The quickest way to change your PDF viewer

On Windows, right-click any PDF file, select Open with, then choose the program you want to use. At the bottom of that menu, click Choose another app. Find the program you want — Adobe Reader, Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or whatever else is installed — and check the box that says Always use this app to open PDF files. From that point on, PDFs will open in that program by default.

On Mac, click any PDF file once to select it, then press Command+I to open the file information window. Under Open with, click the dropdown menu and choose your preferred program. Click Change All at the bottom right. This changes the default for all PDF files on your computer.

Both methods take about 30 seconds and require no settings menu hunting. If you do not see the program you want in the list, it may not be installed, or it may not be registered to open PDFs — see the section below on programs that do not appear.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users right-click a PDF, select Open with, choose a program, and check Always use this app to set it as default.
  • Mac users select a PDF, press Command+I, pick a program from the Open with dropdown, and click Change All.
  • The program you want must be installed on your computer; if it does not appear in the list, it may not support PDF files.
  • You can change your default PDF viewer as many times as you want — there is no limit to how often you switch.
  • Different file types (Word documents, images, spreadsheets) have separate defaults and do not affect each other.

Why you might want to change your PDF viewer

Your computer comes with a built-in PDF viewer — Edge on Windows, Preview on Mac — but it may not have the features you use most. Some people prefer Adobe Reader because it has annotation tools. Others use Chrome or Firefox because they already have those browsers open. Some want a lighter program that opens faster.

Changing your default does not uninstall anything or break anything. You can still open any PDF with any program you own, even if it is not the default. You are just choosing which one launches when you double-click a file.

When the program you want does not appear in the list

If you have installed a program but it does not show up in the Open with menu, the program either does not support PDF files or was not registered to do so during installation.

On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Default apps, scroll down to PDF, and click it. You will see a list of programs Windows knows can open PDFs. If your program is not there, it does not have PDF support built in. Some lightweight programs intentionally skip this to keep their file size small.

On Mac, the Open with dropdown only shows programs that have registered themselves as PDF-capable. If a program is missing, it does not support PDFs. You can still open a PDF with it by right-clicking the file, selecting Open With, and choosing Other to browse your Applications folder — but you cannot set it as the permanent default.

Changing defaults through Settings (Windows)

If you prefer to use the Settings menu instead of right-clicking, you can set your PDF default there too. Open Settings, go to Apps > Default apps, and scroll down until you see PDF. Click it, and a list of installed programs will appear. Select the one you want.

This method shows you all the programs Windows recognizes as PDF-capable in one place, which can be helpful if you have many installed. The result is identical to the right-click method — you end up with the same default either way.

Changing defaults through System Preferences (Mac)

On Mac, you can also set PDF defaults through System Preferences. Open System Settings, go to General > Default apps, and look for PDF Viewer. Click it and choose your program from the list.

This is faster than opening a file if you know exactly which program you want and do not want to hunt for a PDF to right-click. The result is the same as using the Command+I method.

What happens to PDFs you have already opened

Changing your default does not affect PDFs that are already open in another program. If you have a PDF open in Adobe Reader and then change your default to Chrome, that PDF stays in Adobe Reader until you close it. The next time you open a PDF, it will open in Chrome.

This also means you can keep one PDF open in your old viewer while testing a new one. Open the same file in your new default program to see if you like it before committing to the change.

Switching back if you change your mind

You can change your default PDF viewer as many times as you want. There is no penalty, no limit, and no waiting period. If you try a new program and decide you do not like it, just repeat the same steps with your original program.

Some people keep multiple PDF programs installed and switch between them depending on what they are doing — using one for reading and another for editing, for example. You can change your default every day if you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different defaults for different types of PDFs?

No. Your computer has one default PDF viewer for all PDFs. You cannot tell it to open forms in one program and articles in another. However, you can always right-click any individual PDF and choose Open with to pick a different program for that one file without changing your default.

What if I uninstall my default PDF program?

Windows and Mac will automatically revert to their built-in viewers (Edge or Preview). You will not get an error or lose any files. If you want to use a different program instead, just set a new default using the steps above.

Does changing my PDF viewer affect email attachments?

On most email programs, yes. When you click a PDF attachment in Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail, it will open in your default PDF viewer. If you want to use a different program for that one file, right-click the attachment and choose Open with.

Will my default PDF viewer change if I update Windows or Mac?

No. Your choice stays in place through updates. However, if you install a new program that supports PDFs, it may ask during installation whether you want to make it your default. You can say no and keep your current choice.

Can I set a PDF viewer as default on a shared computer?

On Windows and Mac, each user account has its own default settings. If you share a computer with other people, changing your default only affects your account. Other users will keep their own defaults unless they change them in their own accounts.