The default setting on Windows 8 and higher is to use Microsoft Edge as the default .pdf reader even if the Adobe Reader software is installed on the computer. We fixed this issue by following some documentation that was found on the Adobe website.
Admins often want to reliably set Acrobat and Reader as the default PDF owners on their organization’s desktops. Since Windows 8, it has become more difficult for applications to take ownership of certain file types. Even when admins have a method for setting a default handler (described above), once the application is installed end users can change the file type associations via the Control Panel or with Right Click > Open With. Additionally, other applications sometimes force Windows to show an application selection dialog when a user clicks on a file, thereby allowing users to select a different for that file type. Thus, since Windows 8, admins have little control over file type associations after installing an application.
For detailed instructions that was used:
https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/AdminGuide/pdfviewer.html
How we fixed it:
- Downloaded the sample file association files using this link: https://www.adobe.com/devnet-docs/acrobatetk/tools/AdminGuide/dismfiles.zip
- We used the File Association for DC .xml and moved it to the folder where we distribute our software out of on the TPAW-01 sever.
- We created a new GPO that will push out to the machines and apply the new association.
NOTE: The GPO report and settings is stored in the installs\admin tools\gpo reports\ folder for details on the GPO settings.