make Adobe Acrobat Default

Make Adobe Acrobat as the default PDF viewer from system settings Click the Start button in Windows 10, select Settings from the pop-up menu. The Windows Settings dialogue pops up, choose Apps Default apps. You will see a screen like below.

Here's how to set a default pdf reader (tested with Win 10) depending on whether acrobat is installed.

• Managing the Default PDF Handler on Win 10 for Enterprise Administrators Background. Prior to Windows 10, Adobe Acrobat and Reader would establish default association with PDF files during the installation process. So once installed, if a user clicked on a PDF file, it would automatically open up in Acrobat or Reader.
• To get your PDF's to open up automatically in Adobe Acrobat Reader instead of the default Windows 8 PDF reader please follow the following steps. Step 1 – Open up Default Programs. Click on start; Type in Default Programs and click on the first option that comes up. Step 2 – Click on 'Set your default programs'.
• Navigate to any PDF on your computer and right-click the document icon. Hover over the pop-up menu and click 'Choose default program.' Click your version of Adobe Acrobat from the Recommended.
• For the file that has acrobat set as the default, add the condition to check if our program is installed, in this case, we check for the install folder. When you add this, click ok on the prompts and move to the next file.

8 Steps total

Step 1: Create two xml files

Create two xml files and add them to an accessible network share with read only permissions for the user/computers you wish to apply this for.

Step 2: XML File to set PDF reader as acrobat and chrome as default browser

Step 3: XML File to set chrome as the default browser and pdf reader

Step 4: Copy Files To Local Computer

Create a GPO and under: 'computer configuration → Preferences → Windows Settings → Files'
Create two files that are set to update. One file will have the source set to the acrobat xml file, and the other will have the source set to the chrome xml file. The XML file has the file to program association information set in it. Both should have the same target file which should be set to a local location on the computer which will be receiving this policy. On the next step, we decide which file actually gets copied.

Step 5: Check item level targeting

Go to the common tab and check the item level targeting checkbox and click the targeting button

Step 6: Set the first item level targeting filter for if acrobat is installed

For the file that has acrobat set as the default, add the condition to check if our program is installed, in this case, we check for the install folder. When you add this, click ok on the prompts and move to the next file.

Step 7: Set the second item level targeting

For the file that has chrome as the default, add the same condition as you did on the previous step, but invert it . (You can click on the item options button to get not statements) Click ok on this.

Step 8: Tell windows to use our xml file

Next, edit the preference item at
Computer Configuration → Policies → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer → Set a Default Associations Configuration File
Set the default configuration file to the path of the file that you created earlier.

Congratulations, you're done. Be sure to test the GPO to make sure it works well. https://islam-download.mystrikingly.com/blog/fast-internet-browser-for-windows-8-free-download.

References

• Adobe: Setting the Default PDF Viewer

7 Comments

• Pimiento
  spicehead-kvyw0 Sep 30, 2019 at 12:20pm

  Hi,

  this is very good. One question i still have.
  what Purpose is step 8. file and is that the originally file association file?

• Pimiento
  bhoffman.stapa Oct 10, 2019 at 02:16pm

  Used your method to base associations on whether Foxit Reader or Foxit PhantomPDF were installed and worked great. Thanks!

• Chipotle
  mberna Oct 17, 2019 at 02:40pm

  Sorry for the late reply.
  Step 8 tells windows to use the file associations file that we created instead of the default one. So for this, you'll tell it the path of the file that we copied onto our local drive in step 4.

• Pimiento
  spicehead-ttxsc Nov 21, 2019 at 10:28pm

  I don't see File Explorer in Step 8, please assist!

• Chipotle
  mberna Nov 21, 2019 at 10:43pm

  @spicehead-ttsxc

  The wizard doesn't have a file explorer/browse button at the window shown in step 8. You'll want to copy the path that you used at step 4 and type or paste it into the textbox in step 8.

  To make it easy, I set it to store on the local drive, but you could also use a network location as long as it is accessible by the computer the policy is being assigned to.

• Pimiento
  Kahi88 Jan 13, 2020 at 10:51pm

  Finally I found the proper way to do this.
  Great job!

