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option to set default program for opening pdf files does not appear

Edge was repeatedly resetting my default browser from Chrome to itself. Now that problem has gone away after a lot of "Set chrome as default browser"
Now I can't assign a default program to open pdf files for me.
When I click on default apps : the "pdf" option does not appear

how can I set a program to always open my pdf files without being asked to choose everytime?

Windows11 user

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Hi Kunal B_070,

I am Dave, I will help you with this.

Open the Settings app, then go to Apps - Default Apps

Scroll down to find the app you want to use to open PDF files and click that app

On the resulting settings page, can you set that as the default for the PDF file type?

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thank u for ur reply. I scrolled through the entire page of which I sent u the screenshot of....its as if my system does not have an option for PDF files...Would appreciate your assistance
I want to set Google chrome to be set as by pdf viewer
however I am not getting pdf option in the the Chrome menu or Edge Menu when i click on them after going to apps>Default appsImage

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Hi Kunal B_070,

Thank you for that information, Widows would not have the PDF file type listed in Chrome settings.

Right click any PDF file and select Properties.

Click the 'Change' button on the resulting dialog box

If Chrome does not appear as an option scroll to the bottom of the resulting menu and click 'Choose an App on your PC'

Then navigate to find the Chrome executable in this location.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application
___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Your chrome path did not work, as chrome is installed in a different directory on my system

Thank you for your reply: I tried the "open the file with "option , then selected the choose an app on your PC: I was getting Chrome and edge under suggested apps and I clicked them, and the file opened.
What I want is to not always have to choose which program will open my pdf.
The "always open with chrome" checkbox just does not appear.

I clicked on properties then I get the following options under which "change" option just does not appear.

Attaching all screenshots for you ...ImageImageImageImageImage

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Hi Kunal B_070,

In your last screenshot of the 'Open With' menu, click 'Choose another App' and the 'Always' button those then appear at the bottom of the next menu.

.
Image
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Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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ImageImage

^^ALWAYS BUTTON IS NOT COMING

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Hi Kunal B_070,

That is very strange, I am running the exact same version of Windows you are, and as you can see, I have that option.

Open the Settings Ap, then go to Apps - Default Apps

Scroll to the bottom of that settings page and select 'Choose Defaults by File Type;.

Scroll down to find the .pdf file type

Click that and you should be able to set Chrome as the default form there.

.
Image
___________________________________________________________________

Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Yes it is strange that is why I am struggling with it.

I have already tried your recent solution.
It seems my system does not know that "pdf files "exist
Image

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Hi Kunal B_070,

Download the registry file from this link.

https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/tutorials...

Then right click that reg file and select 'Merge', then confirm the merge.

Restart (not shut down) your PC to apply that change.

Then, try that last method again, is the PDF file type now recognized?




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Power to the Developer!

MSI GV72 - 17.3", i7-8750H (Hex Core), 32GB DDR4, 4GB GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, 256GB NVMe M2, 2TB HDD

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Thank you for sticking with this issue.
I am very grateful for your assistance; however, the problem is still there...

I got a dialog box telling me that the merge was successful, i restarted the system as you had suggested but still the problem persists.

The method you suggested previously is still not working...."pdf" file extension is just not appearing.

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Last updated April 17, 2025 Views 2,154 Applies to: