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Windows 10 comes with a new default browser, Microsoft Edge. It's a Universal app which has extension support, a fast rendering engine and a simplified user interface. By default, it opens PDF files in Windows 10. You might want to disable its built-in PDF viewer in order to switch to an external application like Adobe Reader.
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To disable PDF Reader in Microsoft Edge, you need to change the PDF file association in Settings or in the classic Control panel. Once you do this, PDF files will be opened with a third party app you have installed in Windows 10. Do it as follows.
- Open Settings.
- Go to System -> Defaults Apps in Windows 10 Anniversary Update and below. In Windows 10 Creators Update, go to Apps -> Default apps.
- Scroll down to the link Choose default apps by file type and click it.
- Find the .pdf file extension on the left side. On the right side, select a new application to open PDF files with:
That's it. The built-in PDF reader will be disabled in Microsoft Edge.
Alternatively, you can use the classic Control panel applet to configure the PDF file association and disable the PDF viewer in Edge. Empires.
Open Control panel and go to Control PanelProgramsDefault ProgramsSet Associations.
Find the line starting with '.pdf' in the table and click the Change program button.
In the next dialog, select an app you want to use instead of Edge for PDF files.
You are done.
Microsoft has been slowly but steadily improving the Edge browser to make it attractive to users in the extremely competitive web browser market. While it started as a barebones app, it already got a lot of useful features like extensions, EPUB support, Set Tabs Aside(Tab Groups),Tab Previews, and a dark theme. It also has some unique features like Cortana support that make it stand out from the rest. All essential features are configurable through its options but there are some features from Internet Explorer 11 that haven't made it yet to Microsoft Edge.
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Methods to Prevent Edge from Opening PDF Files on Windows 10 with steps. – Are you fed up from the PDF that automatically opens with Microsoft Edge? For the files, Edge is the default app so you notice that the Browser appears together with the PDF. But many users don’t prefer this instead they use a 3rd party reader application.
So these users want to Prevent Edge from Opening PDF Files in Windows 10 so that they can read the files in their loving app. We have discovered few ways out to Stop the browser from accessing the PDF files automatically.
When you download any PDF file, you will notice that it’s default icon will show Edge symbol. All other prominent web browsers, including Edge, have their own PDF readers so that you can directly read the PDF file on the browser. So, you can always prevent Edge from opening PDF files in Windows 10 if you don’t find it much convenient.
See in this guide
Ways to Prevent Edge from Opening PDF Files in Windows 10
We present you three procedures and here the first method is through right-click context menu.
1. Right-click Context Menu
Step 1– First of all, locate the PDF file on your File Explorer. You will notice that PDF file’s icon will have Edge symbol.
Step 2 – Now, right-click the PDF file and from the menu that pop-up, hover the cursor on Open with.
Step 3 – Next, click choose another program option from the sub context menu. In the next step, you will change the default.
Step 4 – This will launch a small box on the screen with a title How do you want to open this file? The first option in the list is Microsoft Edge which indicates the default program. So, to prevent Edge from opening PDF files in Windows 10, pick up any other app or program listed in the box.
Step 5 – Finally, select the box against the option Always use this app to open .pdf files and click OK button to bring the changes into effect.
2. Setting Program
Step 1 – Start this procedure by clicking the Windows logo on your taskbar. From the Start Menu that shows up, select Settings option, the one with the gear shape.
Step 2 – Next, all the categories will be visible on the home screen of Settings, so find and select Apps.
Note – You can read our article on How to Organize Apps Settings in Windows 10.
Step 3 – Moving ahead, click Default apps section on the left sidebar of Apps Settings page. Now, go to the right pane and click the option Choose default apps by file type, noticeable at the bottom of the page.
Step 4 – On the following page, the list underneath the Name column specifies all file types. And the list below Default app column are the applications that are set as default for their respective file.
Step 5 – So, locate .pdf entry below the Name column. When you see it, you will notice that its default app is set as Edge, select it.
Step 7 – A small box of Choose an app will appear there, simply select another app that you wish to set as a PDF reader.
3. Control Panel
Step 1 – First and foremost, type Control Panel in the search field that is located on the taskbar. So, Cortana will also display Control Panel, select it.
For reference, you can read our guide on How to Open Control Panel on Windows 10 – Instant Ways.
Step 2 – Now, make the Control panel into small view and click Default programs.
Step 3 – On the succeeding window, you will see few options, click “Associate a file type or protocol with a program“. From the next window, you will make change in the default.
