Preview is a built-in macOS application that provides a lightweight and efficient way to view and edit PDFs and images. Unlike Adobe Acrobat, Preview integrates seamlessly with macOS, offering a faster and more streamlined experience for everyday tasks.


If you want to ensure that PDFs and similar files always open with Preview, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Locate the File

  1. Open Finder and navigate to the file you want to open (e.g., a PDF or an image).

Step 2: Access the File’s Information Panel

  1. Right-click (or Control + click) the file to open the context menu.
  2. Select Get Info from the menu.

Step 3: Set Preview as the Default App

  1. In the Get Info window, locate the Open With section.
  2. Click the small triangle next to Open With to expand the menu (if it’s not already expanded).
  3. Click the dropdown menu and select Preview from the list of applications.

Step 4: Apply to All Files of the Same Type

  1. Below the dropdown menu, click Change All... to apply this setting to all files of the same type.
  2. When prompted, click Continue to confirm the change.
  3. Your selected file type will now always open with Preview by default.

If you prefer to use and learn about Adobe Acrobat, please view: Troubleshooting Adobe Acrobat.

If you continue to experience issues, please submit a technology help desk ticket or email us at helpdesk@kinkaid.org, and we will be happy to assist you promptly.