Microsoft Edge Opens PDFs and Hides Windows VM Installed Adobe Acrobat

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by BrianD28, Dec 26, 2025.

  1. BrianD28

    BrianD28 Junior Member

    Messages:
    16
    I downloaded and installed Adobe Acrobat Reader on Windows 11 VM - and to my dismay, could not find the installed product. Further, I tested opening a PDF and discovered that Edge opened the file, not Acrobat. 'Use Other' from right click menu on PDFs does not find Acrobat.
    If you prefer Acrobat to Edge when working with PDFs, install Acrobat on MacOS. All executables on MacOS are found in the Windows VM and thus, you will be able to open PDFs with Acrobat in the Windows 11 VM.
    Might I mention here that I absolutely loathe the Windows 11 Start listing of executables which is such a clutter and does not allow grouping like the Windows 10 Start listing does. :(
     
  2. Keshav Dosieah

    Keshav Dosieah Staff Member

    Messages:
    41
    Hello,
    Thank you for your post.

    Can you please try the following:

    1. Navigate to the Adobe website in the Adobe Acrobat Reader Download page.
    2. Select More Download Options.
    3. Choose Windows 11.
    4. And for version, select the 32 bit from the Dropdown.
    5. Proceed with the installation.
    6. After installation, it should prompt you to select Adobe reader as the default PDF reader.

    Once done, please try to open a PDF again and check if the issue still remains.

    Regards,
    Parallels Team
     
  3. BrianD28

    BrianD28 Junior Member

    Messages:
    16
    I apologize for taking so long to respond. My time management has been pretty much flooded with tasks and chores as of late.
    I appreciate the tips for setting up Windows 11 to force an override of Edge so that Acrobat opens PDFs. However, it should be obvious that when Acrobat or any other executable is installed in MacOS that it will be executable in Windows as well. So, in those cases, installing the executable in Windows is not necessary. But it is still necessary to set the default executable in Windows to be the preferred executable, in this case, the Acrobat Reader.

    Thanks for the clarifications on how to set up for setting the default, if Windows 11 doesn't outright ask for a default via right clicking and choosing 'Open With'.
     

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