Browser won't open PDF documents? Solution to the problem. Open PDF files online Open PDF in browser

Firefox includes a built-in PDF viewer to display PDF files inside the browser window. This article explains how to use the built-in PDF viewer, how to use another PDF viewer and how to fix the common issues you might encounter.

Using the built-in PDF Viewer

Firefox includes a built-in PDF viewer that allows you to view almost all PDF files found on the web without a plugin. The built-in PDF viewer is enabled by default.

PDF Viewer toolbar functions

PDF Viewer keyboard shortcuts

Command	Shortcut
Next page	N or K or →
Previous page	P or J or ←
Zoom in	Ctrl + +command + +
Zoom out	Ctrl + -command + -
Automatic Zoom	Ctrl + 0command + 0
Rotate the document clockwise	R
Rotate counterclockwise	Shift + R

Troubleshoot problems with the PDF viewer

With certain types of PDF files, the PDF Viewer may have problems displaying fonts, colors or the whole document. If some PDF files don't render well or are blank, click the download button on the right side of the document header to open it with the default PDF viewer application on your computer.

If you can"t open any PDF files with the built-in PDF viewer, a Firefox extension could be the cause. You can disable all your extensions, to see if one of them was the problem. For details, see Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems.

Using another PDF viewer

You can use a different PDF viewer instead of the built-in PDF viewer , if you prefer. To change from using the built-in PDF viewer to another PDF viewer:

To use an external application to view PDF files, select the entry for the PDF application you wish to use, such as Use Preview or Use Adobe Reader.

To use an available plugin to view PDF files in Firefox, select Use PDF plugin name(in Firefox).

Using a PDF viewer plugin

You can use a PDF plugin, if one is available, to view PDF files in Firefox. If you have installed a PDF viewer plugin but you have problems using it in Firefox, try these solutions:

Enable the PDF plugin

Your PDF plugin may be disabled in Firefox. To enable it:

Reset download actions

Method 1: PDFPro

Online tool for viewing and editing PDF documents. Working with the resource can be done free of charge and without the need to create an account. In addition, as the developers say, all content uploaded to PDFPro is automatically encrypted and thereby protected from unauthorized access.

The resource's capabilities are not limited to just viewing documents. PDFPro allows you to add your own text and graphic notes to files. There is a function for adding a printed or drawn signature.

At the same time, if you closed the service page, and then soon decided to open the document again, there is no need to import it again. Once downloaded, files remain available for reading and editing for 24 hours.

Method 2: PDF Online Reader

A simple online PDF reader with a minimal set of functions. It is possible to add internal and external links, highlights, and annotations to the document in the form of text fields. Work with bookmarks is supported.

It is worth noting that, unlike the previous service, here the file is available only while the page with the reader is open. So if you made changes to the document, do not forget to save it to your computer using the button "Download PDF" in the header of the site.

Method 3: XODO Pdf Reader & Annotator

A full-fledged web application for comfortable work with PDF documents, made in the best traditions of desktop solutions. The resource offers a wide selection of annotation tools and the ability to synchronize files using cloud services. Full-screen viewing mode is supported, as well as collaborative document editing.

The interface and capabilities of XODO are almost in no way inferior to desktop counterparts like the same Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit PDF Reader. It even has its own context menu. The service works quickly and easily copes even with very large PDF documents.

Method 4: Soda PDF Online

Well, this is the most powerful and functional tool for creating, viewing and editing PDF files online. Being a full-fledged web version of the Soda PDF program, the service offers the design and structure of the application, exactly copying the style of products from the Microsoft Office suite. And all this in your browser.

Soda PDF Online is a really great product, but if you only need to view a specific PDF file, it's better to look towards simpler solutions. This service is multi-purpose and therefore very overloaded. However, this tool is definitely worth knowing about.

Method 5: PDFescape

A convenient resource that allows you to view and annotate PDF documents. The service does not boast a modern design, but at the same time it is simple and intuitive to use. In free mode, the maximum size of an uploaded document is 10 megabytes, and the maximum allowed size is 100 pages.

