Chrome PDF Opens in Browser Instead of Adobe: Fix Now

Are you tired of your PDFs opening in Google Chrome instead of Adobe Acrobat Reader? You're not alone. Many users face this issue, and it can be quite frustrating when you want to edit or annotate your PDFs. Let's delve into why this happens and how you can rectify this situation.

Before we dive into solutions, it's crucial to understand that Google Chrome has its own built-in PDF viewer. While it's convenient for quick previews, it lacks the advanced features that Adobe Acrobat Reader offers. So, when you click on a PDF file, Chrome might open it by default, bypassing Adobe Reader.

Why Does Chrome Open PDFs Instead of Adobe Reader?

There could be several reasons why Chrome is opening your PDFs instead of Adobe Reader. One common reason is that Chrome has been set as the default application for PDF files. Another possibility is that you might have accidentally disabled Adobe Reader as your PDF handler.

In some cases, your PDF might be opening in Chrome due to a browser extension. Certain extensions can interfere with the default PDF handling settings. It's worth checking if any of your extensions are causing this issue.

Check Your Default PDF Application

If Chrome has been set as the default application for PDF files, you can change this setting to open PDFs with Adobe Reader.

Here's how you can do it on Windows and macOS:

• Windows: Right-click on a PDF file, select 'Properties', go to the 'General' tab, click 'Change', and choose 'Adobe Acrobat Reader DC'.
• macOS: Right-click on a PDF file, select 'Open With', then click the 'Always Open With' option and choose 'Adobe Acrobat Reader DC'.

Check Your Browser Settings

Sometimes, the issue might be with your browser settings. You can check if Adobe Reader is set as the PDF handler in Chrome.

Here's how you can do it:

1. Open Chrome and navigate to 'chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments'.
2. Under 'PDF documents', find 'Adobe Acrobat Reader DC' and ensure it's set to 'Allow'.

How to Fix PDFs Opening in Chrome Instead of Adobe Reader

If changing the default application and browser settings didn't work, there are a few other steps you can take to fix this issue.

Before proceeding, ensure that Adobe Acrobat Reader DC is installed on your computer. If not, download and install the latest version from the official Adobe website.

Check Your Browser Extensions

As mentioned earlier, browser extensions can sometimes interfere with the default PDF handling settings. To check if an extension is causing the issue:

1. Open Chrome and navigate to 'chrome://extensions'.
2. Toggle the 'Enable' switch at the top right to turn off all extensions temporarily.
3. Try opening a PDF file. If it opens with Adobe Reader, an extension is likely causing the issue.
4. Enable the extensions one by one and test each one to find the culprit.

Use the 'Open With' Option

If all else fails, you can use the 'Open With' option to open your PDFs with Adobe Reader.

Here's how you can do it:

• Right-click on the PDF file and select 'Open With'.
• Scroll down and click 'More apps'.
• Find 'Adobe Acrobat Reader DC' in the list and select it.

Remember, this method only opens the current PDF with Adobe Reader. If you want to set Adobe Reader as the default application for all PDFs, you'll need to follow the steps mentioned earlier.

In conclusion, while it can be frustrating when your PDFs open in Chrome instead of Adobe Reader, there are several steps you can take to rectify this situation. From checking your default application and browser settings to disabling browser extensions, there's always a solution to this common issue. If you're still having trouble, consider reaching out to Adobe's customer support for further assistance.