How to Disable Edge PDF Viewer in Windows?

system · April 27, 2024, 1:00pm

Originally published at: How to Disable Edge PDF Viewer in Windows?

PDF files with Windows 10 can be opened without the need to install additional software. In fact, Microsoft Edge, the default Web browser, provides native support for this type of file. But this is a minimal function option that may not meet the needs of users accustomed to using a third party software that is…

shanewarren · January 30, 2020, 7:43pm

Leave it as it was before, no changes.

ericortega · January 29, 2020, 10:54pm

Method 4 step 8 doesn’t state the value the new string requires. Does the new String’s value stay empty and then reboot?

fred · October 30, 2018, 6:37am

I have Win 10 pro 1803 and Edge continues to hijack my PDF files. Despite the basic temp solution of resetting the file association, each time windows updates it resets the default to Edge. I have used the script, a similar one is attached. This works well between windows updates. However a more permanent fix is to rename the Edge launcher files in the Windows/SystemApps/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder. There are two that I suggest you rename by adding OLD before the .exe. The files are:

MicrosoftEdge.exe

MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe

Note that you will need t change permissions to rename the files.

Since doing this over 6 mths ago, I have had no problem with Edge hijacking my PDF files from Acrobat.

fred · October 30, 2018, 6:36am

I have Win 10 pro v1803 and Edge continues to hijack my PDF files. Despite the basic temp solution of resetting the file association, each time windows updates it resets the default to Edge. I have used the script, a similar one is attached. This works well between windows updates. However a more permanent fix is to rename the Edge launcher files in the Windows/SystemApps/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder. There are two that I suggest you rename by adding OLD before the .exe. The files are:

MicrosoftEdge.exe

MicrosoftEdgeCP.exe

Note that you will need t change permissions to rename the files.

Since doing this over 6 mths ago, I have had no problem with Edge hijacking my PDF files from Acrobat.

stephenlaw · August 17, 2017, 2:15am

Yes. Sorry for the late response. Is there something else to do with the registry?

karrows · July 25, 2017, 11:25pm

You mean disabling it on creators update?

stephenlaw · July 25, 2017, 11:03pm

Is there a fix for Windows 10 Creator’s Update?

karrows · March 28, 2017, 7:33am

I have updated the article to reflect correct information. Thanks

smarin820 · March 23, 2017, 1:53am

Tried the first options and it did not work.

