How to Open PDF Links in Adobe Acrobat Instead of Microsoft Edge
Question details
The user wants to open PDF URLs directly in Adobe Acrobat rather than having them open in Microsoft Edge's built-in PDF viewer.
- Product
- Microsoft Edge / Adobe Acrobat
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Clicking on a PDF link in a web browser.
- Observed behavior
- The PDF file opens inside the Microsoft Edge browser instead of launching the dedicated Adobe Acrobat desktop application.
Ensure that Adobe Acrobat is installed on your computer and updated to the latest version. You will also need to adjust settings within Microsoft Edge and your operating system's default apps.
Change Edge PDF Settings and Set Acrobat as Default
Since web URLs must be processed by a browser first, you need to force Edge to download the PDF and then tell your system to open downloaded PDFs with Adobe Acrobat.
Web browsers cannot directly pass a URL to a desktop PDF reader. Instead, you must configure the browser to download the file automatically, and then set your operating system to open all PDF files with your preferred application.
Launch Microsoft Edge, click the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner, and select 'Settings'.
In the left sidebar, click on 'Cookies and site permissions', then scroll down and click on 'PDF documents'.
Toggle on the switch for 'Always download PDF files'. This prevents Edge from opening them in its built-in viewer.
Right-click any downloaded PDF file on your computer, select 'Open with' > 'Choose another app'. Select 'Adobe Acrobat', check the box for 'Always use this app to open .pdf files', and click 'OK'.
Use WPS PDF as Your Default PDF Application
If you are looking for a fast, lightweight, and feature-rich alternative to Adobe Acrobat, WPS Office provides a comprehensive PDF tool. You can easily set WPS PDF as your default viewer to handle all downloaded PDF files seamlessly.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Default App Settings: Go to your Windows Settings, select 'Apps', and then click on 'Default apps'.
- 3. Set WPS PDF as Default: Scroll down to 'Choose default apps by file type', locate '.pdf', and change the default application to WPS PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do PDF links always open in my browser?
By default, modern web browsers like Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome have built-in PDF viewers enabled. When you click a PDF URL, the browser processes the link and displays the file internally rather than downloading it.
Can I make a web URL open directly in Adobe Acrobat without downloading?
No, a web URL must first be processed by a web browser. You cannot associate a web link directly with a desktop PDF application. The file must be downloaded first.
How do I stop Chrome from opening PDFs?
In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Additional content settings > PDF documents, and select the option to 'Download PDFs' instead of opening them in Chrome.
What should I do if the 'Always use this app' option is missing?
If the option is missing in the right-click menu, you can change the default app through Windows Settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Choose default apps by file type, and assign Adobe Acrobat to the .pdf extension.
