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Windows keeps putting Edge as .pdf file association

Marcelis, J.P.M. (IT&DI) 10 Reputation points
2023-10-30T12:44:48.5233333+00:00

Windows keeps putting Edge as .pdf file association. The PDF-edgeviewer is very bad. I want to set my Adobe Acrobat Pro as the standard .pdf association. When I set this, Windows keeps setting Edge back as .pdf file association. Somethimes within seconds.....! This is very anoying!

How can I solve this?

Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge
A Microsoft cross-platform web browser that provides privacy, learning, and accessibility tools.
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  1. Philippe Levesque 5,696 Reputation points MVP
    2023-10-30T13:10:09.6566667+00:00

    Hi

    Usually Edge or Windows don't change the default reader automaticly. I suspect a GPO set for Edge overwrite your choice.

    Please check your GPO. 

    User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge

    Always open PDF files externally set it to Enable.

    If you don't have access to the main GPO's console, check if that registry is set, and chnage it to 1;

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft

    AlwaysOpenPdfExternally (DWORD: 1)

    Reboot after, and that should prevent Edge to take back the control of PDF's file.

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  2. Swift 0 Reputation points
    2024-05-03T22:01:38.0566667+00:00

    Finding this thread six months later. I have nothing set in GPO, not part of a domain, and wanted to change PDF default from Chrome to Acrobat. Edge took it over within seconds and I can't set it to anything but Edge now. I will try reboot; if that fails, I will delete Edge.

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