No PDF viewer installed error with LyX

I managed to overcome this problem by setting foxit reader as a default program for pdf files. For some reason, win10 by itself had set microsoft edge as the default program for pdf files.

In order to do so, do the followings: (This procedure works on win10. I assume that these steps are similar for win7 and win8)

control panel --> programs --> default programs --> associate a file type or protocol with a program

On the list, find .pdf format and associate it with your pdf reader.

After these steps, LyX's document preview works just fine


I'm not sure if LyX can recognize Foxit Reader, but it will recognize the other readers if you've put them in the path.

I installed 2.2.0 (which is not really an upgrade, as it makes a separate install) on Windows 10 and had trouble getting LyX to recognize my Sumatra PDF installation.

Two things I had to do:

  1. Add the path to the PDF viewer's binary, e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\SumatraPDF: enter image description here
  2. Do Tools > Reconfigure (so LyX will find the binary).
  3. Set the File Handling > Viewer for PDF (pdflatex) to the reader (e.g., Sumatra in my case) that appears in the pull-down menu: enter image description here