Step 4 – On the left sidebar, locate and select the entry .pdf. Now, click the button Change program on the upper right side.
Step 5 – Choose an app from the list that appears and finally, select OK button.
Conclusion
So, give a shot to any of these above-mentioned procedures to Prevent Edge from Opening PDF Files in Windows 10. If you know more ways for the same, do share them with us.
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Microsoft Edge is set as the default PDF reader to open and view PDF files in Windows. Jurassic park 3 download. So, whenever I attempt to open any PDF file in Windows 10, it automatically gets opened in Edge browser, although my preferred choice is Acrobat Reader. Moreover, when I try to change the settings, the browser hijacks it and resorts to its old behavior again. While many would not oppose this move, I believe, it’s not intended for everyone. So, here’s how you can stop Edge from changing the PDF viewer association.
Disable Edge Pdf Viewer Group Policy
Stop Edge from hijacking PDF/HTML associations
The change is observed to be triggered by a reset of File Association for a file type, which restores Windows 10 defaults. But, why do PDF FileAssociations get reset every time a user restarts his PC.
Well, The feature team for FileAssociation explains that its protection mechanism in Windows 10 prevents direct changes to the UserChoice area of the registry for each file type. As such, when no FileAssociation is configured in the registry or if an application makes the hash void by incorrectly writing to the UserChoice registry key to set associations, a reset of FileAssociation for that file type gets triggered, restoring default status. Hence, we need to edit a registry entry.
Here is the solution to the PDF/HTML file type being continually reassigned to Microsoft Edge browser.
Open the ‘Run’ dialog box, type ‘Regedit’ and hit ‘Ok’ button. Next, navigate to the following key –
Please note that, under the key that starts with Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge the address could be different in some versions of Windows.
For instance, in my case it was- Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_42.17134.1.0_neutral_8wekyb3d8bbwe
When found, simply expand this key and others under it. Then, choose FileAssociations and look at the entries provided in the right corner of the screen.
Observe closely the Data string displayed for the .pdf name.
At the time of this writing, the string is AppXd4nrz8ff68srnhf9t5a8sbjyar1cr723, but it may be different in your case.
Right-click on the above entry and select the Rename option from the menu displayed.
After that, add the underscore character to the end of the name and press Enter to save the new name.
When done, navigate to Control Panel and open the Default Programs applet to configure the change, i.e., choosing a different application as the default application for the PDF files.
From now on, Edge should not reinstall itself as the default application.
Should you wish to change this setting to original and restore the earlier experience, simply remove the underscore character from the name of the AppXd4nrz8ff68srnhf9t5a8sbjyar1cr723 key.
If Windows does not allow you to edit the Registry key, you may need to run regedit as admin and take ownership of the Registry key.
Hope this helps!
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Microsoft Edge is your new default web browsing experience on Windows 10, which offers a new streamlined interface, speed improvements, and a lot of new features, including the ability to open PDF files.
While the PDF reader is a convenient feature, it currently only offers some basic functionalities, and out-of-the-box, Windows 10 makes it your default system PDF reader whether you like it or not. If you prefer to use a more advanced application, such as SumatraPDF, Xodo, or Adobe Acrobat Reader, or after a Windows 10 upgrade your settings aren't preserved, you may want to change your settings to disable Microsoft Edge as your default PDF reader every time you open a file.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps to change your system settings to stop opening PDF files in the web browser by default.
How to disable Microsoft Edge as default PDF reader
In order to disable Microsoft Edge's PDF feature, you need to change the file association, which you can do with the following steps:
Using the Settings app
- Open Settings.
- Click on Apps.
- Click on Default apps.
- Note: If you're still running the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, the path is Settings > System > Default apps.
- Click the Choose default apps by file type link.
- Scroll down and find .pdf (PDF File), and click the button on the right side, which is likely to read 'Microsoft Edge.'
- Select your app from the list to set it as the new default.
- Click the Switch anyway link to confirm the change.
Once you completed the steps, Microsoft Edge will no longer open PDF files by default in the web browser.
Using the file context menu
Alternatively, you can quickly make another app as your default PDF reader, using the following steps: Microsoft verification code text 732873.
- Right-click a PDF file.
- Select Open With.
- Click on Choose another app.
- Select the PDF application you want to use.
- Check the Always use this app to open .pdf files option.
- Click OK.
If you don't see the app you want to use in the list, click the More apps link at the bottom of the list. You can also click the Look for another app on this PC to find the PDF application you want to set as default.
More Windows 10 resources
For more help articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources: