How to Make Adobe Reader & Not Professional the Default

It is possible to change your computer's settings to allow Adobe Reader to open PDF files by default.

Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat Professional are both capable of opening Portable Document Files (PDF) on your computer. Adobe Acrobat Professional lets you edit PDF files as well as print them. Adobe Reader doesn't allow editing---only viewing and printing. It is possible to change your system's settings and make Adobe Reader the default application for opening PDFs. This is ideal for PDFs that you don't plan on editing, or if your system is older and is having a difficult time opening Adobe Acrobat Professional.

Instructions

Windows Vista/7

1. Close any open programs or files. Click "Start" and "Control Panel."

2. Click "Programs" then "Default Programs." Click "Set Associations."

3. Scroll down the listing under the heading "Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program" and click on ".pdf."

4. Click the "Change program" button. Click "Adobe Reader" to set it as the default program for opening PDF files.

5. Click "OK." Click "Close."

Windows XP

1. Click "Start" and "My Computer." Click "Tools" and "Folder Options."

2. Click the "File Types" tab. Scroll down the "Registered file types:" listing and click on ".pdf."

3. Click the "Change" button. Click "Adobe Reader" to set it as the default for opening PDF files.

4. Click "OK." Click "Apply" and "Close."

Mac

1. Close any open programs or files.

2. Navigate to your Mac's "Finder" then click on any PDF file to select the file type. Click "File" and "Get Info."

3. Click the down arrow next to "Open With." Scroll down the list of programs and select "Adobe Reader."

4. Click the "Change All" button to set Adobe Reader as the default application for opening PDF files. Then click the red button in the left corner of the "Get Info" box to accept the change.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that you can still open and use Adobe Acrobat Professional for editing your PDFs by manually opening the program from the Windows' "All Programs" menu or the Mac's "Applications" folder.

References

• KB2.Adobe: Wrong Viewer | Acrobat Versus Reader
• Grants: Grants.Gov -- FAQs
• WinVistaClub: How To Set or Change File Associations in Windows 7 & Vista

Resources

• KB2.Adobe: Can't View PDF On The Web