Disable PDF from Opening in Web Browser (IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari)

When you click on a PDF download link in a web browser such as Internet Explorer (IE6 and IE7 both included), Firefox, Opera, Safari and etc, the Acrobat PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) file will automatically open within the web browser itself, occupying a tab or a window. If you don’t like this auto open in browser behavior, and would like the PDF file to open in Adobe Reader instead, you can configurate to launch Adobe Reader to open the PDF file once a link is clicked to be the default action.

To set Adobe Reader as default program for PDF download link when clicked in web browser, follow this trick:

  1. Run the installed Adobe Reader.
  2. Click on Edit in the menu bar.
  3. Then click on Preferences in the drop down menu list.
  4. Click on the Internet category on the left pane.
  5. Uncheck and untick the check box for Display PDF in Browser.

    Adobe Internet Setting

  6. Click OK when done.
  7. Restart the computer.

The next time you download a PDF file, it will auto open in Adobe Reader instead of IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari or other web browser.


This entry was posted on Sunday, June 17th, 2007 at 11:20 pm and is filed under Tips & Tricks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

6 Responses to “Disable PDF from Opening in Web Browser (IE, Firefox, Opera, Safari)”

  1. Doug
    February 17th, 2009 06:10
    6

    THANK YOU! That was driving me crazy!

    I had previously disabled all PDF related add-ons before I read your advice and solved my problem. I had to re-enable them because having them disabled was causing IE to lock up.

  2. olong
    January 17th, 2009 03:22
    5

    MUST Do this to Disable PDF from Opening in Web Browser on IE7 (windows Vista):
    -Open web browser IE7 > Tools >Internet Option >
    Programs > Manage ADD-ons
    -Then select Disable Adobe-PDF
    -Restart IE7
    -Done!

  3. long
    January 17th, 2009 03:09
    4

    It still display “Adobe-PDF” on Menu bar of browser IE7.
    (my is Vista, IE7 and Adobe 8 Pro)

  4. Thomas Lippert » Blog Archive » PDFs und der Internet Explorer
    August 12th, 2008 22:27
    3

    [...] hatte, googelte ich nach der Lösung und fand sie dann auch – wie sollte es anders sein – auf einem Blog. In englisch steht dort geschrieben, dass man diese Eigenart nicht im Internet Explorer abstellen [...]

  5. richard
    February 29th, 2008 01:15
    2

    Ik gebruik Internet Explorer 7 en laat mijn pdf’s ook in Adobe Reader openen wanneer in op internet een link naar een pdf-file aanklik.
    Alleen opent er dan een leeg venster danwel tabblad (ligt aan hoe de instellingen bij tabbladen staan), dat ik daarna weer moet sluiten. Dit is erg irritant.
    Gebeurt dat ook bij u?

  6. nicholas
    September 7th, 2007 03:02
    1

    thank you. this was very helpful

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