So, if you need to open a small PDF file and do not have the appropriate programs at hand, the PDFescape service will also be an excellent solution for this case.

Method 6: Online PDF Viewer

This tool is designed exclusively for viewing PDF documents and contains only the functions necessary to navigate through the contents of the files. One of the main features that sets this service apart from others is the ability to create direct links to documents uploaded to it. This is a convenient way to share files with friends or colleagues.

You can use the button "Full screen" top toolbar and view document pages in full screen.

Method 7: Google Drive

To use this method, you must be logged in to your Google account.

This is a rather specific solution, but it also has its place.

PDF is a fairly convenient format in which electronic books, scans of textbooks, fiction and journalistic literature, forms and full versions of documents are saved. Today it is supported not only by computers, but also by smartphones and tablets. Therefore, many are confused when a PDF file, often containing important and unique information, cannot be opened. We will figure out how to deal with this problem, what are the best ways to display such documents.

How to open a PDF file?

Make sure Adobe Reader or Acrobat is installed on your device. You can then open PDF files:

Launch the program itself, click on "File". Next - “Open”. In Explorer, find and select the one you need.
Double-click the document icon in the file system, on the Desktop, in email attachments. If you are not sure whether the default is “Acrobat” or “Reader”, then click on the PC mouse and launch through “Open with”.
In the browser, documents of this type open automatically in reading mode, with a truncated toolbar. Make sure the Acrobat plugin is installed. Otherwise, download it from the browser “Extensions”.

Why can't the file open in Acrobat?

The most common standard program for working with such files is Adobe Reader or Acrobat. It is free and sometimes already pre-installed in the OS. If you are looking for how to open a PDF file, then the first place to turn is this.

But why can't Acrobat or Reader open a document? Here are the most common reasons:

The file is damaged.
The installation or latest update of the program occurred with errors.
The application version on your device is out of date.
The program cannot recognize the file type.
You did not create the document in an Adobe application.

Let's look at how to deal with specific problems.

Solutions when the problem is in the file itself

If a PDF file does not open, then the first thing we tend to assume is that the reason for this is in itself. Based on this, we will offer popular solutions to the problem.

The document is password protected. The publisher could protect his work with a special code. Without entering it, you will not be able to open the document. The characters are printed in a special window, which is displayed immediately before starting the file. Of course, the author must provide you with the code.

Suspicious file. Acrobat automatically blocks documents that do not meet any Adobe industry standards. For example, allowing downloading of malicious content. Therefore, if a PDF file does not open, it is worth checking the reliability of its source.

Incompatible document. If the file was created in a non-Adobe program, then there is a possibility that this is the cause of the problem. The solution here is to update your Adobe Reader or Acrobat to the latest version or turn to the help of analogue programs.

Damaged file. Another common reason is that the file is damaged. Perhaps some errors occurred while downloading it; it was not downloaded completely. The solution is to download it again and try to open a copy.

What to do: PDF file won't open? Try running it on another device. If the action is successful, then the reason is not in the document.

Solutions when the problem is in the OS

If a PDF file does not open, then the source of the trouble may be that by default the system launches it using a program that does not read this format. We fix the problem this way:

On Windows: right-click on this document. Select "Open with..." Next - "Select another application" ("Select another program by default"). In the list that opens, select Adobe Reader or Acrobat. Next - “Use this application (program) for all documents of this type” (“Always use an application to open PDF”). Confirm your decision by clicking OK.
On a Mac: In the Finder, click the icon for the document you want. Next - “File”, its “Properties”. In "Open with..." click on the small schematic triangle. From the drop-down list, select "Reader" or "Acrobat". If you don't find them in the list, select "Other" and continue your search there. Confirm your actions by clicking on "Replace All".

Solutions when the problem is in the program

If everything is in order with the file, then we will solve the problem using the methods described below.

Application update. Why can't PDF files open? Your computer may have an outdated version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat. To do this, launch the program and go to Help. Next - “Check for updates”. In the "Install..." window, click "Yes". The updates will download automatically, after which you need to restart your PC and try to open the file again.

