Select-Default-PDF-Viewer.png' alt='How To Undo Adobe Reader As Default' title='How To Undo Adobe Reader As Default' />Windows 1. Change the Default Program for Opening Filesby Elizabeth Kricfalusi, Tech for Luddites. When Microsoft introduced Windows 8 back in 2. Windows Store. These apps are more like ones you install on your smartphone or tablet than the desktop applications you used to install from. CDs or downloaded from a software companys website. But you could still install the latter, making your system a hybrid of traditional programs and new apps. Windows 1. 0 continues this hybrid model, which isnt a bat thing since it lets you choose which version of each program you prefer to work with. The problem arises when theres a Windows 1. What do I mean by default programs The best example for me is Microsofts Reader app for reading PDF files. I prefer to use Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader if Im on a computer where Acrobat isnt installed to read PDFs because Im more familiar with it. And while I can just open Acrobat and then browse for the PDF file I want to readwork on, there are times when I just double click on a PDF file to open it, e. How To Undo Adobe Reader As Default' title='How To Undo Adobe Reader As Default' />I get a PDF attachment in an email or from a link on a website. When I did that before it would automatically open Acrobat, but after I installed Windows 8 and then 1. Microsofts Reader app instead. That app would also open automatically when I create a PDF file from another program like Word. And its not just Reader. Most of the defaults are set to built in Microsoft apps instead of third party programs that you may prefer, e. Edge browser instead of Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc. LCsPl.png' alt='How To Undo Adobe Reader As Default' title='How To Undo Adobe Reader As Default' />And it even happens with Microsofts own standalone programsfor example, I use Outlook for email but the default for Windows 1. Mail app. Ugh. Changing the default program for specific file types. There are two ways you can change what program opens by default for any given file type. Click the Start button and start typing Default. After a few letters, Default Programs will appear in the search results. Click that. The window that opens has a few of the more popular apps listed, like email and browser, but not one for opening PDF files. Scroll down and click the Choose Default Apps by File Type link. A screen will appear listing all the different file types and the default programs theyre currently associated with. Scroll down to the file type for which you want to change the default program. Click the icon for the current default program. A menu will open up that lets you select from programs installed on your computer that can open that file type. NOTE If the one you want isnt listed, you can scroll down and click the link to look for a new app in the Windows Store. Now when I double click on the PDF file in my email, Adobe Acrobat automatically launches instead of Microsoft Reader. Woo hoo BUT WAITThe process above has one major limitation. A Minor Upgrade In A Software Product Is Called there. Sometimes the program you want isnt already listed in the dropdown menu and if its not a Windows Store app, youre stuck. In that case, we can go back to a classic Windows tool Control Panel. UPDATE The Windows 1. Fall Creators Update, released in October 2. Control Panel from the Start buttons right click menu. Even though you can find it by clicking the button and typing in Control Panel, its also changed the links so they go to the new Settings interface instead of the classic Control Panel. As a result, theres a new way to get to the window you need to change the default program, which Ive updated in the steps below. These steps will work even if you havent received the update yet. Click the Start button and type in Run and click the Run link in the search results. Copy and paste the following text into the Open field. Microsoft. Default. Programs page page. File. Assoc. This will open the Set Associations window, which lets you choose default programs based on the file extension. Scroll down and select the one you want to change and then click the Change Program button. Youll get another list of programs that can open that file type. If your program isnt listed there, you can scroll down and click the More Apps link. If your program STILL isnt there, scroll down AGAIN yes, its ridiculous and click Look for Another App on this PC. Now a dialog box will open up that lets you browse to the. Select it and click the Open button to set it as the new default. NOTE When the Browse dialog opens, it will automatically start at the Program Files folder on your computer. Depending on the application you want, you may have to go up a level to the Program Files x. Setting different programs for opening and editing files. A T4. L reader commented below that in Windows XP aka Microsofts Best Operating System Ever you could set different programs for opening a file vs. You cant do it easily in Windows 1. I did find one article that shows how to change the program for the Edit menu for one application by editing a registry entry. I havent tested it myself and you always have to be careful when making changes to the registry, but if you need to do this, you can check it out to see if it will work for your purposes How to Use the Windows Right Click Edit to Launch Photoshop Instead of MS Paint Tek. Revue, 0. 80. 71. You may also be interested in Windows 8. Change the Default Program for Opening Files. Microsoft Products News, Views, How Tos. Filed Under Apps, How To, Popular, User Interface, Windows 1. Tagged With PDFIf you found this post helpful, maybe your friends will too hint, hint To receive future blog posts in your Inbox, please fill out the form below. Im using Acrobat Standard 8. I made a change to the program and I cant undo it. It started when I installed voice recognition for Microsoft Word. PDF creation from Excel, and PDF to Excel.