allow or block Microsoft Edge from opening PDF files externally" width="" height="" />You can allow or block Microsoft Edge from opening PDF files externally by changing some settings using Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor in Windows 11/10. In this post, we will show you how to make Edge open PDF files externally or block Edge from opening PDF files externally, depending on your preferences.
Let’s check out these steps in detail.
First, you need to open the Local Group Policy Editor. For that, you can search for group policy in the Taskbar search box and click on the edit group policy search result.
Then, navigate to the following path:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge
In the Microsoft Edge folder, you can find a setting named Always open PDF files externally. You need to double-click on this setting and choose the Enabled option to allow and the Disabled option to block.
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Then, click the OK button to save the change. Finally, you need to restart the Microsoft Edge browser.
In case you want to revert to the original setting, you need to open the same setting in the Local Group Policy Editor and choose the Not Configured option. As usual, restart the Microsoft Edge browser to apply the change.
To allow or prevent Microsoft Edge from opening PDF files externally using Registry, follow these steps:
To learn more about these steps, continue reading.
First, press Win+R to display the Run prompt, type regedit, hit the Enter button, and click on the Yes option on the UAC prompt to open the Registry Editor.
Then, navigate to this path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
If you cannot find Edge, right-click on Microsoft > New > Key and name it Edge.
Then, right-click on Edge > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and set the name as AlwaysOpenPdfExternally.
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By default, it comes with a Value data of 0. If you want to prevent Edge from opening PDF files externally, you need to keep that Value data. However, if you want to allow Edge to open PDF files externally, you need to double-click on it and set the Value data as 1.
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Finally, click the OK button, close all windows, and restart your computer to get the change.
The procedure to change the default PDF reader is the same for changing any default program. To stop Microsoft Edge from hijacking your default PDF program or opener, you can use this guide. It is possible to stop Microsoft Edge from opening PDF files. For that, you need to open the Always open PDF files externally setting and choose the Enabled option. You can do the same using Registry Editor as well.
The default setting allows Microsoft Edge to open PDF files on your Windows computer. At times, you might not want to do that. If so, you can use GPEDIT or REGEDIT to make the change. Two detailed guides are mentioned above, and it is recommended to follow any of them according to your wish to stop Edge from opening PDF files.
That’s all! Hope these solutions worked.
Published on July 23, 2022 Tags: Edge, PDF
When he is not writing about Microsoft Windows or Office, Sudip likes to work with Photoshop. He has managed the front end and back end of many websites over the years. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree.