Program recovery. For one reason or another, the application may be damaged both during download and installation. The consequence of this is that the PDF file opens with hieroglyphs or does not start at all. Recovery is only available on Windows:

In Start, go to Control Panel.
Go to "Programs" - "Programs and Features" ("Add or Remove Programs" in earlier versions).
Search for Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat.
Click on “Change”, then follow the system prompts.
Finally, click on "Done".

You can try to restore the program within itself: go to "Help", and from there to "Restore..."

Reinstallation. If nothing helps, then you need to uninstall and reinstall “Reader” or “Acrobat”:

Go to "Control Panel".
Go to Programs, then Programs and Features (Add or Remove Programs).
Remove "Acrobat" or "Reader".
Go to the official Adobe website and download the application again.
Find the program file with the extension .exe in the downloads. Double click to launch it.
The installation process will begin.

Once the program is installed, try opening the PDF file again.

Signs that a file cannot be opened in the browser

You can determine that it is not a PDF file that takes a long time to open in the browser, but rather does not launch, using these signs:

Instead of an image or text, a blank page came out.
Red cross in the middle of the window.
The browser reports a broken link.
Error message. This most often contains instructions telling you what to do to solve the problem.

Let's see how to resolve errors related to the inability to open PDF files in the browser.

Program decisions

Most often, the reason may be in the Acrobat or Reader itself. Applications just need to be updated to the latest versions (Adobe releases updates every three months). To do this, open the program, go to Help - Check for updates. In later versions of the application, the download will start automatically; in later versions you will need to confirm your actions.

You can also uninstall the program, and then download and install it again if the previous method did not help.

File related solutions

The problem may be in the document itself. Therefore, it is advisable to do the following:

Refresh or reload the page.
Launch another PDF file. If this also does not work, then you can try opening the document in another browser.
Save the file to your computer and try opening it in Reader, Acrobat, or the file system of your PC.

Browser solutions

The reason may also be in the Internet browser. It is important to do the following:

Open the file in another browser.
Switch to Compatibility Mode if available.
Restart your PC, open your browser and try to run the file again.
Clear your browser cache.
Update the browser itself, as well as Reader or Acrobat. Restart your computer and try again.
Remove the apps from the previous title, download and install them again.

Now you know how to open a PDF file. We also looked at typical solutions to errors that make it impossible to open documents of this type.

Chrome browser opens PDF files by default using the built-in PDF viewer. If the built-in PDF viewer is disabled, Chrome displays PDF files using Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

If difficulties arise with viewing PDF files in the Chrome browser using Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader, use the tips below.

PDF viewing problem only occurs with Chrome

Try opening PDF files on your computer in a different browser, such as Firefox. If these types of problems occur when viewing PDF files in another browser, the problem is most likely not related to Chrome. For more help, visit the Adobe support site.

If the problem only occurs with Chrome, try the following solutions in the order they are listed.

Check for updates to Adobe Reader and Acrobat

To check for updates to Adobe Reader or Acrobat, visit http://www.adobe.com/downloads/.

Check your Adobe Reader and Acrobat settings.

Follow these instructions to ensure your browser is set to Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat to display PDFs

To view PDF files in the browser Only one of these programs should be used, but not both.

Repair Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat

In Acrobat, go to Reference → Fix installed Acrobat program. Similarly, in Adobe Reader, go to Reference → Fix installed Adobe Reader.

Uninstall Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat

If both programs are installed - Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat - they may conflict with each other. Try uninstalling one of the programs.

Windows instructions

Uninstall Adobe Reader or Acrobat from your computer using the Add or Remove Programs feature in Windows Control Panel.
Restart your computer after uninstalling the program.

Mac instructions

Drag Adobe Reader or Acrobat from the Applications folder to the Trash.
Delete the AdobePDFViewer.plugin file from the Library → Internet Plug-Ins folder.

