How to Set Photoshop as Default Image Editor in Adobe Acrobat
Question details
Configure Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to use Adobe Photoshop instead of Microsoft Paint for editing images within PDF files.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Pro DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Right-clicking an embedded image in a PDF and choosing to edit it using an external editor.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat offers Microsoft Paint as the only image editor, ignoring the Photoshop installation and Acrobat preference settings.
Ensure that Adobe Photoshop is properly installed and updated via the Creative Cloud desktop app, and save any open documents before restarting Acrobat to apply changes.
Manually Select the Photoshop Executable in Acrobat Preferences
Bypass the default system assignment by manually pointing Acrobat to the exact file path of the Photoshop application.
Sometimes Adobe Acrobat fails to automatically detect Photoshop even when it is installed via Creative Cloud. Manually browsing to the executable file forces Acrobat to recognize the correct application.
Launch Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, click on the 'Edit' menu at the top, and select 'Preferences'.
In the left-hand pane of the Preferences window, select 'Content Editing' under the Categories list.
Locate the 'Image Editor' section and click on the 'Image Editor' button (or the pencil/browse icon).
Navigate to the Photoshop installation folder (typically C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Version]\) and select the 'Photoshop.exe' file. Click 'Open', then click 'OK' to save the preferences.
Close Adobe Acrobat completely and reopen it for the changes to take effect.
Update the Operating System's Default App Associations
Change your computer's default application settings so Acrobat correctly inherits Photoshop as the primary handler for image formats.
Edit Images in PDFs Directly with WPS Office
Skip the hassle of configuring external image editors. WPS Office provides native, easy-to-use image editing tools directly within your PDF documents so you can make adjustments instantly.
- 1. Open the PDF File: Launch WPS Office and open the PDF document containing the images you want to modify.
- 2. Enter Edit Mode: Navigate to the 'Edit' tab located on the top toolbar and select the 'Edit Content' option.
- 3. Select the Target Image: Click directly on the image you wish to edit to display the image modification handles and settings menu.
- 4. Apply Image Adjustments: Use the built-in tools to crop, rotate, flip, or completely replace the image without leaving the application.
- 5. Save Your Document: Click the 'Save' icon or press Ctrl+S to secure your updated PDF document instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat default to Microsoft Paint instead of Photoshop?
Acrobat often defaults to the operating system's registered default image viewer or editor. If Photoshop is not explicitly set as the system-wide default for image formats, or if Acrobat loses the file path, it will fall back to default programs like Microsoft Paint.
Where is the Photoshop executable file located on Windows?
By default, the Photoshop executable file (Photoshop.exe) is typically located in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [Version]\. You will need to navigate to this exact folder when manually browsing for the editor in Acrobat Preferences.
Do I need to restart Acrobat after changing the default image editor?
Yes, after updating the Image Editor preference or changing system app defaults, you must completely close and restart Adobe Acrobat for the new settings to be applied successfully.
Can I set different editors for different image formats in Acrobat?
Acrobat's internal Content Editing preferences generally assign a single primary editor. However, if you rely on the operating system's 'Open with' method instead of Acrobat's preferences, Acrobat may respect the specific default application assigned to each file extension.
