Unable to Open or Download PDF File on Website – Need Help

[hasnain_5028]

Hi Adobe Community,

I’m currently managing a website where some users have reported issues opening or downloading PDF files directly from the site. The files are hosted properly, but on certain browsers or devices, clicking the PDF link either does nothing or shows an error.

I’ve tested different embed methods, iframe options, and direct download links, but still facing inconsistency. Could this be an issue with how the PDF is rendered or permissions on the server?

Here’s an example page for reference: https://www.surahayaseen.com

Any guidance on best practices for displaying or embedding PDFs that are fully compatible across browsers (especially mobile) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[try67 · Accepted solution]

Works fine for me. If someone is having issues viewing it it's probably related to their browser and the settings in it.

[AnandSri]

Hello @hasnain_5028!

I hope you are doing well.

As our community product expert correctly highlighted, the issue could be related to the user's browser settings. 

For the users, ensure that the browser being used is compatible with Adobe Acrobat Reader. Some browsers may have settings or extensions that interfere with PDF viewing. See this article for the detailed information: Configure browser to use the Adobe PDF plug-in to open online PDF files

If the Acrobat Reader desktop app is installed, ensure you have the latest version of Acrobat installed on the machine: 25.001.20458 Planned update, Apr 15, 2025. Check for any pending updates from the Menu > help > check for updates, install the updates, restart the app and the machine, and check. For more information, see this: https://adobe.ly/4jkkaRZ. Download the PDFs locally and open it with the Reader app.

Verify that the browser settings allow PDF files to be opened. This may include enabling PDF viewing in the browser or disabling conflicting extensions. Embed Methods: Use different methods to embed PDFs on the website, such as using iframes or direct download links, to ensure compatibility across various browsers and devices. 

Use Direct PDF Links with target="_blank"
To ensure compatibility and avoid blocking issues: <a href="yourfile.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">View PDF</a>

This opens the file in a new browser tab, allowing the browser’s built-in PDF viewer to render it. Avoid using the download attribute if users are expected to view the file, not download it directly.

I hope this helps.

Thanks,

Anand Sri.