Automatically open PDFs

Learn how PDFs can automatically open in Adobe Acrobat or Reader for quick and easy access.

Automatically open downloaded PDFs on Windows

Acrobat can automatically open PDFs downloaded to your Downloads folder, giving you faster access. Currently, Acrobat supports automatic opening for PDFs downloaded using Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers on Windows.

Before you begin: Ensure Microsoft Edge or Chrome is open and set as your default browser.

  1. Download a PDF using Microsoft Edge or Chrome. Your downloaded PDF opens in Acrobat or Reader.  A pop-up appears asking how you want to open the file.

    Always open PDFs in Acrobat or Reader popup that appears when a downloaded PDF opens automatically.
    Choose Acrobat or Reader as your default app to open PDFs instantly after downloading.

  2. To set your preference, select the option to always open PDFs in Acrobat or Reader.

  3. Select Continue to save your preferences. Your future downloads automatically open in Acrobat or Reader.

Note

You can set the preference for PDFs downloaded from the web or opened from your device.

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