Adobe Reader Hijacks Preview as Safari's Default PDF Viewer

All you need to do is:

Select any PDF, while pressing the Command key along with the letter " i " key.

In the resulting window, select "Open With"

Change it from Adobe Reader to Preview.

Then select "Change All."

From then on, PDF's will open with Preview.

I found that I had to remove two files before I was "free" of Adobe's PDF Viewer:

• AdobePDFViewer.plugin
• AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin

I also found the files in the System Library folder instead of my user's library folder. You'll need an admin password to remove them.

Thanks very much for your post Bruce.

I was sick of adobe reader always bugging me with updates when i didn't use it so i killed it with appzapper thinking that would be that. However the two plug-ins in the library/internet plug-ins folder were still there and instead of defaulting back to preview i just got a message to reinstal adobe.

After finding your post, I deleted the adobe plug-ins and preview is back and hopefully all remnants of adobe reader are gone.

Much appreciated

I have removed these plugins, but then they appear again. I notice that I cannot right click a PDF in Safari and "Open in Preview". They must get installed for each update?

So I had to remove Adobe Reader since they are changing settings. This has gone on long enough that they have had time to fix it in an update. So I must assume that it is intentional.

Love this solution from Bee! I can't tell you how happy this made me. I had to make Adobe the default in order to get files from financial institutions to download. But, I hate the PDF docs. I tried this and now all my new downloads and old PDF files open in Preview. Thank you!!!!

Bee -

You are wonderful!!!

I have been cursing the Adobe Reader for the last week since I upgraded and it took over all my pdf files and it looks like crap in retina. Unlike annette, I love pdf files because they can be shared across platforms without changes in format and look great.

Many thanks again ~ Jeff in Ethiopia

Another Thank you to Bruce for a concise, clear answer that still works in slaying the Adobe beast! My problem occured with a very recent Jan 2014 update.

When I say "Adboe" I use the same tone and inflection as when Jerry Seinfeld said "Newman!"

Bruce,

Thank you Thank you Thank you. (you too Bee, I just happened to know that trick)

I swear 95% of my education comes from the apple forum and much appreciated it is. What an overly complicated PITA that Adobe reader is. Once again, thank you!

Shut --

You said:

I swear 95% of my education comes from the apple forum and much appreciated it is.

Exactly the same for me . . . I'm just trying to pass on the knowledge and support given to me here. It's a real joy to try to give back.

Is there a way to use Preview as the default Safari PDF viewer but to "call up" Adobe Reader for specific browser pages other than saving the file externally?

I found a USPTO (patent) page that specifically required the Adobe Reader for some fancy PDF stuff they enabled on a web page.

This thread may help.

Re: Adobe Flash plugin hijacking Preview in Safari?

Hello,

Yes and it's a known issue with Adobe Reader 10.

You can read more here :

http://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/kb/troubleshoot-safari-plug-acrobat-x.html

Thank you!!!! Much appreciated.

Thanks.