How do I stop Windows 10 changing default PDF application to Microsoft Edge (1 Viewer)

isladogs · Oct 19, 2017

Hi

The title says it all.

I'm using Windows 10.
My default browser is Chrome rather than Edge

I also prefer to use Acrobat Reader for viewing PDF files.
However at regular intervals, the default application is changed to the Edge browser.
Not sure what triggers the default app to revert e.g. whether it happens after Windows Update runs

Whilst I can change it back, it is a pain to have to do so repeatedly.

Anyone know how I can make the setting 'stick'

Minty · Oct 19, 2017

Have a gander here;
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...f/57f12003-4f05-481f-bdfb-c0b892f592f6?auth=1

Gasman · Oct 19, 2017

I would have thought it will be after an update Colin.
I regularly have to amend my settings in Outlook after an update ro run my templates again without all the security warnings. However I use Foxit pdf reader and that has never been affected?
Strange?

isladogs · Oct 19, 2017

Hi

Thanks for the replies which I've only just spotted ...

Gasman:
I'm sure it does happen whenever Windows does an update.
Sounds like you need a similar fix for your Outlook templates

Minty:
Thanks for the link which I hadn't seen before
I wouldn't mind so much if Edge had the same features as Acrobat Reader e.g. bookmarks etc

Anyway, I've just applied the 'fix' suggested in the link Minty provided using the Local Group Policy Editor.
Hopefully disabling this doesn't have other unwanted side effects....

Thanks again

Minty · Oct 20, 2017

Glad to help - Keep me informed if it works, I had the issue and it seems to have gone away using that fix.

isladogs · Nov 7, 2017

Hi

Well the fix provided by Minty worked for a couple of weeks but the default for PDF files has been changed AGAIN from Acrobat Reader to Microsoft Edge. Grrrrr......

Any other ides for preventing this would be much welcomed!

Minty · Nov 8, 2017

Hmmm - I haven't had the problem return.

Did you point the front of the PC to the east and recite Macbeth when you applied the fix?
(They may not have mentioned this essential fact on the link...)

isladogs · Nov 8, 2017

Oh bugger ... knew I'd forgotten something ...!

P.S I like the idea of using almost invisible text on the last line of your post

However, the notification email showed it normally in black

See below ....
Gotcha!

Gasman · Nov 8, 2017

Colin,
Do you particularly want Acrobat for pdf files?
I use Foxit and have not had this problem. When I left work tonight a massive update was starting, so will see the result tomorrow, but I was wondering if installing Foxit and making that the default pdf application would have any effect?

isladogs · Nov 8, 2017

I've tried various PDF readers but not heard of Foxit

The reason I prefer Acrobat Reader is that it can handle bookmarks in documents like so:

Edge still can't do so which is why I get so annoyed with the default reverting.
What about Foxit?

Gasman · Nov 9, 2017

Colin,

I have just had the Fall Creators's update installed last night and this morning.
Opened a NAS pdf manual and pic attached.
Foxit supports bookmarks no problem. If for nothing else worth testing to try an isolate the problem?

It really is a good program, though I haven't explored half ot it's features, just faster that Acrobat and smaller.

isladogs · Nov 9, 2017

Thanks. I'll check it out

Gasman · Nov 9, 2017

BTW it appears Edge does support bookmarks, just does not show them constantly.?
Need to click the icon or Alt + T all the time, presumably to save space as soon as you click a page it disappears?

isladogs · Nov 9, 2017

Excuse me for being dense but where is the icon I need to click on to show bookmarks in Edge? Nothing shown on the black bar that hides itself.
Also Alt+T doesn't seem to do anything in Edge

Unless the changes you mention were added in the latest Windows update.
I'm still on version 1703 i.e. not the fall Creators update yet

Just discovered Chrome also reads PDFs & shows bookmarks

Also, I've just installed Foxit & first impressions are very good.
Many thanks

Gasman · Nov 9, 2017

Hi Colin,
I do not use Edge, but opened it up to see your problem.
If I open a pdf the black bar is shown for a short time, then disappears. If I click in the window it reappears.

I have Microsoft Edge 41.16299.15.0, though not sure if it was updated in the recent update?

Gasman · Nov 9, 2017

Sorry Colin,

I've just looked at another users machine and she has Microsoft Edge 40.15063.674.0 and as you say the TOC icon is not present.

I've tried looking at the windows updates log, but the recent update has wiped out eveything but the two entries for today. If I click on the link for the update it goes to a missing page.

isladogs · Nov 9, 2017

I also have Edge version 40.15063.674.0

Anyway, thanks for checking
Good to know the bookmarks feature is in the latest update anyway ...

Anyway, I'll definitely give Foxit a god run for its money ... apart from the fact its free!

isladogs · Nov 10, 2017

Here we go again ....
This just appeared in the Win10 Action centre:

The really odd thing is that neither Edge nor Windows have been updated in the past couple of days.

The other app that's changed is Films & TV for avi files - no idea what the default was before nor why it told me twice!

It really is determined not to let me have my own way ...

Default changed back to Foxit ....

Gasman · Nov 10, 2017

Hmm, that seems to infer it is doing it for your own good.

I constantly get messages telling me Edge is faster and more secure than the Chrome and Firefox I use. Strangely it never complains about Pale Moon.?

Have you tried running sfc/ scannow under an administrator command window and see if that finds anything?

It at least explains why mine does not get changed though and yours does.

I've just been unable to email an excel workbook or a word document from within Excel/Word today and had to rename mapi32.dll to get it all back as it should.

That took a bit of googling.

Gasman · Nov 10, 2017

Have you tried this?

https://winaero.com/blog/prevent-windows-10-from-resetting-your-default-apps/

How do I stop Windows 10 changing default PDF application to Microsoft Edge (1 Viewer)

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