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boarda16934561
Participant
January 8, 2019
Answered

How do I open a pdf without having to save the document?

  • January 8, 2019
  • 5 replies
  • 57246 views

A couple of months ago, I was able to open a pdf on Google Chrome without having to save it. Now for some reason, my settings have changed and it asks me to save the document first before opening it.

I am forever saving pdfs to my desktop to view a pdf then deleting the pdf afterwards.

How do i just open the pdf without saving it.

Please note, I have tried doing the same thing on Internet Explorer and it does not ask me to save, it automatically opens. So, how can i do this on chrome?

Also, I have tried going into the settings and turning off Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome and it does not work still.

Please help.

      Correct answer ~graffiti

      Chrome does not use Reader to view pdf files. It uses its own viewer so hopefully they can help in the Chrome forum.

      5 replies

      J
      JustDucky62
      Participant
      November 20, 2025

      I have encountered the same issue. I am currently using the Brave Browser, but I'm not sure that matters. When I select "view" document, it appears with a download option on the screen, but if you click on the 3 lines in the upper right, it should say "print as PDF" and it should open the document in your print program. There you can view or print, whatever your preference. The setting in my Browser was already set to open them, so that was not the problem. I hope this helps.....Good Luck

      M
      Meredith Bradley
      Participant
      January 31, 2024

      Hi everyone. This worked for me!

       

       

        S
        Shaista K36356055aufn
        Participant
        March 27, 2024

        Hi All, 

        I also had the same issue, its all about setting in chrome, I am using Windows 10. 

        go to 3 dots at upper right corner of your screen under Chrome,

        click  Privacy& Security

        click Site Setting

        click Additional Content setting

        click pdf Document

        select the Default behaviour as DOWNLOAD PDF

        this will sort out your problem 🙂 hope this will help 

        Shaista

        L
        Louis261159307koo
        Participant
        March 27, 2023

        I had the same problem so hopefully this helps you.

         

        Go to your settings for chrome and in the search box type "pdf"

         

        It will highlight & guide you to Privacy > Content Settings >

         

        Then scroll all the way to the bottom and uncheck the box for "Open PDF files in default..."

        --So now there is no check in the box.

         

        This corrected my issue and hope it helps you.

          S
          SCLIPIRA
          Participant
          October 12, 2023

          I am using Chrome in Windows 10.  Saving PDFs as opposed to opening them was driving me crazy.  I have Pro and Distiller installed and not certain which one the PDF was accessing to open,  I deleted Distiller and the PDF's open just fine.  Hope this helps.

          A
          Anonymous
          November 29, 2021

          I use Firefox, and have (suddenly- in the past few months) had the same issue. It is NOT about Google Chrome; it is about Adobe.  I actually had no problem simply opening PDF's until I signed up for an account with Adobe.  Coincidence??

          Not sure if this is their way of making people have to upgrade,and sign up for their additional $$ service, or what.

            G
            Gloria22776956bdp8
            Participant
            January 22, 2022

            I also use Firefox and have recently had the same problem.  Here is the solution:

            In Firefox:

            1.  Click on the three parallel lines in the upper right corner.

            2.  Click on the Settings option.

            3.  Find the Applications settings.

            4.  Scroll down until you see the Portable Document Forment (PDF)

            5.  In the Action column, it will say "Save File."

            6.  Click the down arrow, and either select "Use Windows Default Application" to always open with Adobe Acrobat, or   select "Always Ask" to see a list of options, one of which will be "Open with Adobe Acrobat Reader.

              M
              MaryKay27
              Participant
              February 13, 2022

              FINALLY!  SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION AND ANSWERED IT!!!!!

               

              Thank you!

                try67
                Community Expert
                try67Community Expert
                Community Expert
                January 8, 2019

                This is a question for the Chrome forums. It has nothing to do with Adobe Reader, or any other Adobe software.

                B
                boarda16934561Author
                Participant
                January 8, 2019

                There may be a setting in Acrobat Reader that may be able to assist me. Someone in this discussion may know the answer. This is why I have started a discussion here as well as Google Chrome.

                  try67
                  Community Expert
                  try67Community Expert
                  Community Expert
                  January 8, 2019

                  Since the Reader plugin doesn't work in Chrome anymore, it has nothing to do with it.

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