How to Stop Adobe from Automatically Opening a PDF? 4 Effective Ways

Imagine this: you are downloading files from your Gmail account to your desktop just as you always do. However, one day, as soon as the file finishes downloading, it opens automatically with Adobe Acrobat. This frustrating scenario was shared by one of the users on Adobe’s forum:

For many users, this can be quite frustrating when you’re simply trying to download multiple files without any interruptions. It can lead to system lags and slowdowns, disrupting your workflow even more. If you are struggling with this software issue, our guide will show you how to stop Adobe from automatically opening a PDF. 

Part 1. Why Does Adobe Acrobat Open a PDF Automatically?

If Adobe Acrobat automatically opens PDFs every time you download them, there are a few reasons why this might be happening:

You Set Adobe Acrobat as the Default Software for PDFs

One of the common reasons for Adobe Acrobat opening your PDF files automatically is that the software has been set as the default application for PDFs. Usually, operating systems such as Windows and macOS allow users to choose a default application to open PDFs. If you select Adobe Acrobat as the default, whenever you download or double-click a PDF, the system will check the app’s settings and open it in Adobe. This is convenient for people who need to view and edit their PDFs frequently, but it is intrusive for users who want to manage downloaded files manually.

Settings in Your Browser Trigger Opening Your PDFs Automatically

Browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox, have settings that can be used for handling files. If your browser is configured to automatically open PDFs once they finish downloading, Adobe Acrobat will open them by default. This can happen when accidentally selecting “Always open files of this type” for any PDF you downloaded in the past.

By understanding these two key reasons, you can take the essential steps to prevent Adobe from opening PDFs automatically and handle your files according to your preferences.

Part 2. How to Stop Adobe Acrobat from Opening a PDF Automatically?

In this section, we will show you 4 different solutions that will help you to prevent Adobe Acrobat from opening your PDFs automatically.

Way 1. Change the Default Setting for Opening a PDF on the Computer

If you’ve set Adobe Acrobat as the default software for opening your files, any PDF you download will open with Adobe Acrobat. Thankfully, you can change this setting and choose a different application to open your files, such as UPDF, your web browser, or any other tool. If you prefer a cheaper and better alternative to Adobe Acrobat to read and edit PDF, you can download UPDF via the button below and follow the below guide to change the default app for opening a PDF to UPDF.

Here is how you can change the default settings on Windows and Mac computers:

 Windows

1. Locate any PDF file on your computer and right-click on it. Then select “Properties” from the menu.
2. In the new window, select “Opens with” and click the “Choose Other Apps” button.
3. Now choose a new default software like UPDF and click on the “Always” to change it. Now whenever you download the PDF, it will not open automatically.

Mac

• Locate any PDF file on your computer and right-click on it. Then select “Get Info”.

• Now choose your preferred tool from the dropdown in “Open with” section. Here, I select UPDF.

• Click the “Change All” button below the dropdown to save it. Now, when you download the PDF, it will not open automatically.

You may feel confused about why to use UPDF as the default app instead of other software or Adobe Acrobat. Here are the reasons:

1. UPDF is much cheaper than other tools like Adobe Acrobat.
2. It has all features that Adobe Acrobat or other PDF editors have.It can provide a better experience in opening and reading big PDF with a lot of images.
3. It has some advanced features that other PDF editors or Adobe Acrobat do not have like chatting with images, converting PDF to Mind Map, stickers, etc.

Don’t wait - Download UPDF and test it as your default PDF software now.

Way 2. Change the Browser Settings

Another option you can try is changing the browser settings. Sometimes your browser can be configured to open PDF files automatically. Disabling this setting will allow you to download PDF files without any interruptions.

Follow these steps to change the settings in Google Chrome:

• Open your Chrome browser and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Then Select “Settings”.

• Scroll down and click “Privacy and security”. Then select “Site Settings”.

• Click “Additional content settings”.

• Locate and click “PDF documents”.

• Choose the option that says, “Download PDFs” instead of “Open PDFs in Chrome”. If "Download PDFs” is already selected, select the other option and then change it back to “Download PDFs”.

• Restart your browser.

 

Way 3. Change the Setting in Adobe Acrobat on Windows

If Adobe Acrobat is automatically opening your PDFs, it could be due to settings within the application. Adjusting these settings can help you prevent this problem. However, this setting is only available in Windows.

Follow these steps:

• Open your Adobe Acrobat and click “Menu” on Windows. Then select “Preferences”.

• In the new window, click “General” and disable the option “Open PDFs automatically in Reader when they are downloaded in Chrome browser”. Click on the “OK” to save it. Now, you will not have the problem any more.

Way 4. Always Open with System Viewer

There is a setting called “Always open with system viewer” in Google Chrome that could be triggering your downloaded PDFs to open automatically. 

Follow these steps to disable this setting:

• Open your Google Chrome and download a PDF file. Then click the arrow in the top-right corner for recent downloads.

• Now right-click on any downloaded PDF and uncheck the “Always open with system viewer” option.

Part 3. Bonus Tip: The Best PDF Reader/Editor - UPDF

If you have problems with Adobe Acrobat automatically opening downloaded PDFs, there is one simple solution: UPDF. Using UPDF will not only eliminate this issue, but also help you advance your work. You can download UPDF via the button below to test it.

As UPDF is much cheaper than Adobe Acrobat and offers the same features as well as AI integration, you can upgrade at a low price here after testing and enjoy all the features without limitation.

Key Features of UPDF:

• PDF Reading & Viewing – UPDF offers seamless PDF opening without any auto-launch issues, easy scrolling, and navigation as well as multiple reading modes.
• PDF Editing – The software offers various editing tools for editing text, and images, adding, or replacing content. You can also annotate and comment sections of your PDF.
• AI Integration – UPDF's AI will help you summarize PDFs, generate ideas, translate text, or search for key document insights.

If you would like to learn more about UPDF, we encourage you to read this comprehensive review. Also, we created a video guide on how to open and read PDFs with UPDF here:

Final Words

We hope this guide helped you solve the problem of Adobe automatically opening PDF files. You can prevent this issue from occurring in the future by switching to a different software such as UPDF. From seamless PDF reading and editing to advanced AI, UPDF provides a feature-rich and affordable experience. Download UPDF today and take your editing to the next level.