- Click on Set as Default while viewing a PDF file inside an app to change the default PDF viewer on Windows 11.
- Change the Default PDF Viewer from Windows 11 Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
Method 1: Use Windows Settings to Change the Default PDF Viewer
Windows 11 offers a dedicated menu in its Settings app to check your default programs . You can use it to change the default PDF viewer.
Step 1: Press the Windows + I shortcut to open the Settings app > select Apps from the left sidebar > click on Default apps .
Step 2: Type .PDF in the search bar and select the current default app .
Step 3: Pick your desired PDF viewer from the popup menu and click on Set default to change it.
Method 2: Change the Default PDF Viewer Using the File Explorer
If you don’t wish to dive into Settings, change the default PDF viewer from the File Explorer menu.
Step 1: Open File Explorer (press the Windows + E shortcut), right-click a PDF file, and select Open with > Choose another app .
Step 2: Select your preferred app to open the PDF file and click on Always .
Method 3: Tweak Control Panel Settings
Lastly, you can open the Control Panel settings to quickly change the default PDF viewer on Windows 11.
Step 1: Press the Windows + R shortcut to open the Run dialog, type control , and press Enter .
Step 2: Select Programs in the Control Panel menu.
Step 3: Click Default Programs . You’ll be redirected to the Settings app, where you can change the default PDF viewer (as demonstrated in Fix 1 above).