• Poblano
  Simpuhl May 19, 2020 at 03:56pm

  I used this example to set Acrobat/Chrome or Reader/Chrome depending on which PDF Program they had installed.

  Thank you

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. 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:

1. Download the sample file association files. These files include all the file types supported by Acrobat and Reader. To create your own XML files:

   1. Run an elevated command prompt on a machine that has your default application set correctly.

   2. Type Dism/Online/Export-DefaultAppAssociations:path>AppAssoc.xml. This creates an XML file that has all your file types and their current associations.

   3. 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.

1. 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).

2. Set the XML configured with your preferences in a Windows 8 Group Policy setting, and enable the setting as follows:

   1. Open up the Group Policy MMC (open a command prompt and type gpedit.msc) on your Server 2012 instance.

   2. 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.

1. 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¶

Go to the common tab and check the item level targeting checkbox and click the targeting button

Step 6: Set the first item level targeting filter for if acrobat is installed

For the file that has acrobat set as the default, add the condition to check if our program is installed, in this case, we check for the install folder. When you add this, click ok on the prompts and move to the next file.

Step 7: Set the second item level targeting

For the file that has chrome as the default, add the same condition as you did on the previous step, but invert it . (You can click on the item options button to get not statements) Click ok on this.

Step 8: Tell windows to use our xml file

Next, edit the preference item at
Computer Configuration → Policies → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer → Set a Default Associations Configuration File
Set the default configuration file to the path of the file that you created earlier.

Congratulations, you're done. Be sure to test the GPO to make sure it works well. https://islam-download.mystrikingly.com/blog/fast-internet-browser-for-windows-8-free-download.

References

• Adobe: Setting the Default PDF Viewer

7 Comments

• Pimiento
  spicehead-kvyw0 Sep 30, 2019 at 12:20pm

  Hi,

  this is very good. One question i still have.
  what Purpose is step 8. file and is that the originally file association file?

• Pimiento
  bhoffman.stapa Oct 10, 2019 at 02:16pm

  Used your method to base associations on whether Foxit Reader or Foxit PhantomPDF were installed and worked great. Thanks!

• Chipotle
  mberna Oct 17, 2019 at 02:40pm

  Sorry for the late reply.
  Step 8 tells windows to use the file associations file that we created instead of the default one. So for this, you'll tell it the path of the file that we copied onto our local drive in step 4.

• Pimiento
  spicehead-ttxsc Nov 21, 2019 at 10:28pm

  I don't see File Explorer in Step 8, please assist!

• Chipotle
  mberna Nov 21, 2019 at 10:43pm

  @spicehead-ttsxc

  The wizard doesn't have a file explorer/browse button at the window shown in step 8. You'll want to copy the path that you used at step 4 and type or paste it into the textbox in step 8.

  To make it easy, I set it to store on the local drive, but you could also use a network location as long as it is accessible by the computer the policy is being assigned to.

• Pimiento
  Kahi88 Jan 13, 2020 at 10:51pm

  Finally I found the proper way to do this.
  Great job!

• Poblano
  Simpuhl May 19, 2020 at 03:56pm

  I used this example to set Acrobat/Chrome or Reader/Chrome depending on which PDF Program they had installed.

  Thank you

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. 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:

1. Download the sample file association files. These files include all the file types supported by Acrobat and Reader. To create your own XML files:

   1. Run an elevated command prompt on a machine that has your default application set correctly.

   2. Type Dism/Online/Export-DefaultAppAssociations:path>AppAssoc.xml. This creates an XML file that has all your file types and their current associations.

   3. 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.

1. 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).

2. Set the XML configured with your preferences in a Windows 8 Group Policy setting, and enable the setting as follows:

   1. Open up the Group Policy MMC (open a command prompt and type gpedit.msc) on your Server 2012 instance.

   2. 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.

1. 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¶

1. The end user machine needs to be domain-joined for this method to work.

2. Users can change the file associations during the current session. However, admin settings are reinstated at next logon.

3. 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¶

Make Adobe Acrobat Default Mac

Make Adobe Acrobat Default Pdf

Make Adobe Acrobat Default

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.