The fastest way to set a new default PDF viewer

Open the PDF file you want to use a different program for, then right-click it in Finder. Select "Get Info" from the menu. In the window that opens, find the section labeled "Open with" — this shows your current default. Click the dropdown menu next to it and choose the program you want to use instead. At the bottom of that same window, click "Change All" to explore this choice to every PDF on your Mac.

That single action changes the default for all PDFs at once. You do not need to visit system settings or change anything else. The next time you double-click any PDF, it will open in the program you selected.

If the program you want does not appear in the dropdown, select "Other" at the bottom of the list. Navigate to your Applications folder, find the program, and click "Open". It will then appear in the dropdown for future use.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any PDF file, select "Get Info", and use the "Open with" dropdown to pick a new default program.
  • Click "Change All" at the bottom of the Get Info window to explore your choice to every PDF on your Mac.
  • If your preferred program does not appear in the dropdown, select "Other" and navigate to the Applications folder to find it.
  • Your Mac remembers this choice permanently — you do not need to repeat the process for each PDF.
  • Different file types (like Word documents or images) keep their own separate defaults and are not affected by changing your PDF default.

Using System Settings as an alternative method

If you prefer to change the default through your Mac's system settings instead of the Finder method, you can do that too. Open System Settings and navigate to "General" in the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see "Default apps" and click it.

Look for "PDF Viewer" in the list of default applications. Click on it and select the program you want to use from the menu that appears. Your choice takes effect when ready, and all PDFs will open with that program going forward.

This method works the same way as the Finder approach — both change the system-wide default. Use whichever feels more natural to you. The Finder method is often faster if you already have a PDF open, while the System Settings method is useful if you want to review or change multiple defaults at once.

Programs that work as PDF viewers on Mac

Your Mac comes with Preview as the built-in PDF viewer, and it handles most PDFs without problems. Preview lets you read, annotate, and sign PDFs, and it opens files quickly. Many people keep Preview as their default because it is already installed and requires no extra setup.

If you want more features, Adobe Acrobat Reader is free to read and offers advanced tools like form filling and comment tracking. PDF informed is a paid option that emphasizes speed and a clean interface. Skim is a free, lightweight viewer designed for reading academic papers and technical documents.

Some people use Google Chrome or Safari as their PDF default because these browsers have built-in viewers and let you search across multiple PDFs at once. Web browsers are useful if you work with PDFs online or need to upload them frequently, though they may not be as fast as dedicated PDF programs for local files.

What happens when you change your default

Changing your default PDF viewer affects only PDFs — it does not change how your Mac opens Word documents, images, spreadsheets, or any other file type. Each file type has its own separate default, so you can use Preview for PDFs and a different program for images without any conflict.

If you change your mind later, you can repeat the same process with a different program. There is no limit to how many times you can change your default. Your Mac does not store a history of previous defaults, so if you forget which program you used before, you will need to remember it yourself or try a few options to find the one you prefer.

Changing the default does not uninstall or remove any programs from your Mac. The program you stop using as your default remains installed and available — you can still open PDFs with it manually by right-clicking the file and selecting "Open With" if you want to use it for a single file.

Troubleshooting when your choice does not stick

Occasionally a program will not stay as your default even after you click "Change All". This usually happens if the program is not fully compatible with your version of macOS, or if the program itself has a setting that overrides the system default. Restart your Mac and try the process again — this fixes the problem in most cases.

If restarting does not work, check whether the program you chose has its own settings. Some programs like Chrome or Firefox have an option to "Always open PDFs with this app" buried in their preferences. If that setting is turned off, the program may not accept the system default. Open the program's settings and look for any PDF-related options.

If you are trying to set a program as your default and it does not appear in the "Open with" dropdown at all, the program may not be installed correctly. Try uninstalling and reinstalling it, or contact the program's support page to confirm it works with your version of macOS.

Setting different defaults for different situations

Your Mac only allows one system-wide default for PDFs, but you can work around this by opening PDFs manually when you want to use a different program. Right-click any PDF and select "Open With" to see a list of all programs that can read PDFs. Choose the one you want for that single file, and the PDF opens without changing your system default.

This approach is useful if you usually want PDFs to open in Preview, but occasionally need to open a form in Adobe Acrobat Reader or a research paper in Skim. You keep your everyday default fast and straightforward, and only switch programs when you need a specific feature.

If you find yourself switching programs frequently, that is a sign your current default might not be the right fit for your actual work. Consider changing your system default to the program you use most often, and then manually open PDFs in other programs when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different default for PDFs in specific folders?

No, macOS does not support folder-level defaults. Your default PDF viewer applies to all PDFs everywhere on your Mac. If you need different programs for different types of PDFs, you will need to open them manually using "Open With" each time.

What if I delete the program I set as my default?

If you uninstall a program that is set as your default, macOS will revert to Preview the next time you try to open a PDF. You do not need to do anything — the system handles this automatically. Once you reinstall the program, you can set it as your default again if you want.

Does changing my PDF default affect how PDFs open in web browsers?

No. When you click a PDF link in Safari, Chrome, or Firefox, the browser uses its own built-in viewer or settings, not your system default. Your system default only applies to PDFs you open directly from Finder or your desktop.

Can I set a default for PDFs that arrive as email attachments?

Mail uses your system default PDF viewer when you click to open a PDF attachment. If you want a different program to open email PDFs, you will need to save the attachment to your desktop first, then open it from there with the program you prefer.