How to Change the Default Email Address Used to Send PDFs in Acrobat
Question details
The user needs to update or change the email address that automatically populates when creating a draft message to send a PDF document.

- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Adobe Reader
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Sending a PDF file as an email attachment directly from within the PDF reader application.
- Observed behavior
- The application uses an obsolete or incorrect email address to draft the message instead of the user's current active email account.
Before proceeding, ensure you have the login credentials for your correct email account and confirm which desktop email application (such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail) you intend to use.
Update the Default Account in Your Email Client
Because Acrobat relies on your computer's default email application to handle messages, you must change the default sender address directly within that email program.
Adobe Acrobat and Reader do not store the sender email address internally. Instead, they pass the PDF document and the send request to the default mail client configured on your operating system. To resolve the outdated email address issue, the configuration must be updated in your mail client.
Launch your primary desktop email application, such as Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, or Windows Mail.
Navigate to the account settings within your email client and set your correct, current email address as the default account for sending new messages.
If you no longer use the old email address, remove or delete that account profile from your email client entirely.
Close Adobe Acrobat completely and reopen the application to allow it to recognize the updated system email settings.
In Acrobat, open a PDF and go to 'File' > 'Send File' > 'Default Email Application' to confirm that the draft message now generates with the correct sender address.

Seamlessly Manage and Email PDFs with WPS Office
If you frequently encounter configuration issues when trying to share documents, consider using WPS Office. It provides a built-in, user-friendly PDF tool that allows you to open, edit, and email your PDFs effortlessly without dealing with complex application handoffs.
- 1. Open Your PDF in WPS Office: Launch the WPS Office application and open the PDF file you wish to send.
- 2. Click on the Share Button: Locate and click the 'Share' icon situated in the top right corner of the document interface.
- 3. Select the Email Option: Choose 'Email' from the sharing options. WPS Office will instantly package your PDF and attach it to a new draft in your configured email client.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat keep using an old email address even though I don't use it anymore?
Acrobat does not actively store your email address; it simply commands your computer's default email client (like Outlook) to create a new message. If your default email client still has the old account set as the primary sender, Acrobat will utilize that address.
How do I change the default email application on Windows?
On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps. Search for 'Email' and select the application you want to handle your emails. Acrobat will respect this system-level choice the next time you send a PDF.
Can I configure Acrobat to use webmail like Gmail to send PDFs?
Yes. In Acrobat, you can navigate to Edit > Preferences (or Acrobat > Preferences on Mac), select 'Email Accounts' from the left pane, and click 'Add Account'. You can then sign in to your Gmail or other webmail service and set it as the default for sending documents.