C:WINDOWSsystem32>for /f “usebackq” %i in (reg query hkcr /f "AppX") do reg query %iDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add %i /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.appxDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.appx /v NoOpenWith /t
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.appxbundleDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.appxbundle /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f
ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX04g0mbrz4mkc6e879rpf6qk6te730jfvDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX04g0mbrz4mkc6e879rpf6qk6te730jfv /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0a117zp2nwhknfdna7edw00c7hzacwewDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0a117zp2nwhknfdna7edw00c7hzacwew /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0bs5a1ngrnny0q46fsy6hmk59bt4crpkDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0bs5a1ngrnny0q46fsy6hmk59bt4crpk /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0jr688mrddhm2gsn5y1q8jpx5tfsxk7sDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0jr688mrddhm2gsn5y1q8jpx5tfsxk7s /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0resaq7r5ermbh4b96ke39yqc1atfhjrDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX0resaq7r5ermbh4b96ke39yqc1atfhjr /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX144vgc9f7bs20fwy51whhkjja2ts0r2dDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX144vgc9f7bs20fwy51whhkjja2ts0r2d /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX20yvfpb997k1arm2zrk47711t71btw9jDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX20yvfpb997k1arm2zrk47711t71btw9j /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX26ms6f55vdd094e29a3sz0jkfsg4q1q6DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX26ms6f55vdd094e29a3sz0jkfsg4q1q6 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX333jbhpaq2hjpyd097614409g4kz15cwDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX333jbhpaq2hjpyd097614409g4kz15cw /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX33k30fsgmfhnzmk0nv1xqcwrsg1ehks1DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX33k30fsgmfhnzmk0nv1xqcwrsg1ehks1 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX3cx04417ybaf9kz7fem54fc937697n6kDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX3cx04417ybaf9kz7fem54fc937697n6k /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX3p914qnpgw4hwj856jw2y286v7d4qnzhDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX3p914qnpgw4hwj856jw2y286v7d4qnzh /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX40nx3azkcssh7ybcbzzjpgf1mg561cyzDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX40nx3azkcssh7ybcbzzjpgf1mg561cyz /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX41a0b71ryxrfm8htxfs9p7jkh10gc0rnDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX41a0b71ryxrfm8htxfs9p7jkh10gc0rn /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetcDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX459h97t0fkhwc4qhs0anhhpxv8efrcqsDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX459h97t0fkhwc4qhs0anhhpxv8efrcqs /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX47jwqdafzcxw9wm0mbb5cev2eav5b1jeDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX47jwqdafzcxw9wm0mbb5cev2eav5b1je /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4hxtad77fbk3jkkeerkrm0ze94wjf3s9DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4hxtad77fbk3jkkeerkrm0ze94wjf3s9 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4j5v7692qeayhwcg2qhwgwbcdyrpwsc0DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4j5v7692qeayhwcg2qhwgwbcdyrpwsc0 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4jb6ne914mtd0j2yqgzk8hep1vpwky74DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4jb6ne914mtd0j2yqgzk8hep1vpwky74 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4jbzrhvphxte25e0gxha6bq555nrgqzyDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4jbzrhvphxte25e0gxha6bq555nrgqzy /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4qfj5jrj259psn161698pvjhwcyjrsq5DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4qfj5jrj259psn161698pvjhwcyjrsq5 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4ra53nzs9xcdyxf1wgcp31xefscv1jnkDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX4ra53nzs9xcdyxf1wgcp31xefscv1jnk /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX5sy1gww9q4g2gt941cdxxd7s07xe5vphDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX5sy1gww9q4g2gt941cdxxd7s07xe5vph /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX5vnp0q08m8rjfg2smhmg1tfpzysjd3nbDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX5vnp0q08m8rjfg2smhmg1tfpzysjd3nb /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX5ypmf196y6btc73dmc5dca27wpzdcxvpDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX5ypmf196y6btc73dmc5dca27wpzdcxvp /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX67c0gash277fh9mrfpc9j79z6ysd0bf9DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX67c0gash277fh9mrfpc9j79z6ysd0bf9 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX68ekzed0s1wcaq35v4p7b7xsm6deq96pDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX68ekzed0s1wcaq35v4p7b7xsm6deq96p /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX6c605xvfrk5120ngbx2sesm52jb2kx0gDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX6c605xvfrk5120ngbx2sesm52jb2kx0g /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX6eg8h5sxqq90pv53845wmnbewywdqq5hDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX6eg8h5sxqq90pv53845wmnbewywdqq5h /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX6w6n4f8xch1s3vzwf3af6bfe88qhxbzaDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX6w6n4f8xch1s3vzwf3af6bfe88qhxbza /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX71w4d4qs84ttzstdjbmsvndfjyq5f817DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX71w4d4qs84ttzstdjbmsvndfjyq5f817 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX76e4rtb3ksqv6ckkxghxarhtpngkycy3DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX76e4rtb3ksqv6ckkxghxarhtpngkycy3 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX77ghgzrbzwe6djbdyty6hp5e3z1qryqxDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX77ghgzrbzwe6djbdyty6hp5e3z1qryqx /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7h8j4eje738p34npjy1ha11z3vx14304DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7h8j4eje738p34npjy1ha11z3vx14304 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7nv11hc795928dfdxbjgrnt50tez0eh7DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7nv11hc795928dfdxbjgrnt50tez0eh7 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7r3xrfamg28sekhpscvqwcf06xbbr14wDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7r3xrfamg28sekhpscvqwcf06xbbr14w /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7rm9drdg8sk7vqndwj3sdjw11x96jc0yDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX7rm9drdg8sk7vqndwj3sdjw11x96jc0y /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX82a6gwre4fdg3bt635tn5ctqjf8msdd2DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX82a6gwre4fdg3bt635tn5ctqjf8msdd2 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX90nv6nhay5n6a98fnetv7tpk64pp35esDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX90nv6nhay5n6a98fnetv7tpk64pp35es /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX9kvz3rdv8t7twanaezbwfcdgrbg3bck0DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX9kvz3rdv8t7twanaezbwfcdgrbg3bck0 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX9rkaq77s0jzh1tyccadx9ghba15r6t3hDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppX9rkaq77s0jzh1tyccadx9ghba15r6t3h /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXa5q0sm6rab4bbk8faqwhapj4mvw0n9ekDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXa5q0sm6rab4bbk8faqwhapj4mvw0n9ek /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXa5vpja1v19hm1jwnx3gfey7qnvxr6rsxDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXa5vpja1v19hm1jwnx3gfey7qnvxr6rsx /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXaf0097ws4bwb0wre67gmp7pc9fjr8en6DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXaf0097ws4bwb0wre67gmp7pc9fjr8en6 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXak1hygz1tpjjnxhr1pwtcgnkpr24r5e7DefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXak1hygz1tpjjnxhr1pwtcgnkpr24r5e7 /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f

C:WINDOWSsystem32>reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXat1wr3368r1jzgz9zz8eyg83sq5k2xwjDefaultIcon | find “MicrosoftEdgePDF” && reg add HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppXat1wr3368r1jzgz9zz8eyg83sq5k2xwj /v NoOpenWith /t REG_SZ /f