How to Change Default PDF Viewer on Windows 11

Changing the default PDF viewer on Windows 11 allows you to use your preferred application for viewing and managing PDF files. Whether you need advanced features like annotation, splitting, merging PDFs, or simply want to open PDFs with a different browser or application, Windows 11 makes it easy to set your default choice.

Changing the Default PDF Viewer from Settings

Adjusting the default PDF viewer is straightforward through the Settings app on your Windows 11 device.

Step 1: Click on the Start menu and select the Settings app from the pinned apps section. Alternatively, you can search for "Settings" in the Start menu search bar.

Step 2: In the Settings window, select the Apps tab from the left sidebar.

Step 3: From the right pane, click on the Default apps option.

Step 4: In the search bar under "Set a default for a file type or link type," type .pdf. Click on the .pdf search result that appears below to change its default app.

Step 5: A prompt may appear asking you to "Switch anyway." Click on Switch anyway to proceed.

Step 6: From the list of available apps, select your preferred PDF viewer. If you don't see it listed, click on More apps to expand the list. Once selected, click OK to set it as the default.

Your PDF files will now open with the application you've chosen.

Alternative Method Using App Settings

You can also set the default PDF viewer by selecting your preferred application and configuring it to open PDF files.

Step 1: In the Default apps settings, scroll down to the "Set defaults for applications" section. Use the search bar to find your preferred PDF application or manually scroll to locate it.

Step 2: Click on the app to see all the file types it supports.

Step 3: Scroll through the list and find the .pdf file type. Click on the current default app listed under it.

Step 4: In the prompt that appears, choose your preferred PDF viewer from the list. If necessary, click More apps to find it. Then, click OK to confirm.

Your default PDF viewer has now been changed to your selected application.

If you prefer a quicker method without navigating through the Settings app, you can change the default PDF viewer directly from the file itself.

Step 1: Open File Explorer by clicking the File Explorer icon on the taskbar or pressing Windows + E on your keyboard. Navigate to a folder containing a PDF file.