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  • How to Change Default PDF Viewer on Mac | 2 Easy Ways

How to Change Default PDF Viewer on Mac | 2 Easy Ways

  • By Lena
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  • Updated on June 19, 2025
Introduction:
We can easily open PDFs on Mac in Preview; after all, it's the default PDF viewer. However, you may now prefer to use another tool for more advanced features. No worries. This guide will show you how to change default PDF viewer on Mac to improve your productivity.
summary

Why Change the Default PDF Viewer?

Preview is the default PDF reader for Mac. Simply double-click on the PDF, and it will open automatically in Preview. However, if you need more viewing modes and advanced editing features, then Preview is not the best choice.

Although Preview is fast and lightweight, it lacks some advanced features. Professionals may require more advanced annotation, editing, signing, and encryption tools, which Adobe Acrobat offers. Therefore, many people are wondering how to set Adobe as the default PDF viewer on Mac.

However, the free Adobe Acrobat Reader also lacks advanced editing features. Users must pay a substantial amount of money to upgrade to the Pro version to unlock the feature. If you are looking for a cost-effective solution, we recommend SwifDoo PDF for Mac.

How to Change Default PDF Viewer on Mac

Let’s start learning how to change default PDF viewer on Mac. You can achieve this goal in two ways. Both methods are straightforward, so choose the one that best suits you.

Way 1. Change Mac Default PDF Viewer via “Get Info”

  • On your Mac, go to a PDF file and right-click on it. Select the Get Info option.

Get Info

  • Go to the Open with section. Then, click the dropdown menu next to the default app.
  • Select the preferred viewer and click Change All... to confirm.

Way 2. Change Mac Default PDF Viewer via “Open With”

  • Right-click a PDF file. Choose "Open With" and select the "Other..." option.

Open With

  • In the new window, select the app you want to use to view PDFs.
  • Select the Always Open With option to make it the default PDF viewer.

By following these steps, you can change your default PDF viewer on Mac. Which viewer are you using? Adobe Acrobat? Indeed, Adobe Acrobat is a reliable tool for working with PDFs. However, to edit PDFs, you have to pay expensive subscription fees.

If you're looking for a feature-rich Mac PDF editor at a lower cost, SwifDoo PDF is a better choice. Like Adobe, SwifDoo PDF has a variety of tools to help you efficiently manage PDF files. Please continue reading to learn more.

Improve PDF Processing Efficiency with the Best Mac PDF Viewer

The built-in preview function is limited. Therefore, you want to set another tool as the default viewer for a smooth PDF processing experience. So, how do you feel about the tool you have chosen now? If you still think it's not ideal, try SwifDoo PDF for Mac, a popular alternative to Adobe Acrobat.

SwifDoo PDF for Mac is a professional PDF editor with a user-friendly interface. This software enables users to process PDF documents professionally with minimal effort. Below are its key features.

✅ Various Reading Modes

It offers multiple PDF reading modes and themes, including text search and replace, a bookmarks sidebar, and thumbnails, for smooth navigation and readability even in large files.

✅ Edit PDFs Like in MS Word

Add, delete, format, and adjust font styles and colors. It also supports image editing, cropping, transparency, and hyperlink insertion and includes more than ten annotation tools (shapes, highlights, stamps, sticky notes, and pencils).

✅ 10+ Annotation Tools

SwifDoo PDF can help you highlight text and areas, add shapes, notes, attachments, stamps, and draw on the PDF without effort. Additionally, it allows you to manage all annotations from the sidebar.

✅ Page Management

It lets you merge, split, rotate, insert, delete, extract, reorder, resize, and crop pages. It also supports bookmarking, watermark addition, and batch operations, such as multi-page print layouts.

SwifDoo PDF for Mac

All features are seamlessly integrated into a lightweight and efficient interface. No learning curve is required! Want to give it a try? Then click the button below to get SwifDoo PDF.

Conclusion

That’s all about how to change default PDF viewer on Mac. You can set your preferred app as the default PDF viewer by using the “Get Info” or “Open With” options. If you are still looking for a PDF tool with rich features, then SwifDoo PDF would be a good choice. In any case, you can try SwifDoo PDF and other tools to find the one that best suits your needs. Testing is a must!

Mac Change Default PDF Viewer FAQs

  • Q:What is the native PDF viewer on a Mac?
    The native PDF viewer on macOS is Preview—a built-in, lightweight app for viewing, annotating, and signing PDF documents without needing additional software.
  • Q:How do I remove Adobe as my default PDF reader Mac?
    Right-click a PDF, select “Get Info,” and then change “Open with” to another app, such as SwifDoo PDF. Click “Change All” to set it as the new default for all PDFs.
  • Q:How do I change the preferred PDF viewer on a Mac?
    Right-click a PDF file, choose “Get Info,” expand “Open with,” select your preferred app, then click “Change All” to apply.

Lena has been in the editing industry for 8 years. She is familiar with a variety of products that can make things easier, such as PDF tools, video recording software, iOS location changer, etc. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with users to help them solve problems in their work and life. In her spare time, she likes to play with her cat.

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