Answer
Starting from Foxit PDF Editor & Reader perpetual version 13.2, Ver14.0, and subscription version Ver2025.2 in 2025, enterprise administrators are able to deploy the Foxit PDF Editor and set it as the default PDF Editor/reader through the Group Policy Object (GPO) environment. This method aligns with Microsoft's recommended approach. It is important to highlight that this can be applied to later windows 11, the behavior in Windows 10 will remain unchanged.
Please refer to the below instructions for GPO deployment.
1.Generate the Default Application Associations XML File (AppAssoc.xml). Start by setting Foxit PDF Editor/Reader as the default program and then export the configured default application associations to an XML file. Detailed instructions on how to generate the AppAssoc.xml file can be found on Microsoft's website.http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825038.aspx
Note: open the generated AppAssoc.xml file, you will be able to see the default PDF program listed within the file.
<Association Identifier=".pdf" ProgId="FoxitPhantomPDF.Document" ApplicationName="Foxit PDF Editor"/>
2. Place the AppAssoc.xml file in a shared folder. (To access the path of the shared folder, right-click on the folder and choose Properties > Sharing. It is crucial to note that the shared folder path must be fully entered in the "Set a default association configuration file" window in later setting.)
3.Set up a domain environment and add the PCs to this domain, ensuring that Foxit PDF Editor is already installed on the client PCs.
4.Create a group unit and add the PCs to it for better organization and management.
5.Create a New Group Policy Object (GPO) on the server side and provide it with a new name.
6.Right-click to select "Edit". It will open the New GPO. In the Group Policy Management Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer. Under File Explorer, choose "Set a default association configuration file" and click it to open a window.
7. Select "Enable" and enter the network path of the generated "AppAssoc.xml" file in the "Default association Configuration File" field and clcik "Apply and close this window.
8. After deployment, please update the Group Policy using Command line "gpupdate'
On the clients end
After executing the command line "gpupdate" or restarting the device, Foxit PDF Editor will be set as the default program.
You may find the settings via Registry Editor: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System
