High Sierra keeps changing my default app for PDFs

Upgrading to High Sierra caused the default app for opening PDF documents from Adobe Acrobat Pro to Preview.

Numerous times I have:

Selected any PDF file
Gone to 'Get info'
Set 'Open with' to Acrobat (which no longer appears in the list of recommended apps)
Selected 'Change All'

It works for a while but then, seemingly randomly, the OS changes the default back to Preview.

I use PDFs constantly so this is very unwelcome behaviour.

I'd be very grateful for any help. Thanks.

iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13.3)

Posted on Feb 14, 2018 12:50 PM

Top-ranking reply

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,494 points

Posted on Feb 14, 2018 1:53 PM

Sorry to say but unwittingly you have a created the mess. Mac OS does not require any antivirus, cleaning or ANY third party maintenance apps to run well. If simply kept up-to-date and otherwise left alone Mac OS runs reliably for most users for years. Adding AV, cleaning and other "maintenance" apps frequently causes unwanted behavior much like you are experiencing.

Locate the developer's uninstall instructions for both Sophos and Clean My Mac and follow to the letter. Then restart in Safe Mode per Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support and then restart normally and re-test.

Good luck.

View in context

High Sierra keeps changing my default app for PDFs

Similar questions