How to Change Preferred PDF Viewer on Mac?

As a tech blogger, I understand the importance of personalizing your computer experience to suit your specific needs and preferences. One such customization option is changing the preferred PDF viewer on your Mac. By default, macOS comes with the Preview app for opening PDF files, but you may prefer using a different application for various reasons. In this tutorial, I will guide you through the steps to change your preferred PDF viewer on Mac and explore the pros and cons of doing so.

Step 1: Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
Step 2: From the drop-down menu, select "System Preferences."
Step 3: In the System Preferences window, click on "General."
Step 4: On the General tab, locate the section labeled "Default web browser."
Step 5: Click on the dropdown menu next to "Default web browser" and select the PDF viewer of your choice.

By following these simple steps, you can easily change the preferred PDF viewer on your Mac. Now let’s consider the pros and cons of this customization.

Changing the preferred PDF viewer on your Mac can be a beneficial customization, allowing you to tailor your computing experience to your liking. However, it’s important to consider the potential drawbacks and make an informed decision based on your specific requirements.

With this tutorial, you now have the knowledge to personalize your PDF viewing experience on your Mac. Enjoy exploring different PDF viewers and finding the one that best suits your needs!

Video Tutorial: How do I change the default document opener?

How do I make Adobe Reader my default PDF reader on Mac?

To make Adobe Reader your default PDF reader on a Mac, follow these steps:

1. Ensure that you have Adobe Reader installed on your Mac. If not, download and install it from the Adobe website.

2. Open a Finder window by clicking on the Finder icon in the Dock.

3. Locate any PDF file on your Mac. Right-click on the PDF file and select "Get Info" from the contextual menu. Alternatively, you can select the file and press Command + I to open the Get Info window.

4. In the Get Info window, under the "Open with" section, click on the dropdown menu and select Adobe Reader as the application to open all PDF files.

5. To apply this change to all PDF files, click on the "Change All…" button adjacent to the dropdown menu. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click "Continue" to proceed with the change.

6. Close the Get Info window.

Adobe Reader is now set as the default PDF reader on your Mac. From now on, whenever you double-click on a PDF file, it will automatically open in Adobe Reader.

Note: If you do not see Adobe Reader as an option in the "Open with" section, click on the "Other…" option, browse for Adobe Reader in the Applications folder, select it, and click on the "Add" button. Then follow steps 5 and 6 to complete the process.

How do I change my preferred PDF viewer?

To change your preferred PDF viewer, follow these steps:

1. Identify your current default PDF viewer: Check the software/application that currently opens your PDF files by default. This may vary depending on your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, etc.) or any third-party software you might have installed.

2. Determine your desired PDF viewer: Decide on the PDF viewer you want to set as the default option. There are several options available, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit Reader, Google Chrome, or Microsoft Edge. Ensure that your chosen viewer is already installed on your system.

3. Windows:
– Right-click on any PDF file.
– Select "Open with" and then "Choose another app" (Windows 10) or "Open with" followed by "Choose another program" (Windows 7 or 8).
– A dialog box will appear with a list of available applications. Choose your preferred PDF viewer from the list.
– If your desired viewer is not listed, click on "More apps" (Windows 10) or "Browse…" (Windows 7 or 8) to locate the application manually.
– Once you have selected the desired PDF viewer, make sure to check the option that says "Always use this app to open .pdf files" (or similar wording) to set it as the default viewer.

4. macOS:
– Right-click or Control-click on any PDF file.
– From the context menu, select "Get Info."
– In the Info window that appears, expand the "Open with" section.
– Choose your preferred PDF viewer from the drop-down menu.
– If your desired viewer is not listed, click on "Other…" to locate and select it manually.
– Finally, click on "Change All" to set the selected viewer as the default for all PDF files.

5. Linux:
– The process may vary depending on your Linux distribution and desktop environment. However, some general steps can be followed.
– Right-click on any PDF file.
– Select "Open with" or "Open with other application."
– A list of available applications will appear. Choose your preferred PDF viewer.
– If your desired viewer is not listed, click on "Choose application" or "Show other applications" to locate and select it manually.
– Ensure that you check the option to remember the selection, so the chosen viewer becomes the default for future PDF files.

It’s worth mentioning that these instructions can vary slightly depending on specific software versions and updates. However, the general approach should allow you to change your default PDF viewer in most cases.

How do I change my default PDF viewer on Apple?

To change the default PDF viewer on Apple, follow these steps:

1. Identify the PDF viewer apps installed on your device: Go to your home screen and locate any PDF viewer apps you have installed, such as Adobe Acrobat, PDF Expert, or any other third-party PDF viewer app.

2. Open the Settings app: Tap on the "Settings" app icon, which looks like a gear.

3. Scroll down and find the app settings: Scroll down the Settings menu and look for the section that lists the installed apps on your device. It might be named "Apps," "Applications," or something similar.

4. Select the PDF viewer app: Tap on the PDF viewer app you want to set as the default for opening PDF files.

5. Access the app settings: Within the app settings, you should find an option to set it as the default app for PDF files. The wording may vary depending on the app, but look for options like "Default App," "Default File Type," or "Open by Default."

6. Change the default setting: Tap on the relevant option, and then choose the "PDF" or "PDF Viewer" option if available. If multiple options are available, select the one that suits your preference.

7. Confirm the change: Once you have selected the PDF viewer app as the default, exit the app settings, and return to the home screen or any app where you have a PDF file. Open a PDF file, and it should now be opened by the new default viewer app you selected.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to change the default PDF viewer app on your Apple device to your preferred choice.

How do I change the default file opener on my Mac?

To change the default file opener on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Locate the file you want to change the default opener for.
2. Right-click on the file and select "Get Info" from the contextual menu.
3. In the Info window that appears, you’ll see a section called "Open with."
4. Click on the dropdown menu next to "Open with" and select the application you want to use as the default opener.
5. If the application you want to use is not listed, click on the "Other" option, navigate to the desired application, and select it.
6. Once you’ve selected the default opener, click on the "Change All" button just below the dropdown menu.
7. A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you want to change the default opener for all files of this type. Confirm this action by clicking on the "Continue" button.

Following these steps, your Mac will now use the selected application as the default opener for that particular file type. The process may vary slightly depending on your macOS version, but the general steps remain the same.

What is the default PDF viewer for Mac?

The default PDF viewer for Mac is Preview. Preview is a pre-installed application in Mac operating systems, and it serves as a versatile tool for viewing and editing various file formats, including PDFs.

Here are the steps to open a PDF file using the Preview app:

1. Locate the PDF file on your Mac.
2. Double-click on the PDF file to open it.
3. The file will open in the Preview app by default.
4. You can navigate through the pages using the sidebar on the left or by scrolling.
5. Preview offers various tools for viewing and annotating PDFs, such as zooming in or out, highlighting text, adding text boxes, and more.
6. To close the PDF file, either click the red "X" button in the top left corner or press Command + W on your keyboard.

Preview is a reliable and straightforward PDF viewer, suitable for most basic viewing and editing needs. However, if you require advanced features or functionality, you can consider third-party PDF viewers such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, PDF Expert, or Foxit Reader, which offer additional capabilities like advanced annotation features, form filling, or advanced document editing options.