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PDF Opening Issues

How to Open PDFs with Adobe Acrobat in Google Chrome

Elise WilliamsElise Williams Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to view and interact with online PDFs in Adobe Acrobat through Google Chrome and needs instructions on setting Adobe Acrobat as the default PDF application on their system.

How to Access Adobe Acrobat and Document Cloud in Google Chrome
Product
Adobe Acrobat, Google Chrome
Device & OS
Windows and Mac
Scenario
Trying to automatically open PDF files with Adobe Acrobat instead of Chrome's default browser viewer.
Observed behavior
PDFs are opening natively in Google Chrome rather than launching in Adobe Acrobat or Document Cloud.
Before you start

Ensure you have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC or the free Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, and verify that your Google Chrome browser is updated to the latest version.

Solution 1Recommended

Install the Adobe Acrobat Extension for Google Chrome

Use the official Adobe Chrome extension to open, view, and interact with online PDFs directly through Adobe Document Cloud.

Adding the Acrobat extension allows your browser to seamlessly communicate with Adobe's PDF tools, bypassing Chrome's basic built-in viewer.

1
Visit the Chrome Web Store

Open Google Chrome, navigate to the Chrome Web Store, and search for the 'Adobe Acrobat: PDF edit, convert, sign tools' extension.

2
Add Extension to Chrome

Click the 'Add to Chrome' button and click 'Add extension' on the pop-up prompt to confirm the installation.

3
Enable PDF Links

Click the puzzle piece icon in the top right of Chrome, pin the Acrobat extension, click on it, and follow the prompts to allow it to open web PDFs in Acrobat.

Install the Adobe Acrobat Extension for Google Chrome
Alternative PDF Solution

Easily View, Edit, and Manage PDFs with WPS Office

Looking for an all-in-one alternative? WPS Office features a robust, built-in PDF reader and editor that easily handles all your document needs without the hassle of configuring browser plugins.

  1. 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website, download the free WPS Office installer, and complete the setup process.
  2. 2. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office, navigate to the 'PDF' tab, and open your downloaded PDF document instantly.
  3. 3. Set as Default Viewer: Go to your system's default apps settings or right-click a PDF to set WPS Office as your permanent PDF handler.
Lightweight, fast, and feature-rich PDF viewer and editorHighly compatible with standard PDFs and Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)Free to download with an intuitive, familiar interfaceEasily set as your system's default application for a seamless workflow
microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my downloaded PDFs still open in Chrome instead of Adobe Acrobat?

Google Chrome has its own built-in PDF viewer enabled by default. To fix this, open Chrome Settings, go to 'Privacy and security' > 'Site Settings' > 'Additional content settings' > 'PDF documents', and select 'Download PDFs' instead of 'Open PDFs in Chrome'.

Can I use the free Acrobat Reader DC instead of Acrobat Pro DC?

Yes, Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is free and can easily be set as your default application for viewing PDFs. However, if you need to edit or modify the PDF content, you will need the paid Acrobat Pro DC or a comprehensive alternative like WPS Office.

How do I make Adobe Reader my default PDF app on a Mac?

Right-click any PDF file and select 'Get Info'. In the information window, expand the 'Open with' section, select Adobe Reader from the dropdown list, and then click the 'Change All' button to apply this setting to all future PDFs.