If you still can't open PDF files in Chrome after following the tips above, try searching the Chrome Help forum for more tips from other Chrome users.

Portable Document Format is a format for viewing text and graphic documents developed by Adobe. Intended for working with printed products in electronic form: texts, images, books, presentations, scanned copies of documents. The modern Yandex browser helps you open and save a PDF file without installing additional extensions and plugins, using only built-in browser tools. The user should not have any difficulties, since support for the PDF format is included as standard in the Yandex browser.

Opening PDF files occurs unnoticed by the user; not every person can distinguish a standard web page from a PDF file. To view a page in PDF format, just follow the link where the file is located; the Yandex browser will independently process and display the data.

Viewing algorithm:

Let's consider another case, when the file is already on the computer, you just need to open it. You can view the content if you set the event handler to Yandex browser. We should use one of 2 methods: make the Yandex browser a one-time handler or set it as the default.

Open the PDF book with a Yandex browser once:

To always open PDF files in the Yandex browser, perform the following procedure:

Important! The “AppData” folder may be invisible in the system if the “Do not show hidden files, folders...” option is active.

Let's set the visibility:

The procedure is optional; it is useful only if the “AppData” section is not visible.

How to print a PDF file in Yandex browser

Adobe Corporation has developed a virtual printer to support the PDF format - this is a device that exists exclusively in digital reality, that is, it cannot be physically seen. Yandex browser already has built-in virtual printer support.

In practice, printing a web page in PDF format via the Yandex browser is quite simple, let's do it:

If you want to convert the file to paper form, this can be done by changing the selection in the “Printer” column to the connected physical device.

How to save a page as PDF in Yandex browser

Modern versions of the Yandex browser do not have a built-in download function; you will have to use auxiliary programs or the previous method. Printing a PDF via a Yandex browser means saving any page.
The Yandex browser is built on the Chromium core; it supports installing extensions from the Google Chrome store. To quickly save web pages, you can use the extension Save as PDF. It has a simple interface and loading speed.

Download in 3 steps:

Plugins for viewing and processing PDF in Yandex browser

The Yandex browser already has plugins installed for viewing and interacting with the PDF format. Due to the installation of additional programs, problems arise in this area. If you install Adobe Flash Player or other products from Adobe, 2 identical add-ons will appear on the system. Due to failures in the interaction of modules, files may not open or lead to unexpected crashes in the system.

In the correct state, the Yandex browser can have 2 plugins installed for working with PDF files:

If you have problems opening PDF files in the Yandex browser, a simple method to restore operation is to disable the duplicate module.

Disable one of the two plugins:

Why Yandex browser does not open PDF files

One of the reasons was discussed earlier - a plugin conflict. Mostly the problem lies in the area of incorrect interaction between devices, driver failures, and errors during the installation process.

Reasons why it may not be possible to preview or open a PDF in the Yandex browser:

An error appeared during the installation of the browser; it is not always critical, but certain functions may not work. If PDF files do not open in the Yandex browser after a failure, reinstall the browser completely, and it will be able to process the files again. Complete deletion means erasing all temporary files, cookies and cache. Many programs have been developed that will remove all traces of a program being in the system: iObit Uninstaller, CCleaner;
Viral activity. Viruses infect Windows randomly, problems can appear from different directions. The best way to restore functionality is to remove the infected code and restore the Yandex browser settings. We remove malicious code using any antivirus (Kaspersky Lab, NOD32, etc.) or antivirus scanner (Dr. Web).

Resetting the settings in Yandex browser:

Driver conflict. If PDF files do not open in the Yandex browser after installing hardware or other software, this is most likely the reason. First we try to reinstall the web browser.

If it doesn't help:

If the PDF does not open in the Yandex browser, but the file is shown in another program, the problem is hidden in the settings.

We enable processing of the PDF format in the browser:

We looked at the main ways to open and save PDF files in the Yandex browser. The Yandex browser already provides functions for viewing and downloading PDF files, but if they fail, we use extensions. As a bonus, we described possible reasons why PDF files do not open and ways to solve problems.