What happens when you change your default PDF viewer

When you set a default PDF viewer, any PDF file you open from your computer — whether you double-click it, click a link in email, or download it from a website — will open in that program automatically. Right now, your computer has one assigned. Changing it means picking a different program to handle PDFs instead.

The steps differ between Windows and Mac, and the programs available on your computer depend on what you have installed. You might want to switch because your current viewer is slow, lacks features you need, or you simply prefer how another program works.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, you change the default PDF viewer through Settings under Default Apps, or by right-clicking a PDF file and selecting "Open with".
  • On Mac, you select a PDF, press Command+I to open Get Info, change the "Open with" setting, then click "Change All" to apply it to every PDF.
  • Common PDF viewers include Adobe Reader, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Preview (Mac), and Foxit Reader — all handle PDFs differently.
  • If your preferred program does not appear in the list, you may need to install it first or the program may not support being set as default.

Changing your default PDF viewer on Windows 10 and 11

Using Settings: Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click "Apps" on the left side, then click "Default apps". Scroll down until you see "PDF" listed. Click on it, and a window will show you every program on your computer that can open PDFs. Click the one you want to use. Windows will confirm the change immediately.

If you do not see your preferred program in that list, it may not be installed yet, or the program may not support being set as default. Check that you have downloaded and installed it completely before trying again.

Using right-click: Find any PDF file on your computer, right-click it, and select "Open with". A menu appears showing programs that can open PDFs. Click "Choose another app" at the bottom. Find the program you want, click it once to select it, then check the box that says "Always use this app to open PDF files". Click "OK". From that point forward, all PDFs will open in that program.

Changing your default PDF viewer on Mac

Find any PDF file in Finder. Right-click it (or Control+click if you have a single-button mouse) and select "Get Info". A window opens showing details about the file. Look for the section labeled "Open with:" — this shows which program currently opens PDFs. Click the dropdown menu next to it and select the program you want to use instead.

After you select a new program, you will see a button that says "Change All". Click it. This tells your Mac to open every PDF file with that program from now on. If you do not click "Change All", the change applies only to that one file.

If your preferred program does not appear in the dropdown, it is not installed on your Mac yet. Download and install it first, then repeat these steps.

Common PDF viewers and what they do

Adobe Reader is the original PDF program made by the company that created the PDF format. It opens PDFs reliably and includes basic annotation tools. It is free but can be slow on older computers and shows ads in the free version.

Microsoft Edge (Windows) and Safari (Mac) are web browsers built into your operating system. Both open PDFs quickly and let you highlight and annotate, but they lack advanced features like form-filling or batch processing.

Google Chrome works on both Windows and Mac. It opens PDFs instantly and handles large files smoothly, but offers fewer editing tools than Adobe Reader.

Preview (Mac only) is built into macOS and opens PDFs, images, and other files. It is lightweight and fast, with basic annotation tools, but cannot fill PDF forms.

Foxit Reader is a lightweight alternative to Adobe Reader. It opens PDFs quickly, includes annotation and form-filling tools, and takes up less disk space than Adobe.

What to do if your preferred program does not appear

If the program you want to use is not showing up in the default apps list, the most common reason is that it is not installed yet. Download it from the program's official website, run the installer, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Some programs do not register themselves as PDF handlers when you install them. If you have installed a program but it still does not appear, check the program's settings or preferences menu for an option like "Set as default PDF viewer" or "Associate with PDF files". Click that option, then try changing your default again.

If a program still does not appear after installation and you have checked its settings, it may not support being set as a system default. In that case, you can still open PDFs with it by right-clicking the file and selecting "Open with", then choosing the program manually each time.

Changing back to your original PDF viewer

If you change your default and later decide you prefer the original, follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. On Windows, go back to Settings > Apps > Default apps > PDF and select your original program. On Mac, find a PDF, press Command+I, click the "Open with" dropdown, select your original program, and click "Change All".

You can switch back and forth as many times as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change your default PDF viewer, and changing it does not uninstall any programs or delete any files.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different PDF viewers for different types of PDFs?

No. Your operating system allows only one default PDF viewer at a time. However, you can always right-click any PDF file and select "Open with" to choose a different program for that single file without changing your system default.

Will changing my default PDF viewer affect PDFs I have already opened?

No. PDFs you have already opened will stay open in whatever program you used to open them. The change affects only PDFs you open after you make the change.

What if I accidentally set a program as default that cannot actually open PDFs?

Your computer will show an error message when you try to open a PDF. Go back to your default apps settings and select a different program. If you are unsure which program to choose, Microsoft Edge (Windows) or Safari (Mac) will always work.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing the default PDF viewer?

No. The change takes effect immediately on both Windows and Mac. You can open a PDF right away and it will use your new default program.

Can I set a web browser as my default PDF viewer?

Yes. Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Safari all support being set as default PDF viewers. They open PDFs quickly and are built into your operating system, so you do not need to install anything extra.