How to - Change a default app Checking the default app To check the default app for the file you are trying to open look to the left of the file name. If you want the file to open in Adobe Acrobat Reader, the icon should look like icon shown below. If the icon does not look like the one above follow the steps below. Setting default application 1. Click the Start icon 2. Click the Settings cog 3. In the Settings menu click Apps 4. Click Default apps 5. Click ‘Choose default apps by file type 6. Find .pdf from the list of file types 7. If the default application shown is not Adobe Acrobat reader. E.g. or is not yet chosen e.g. click to change/choose default app. 8. From the list that appears click Adobe Acrobat Reader DC 9. This message may appear 10. Click Switch anyway 11. It should now look like this. 12. These steps can also be followed to change default apps of all file types.