Chosen Solution

You can set the pdfjs.disabled pref to true on the about:config page to disable the build-in PDF viewer and use the Adobe Reader instead.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/view-pdf-files-firefox-without-downloading-them
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file

I changed the setting to true, but now it asks me to save the PDF rather than open it in Adobe Reader within FF.

Helpful Reply

Check the settings for PDF files.

• Firefox > Preferences > Applications > Adobe PDF document : Use Adobe Reader

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file

I see the same behavior -- I changed the pdfjs.disabled setting to true and now Firefox asks me to save (most) PDF files without giving me the option to open them directly with Acrobat Reader. I followed the link given above and verified that Adobe Acrobat PDF document is set to "Always ask". I don't understand why Firefox doesn't give me the option to open the files in Acrobat Reader. Nor do I understand why this is true for most, but not all pdf files (such as http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/am26c31; I can't find an example of one that works outside our internal web site, which might be a clue that our internal web site is not configured properly).

I hate it when arbitrary changes to software breaks my workflow. http://xkcd.com/1172/

Do you have the Adobe Reader plugin installed and enabled?

• Tools > Add-ons > Plugins

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins

I don't have the plugin enabled. Traditionally, that was the only way I could figure out how to tell Firefox that I wanted to read PDF documents with the standalone reader instead of in a separate window/tab within Firefox.

The plugin I have is "Adobe Acrobat NPAPI Plug-in, Version 10.1.6". Is that the latest/best plugin to use? All I want is for Firefox to ask me "Save, or open with Reader" when I download PDFs. I don't want to view them within Firefox.

You can set the pdfjs.disabled pref to true on the about:config page to disable the build-in PDF viewer.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

You can change the action for Portable Document Format (PDF) from Preview in Firefox to Always Ask in "Firefox > Options > Applications".

See also:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/view-pdf-files-firefox-without-downloading-them

Hi cor-el, Thank you for your reply.

I have pdfjs.disabled pref set to true.

I have set the following Content Types to "Always ask":

• Adobe Acrobat FDF document
• Adobe Acrobat XML Data Package File
• Adobe Form Client Data File
• Portable Document Format (pdf/adobe)
• Portable Document Format (doesn/matter)
• Portable Document Format (binary/octet-stream)
• Portable Document Format (application/x-pdf)
• Portable Document Format (application/x-octet-stream)
• Portable Document Format (application/x-download)
• Portable Document Format (application/force-download)
• Portable Document Format ("application/pdf")

And I just noticed now that Portable Document Format (application/pdf) is set to "Adobe Reader"

With the release of 19.0, Firefox started displaying PDF documents within Firefox itself, which I don't want. I found a page that directed me to set pdfjs.disabled to true, which I have done, and now Firefox only offers me the option of saving PDF documents -- it no longer offers me the option of displaying them with Adobe Reader.

I would like to know how to make Firefox go back to the old behavior of asking me whether I wanted to save the document, or open it with Adobe Reader. So far, I can't figure out how to do that.

Thanks again for the tips. Please keep them coming.

Do you have an enabled Adobe Reader plugin on the Tools > Add-ons > Plugins page?

Yo you set the action for Portable Document Format to Adobe Reader (in Firefox)?

• Tools > Options > Applications
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file

Maybe best to remove these actions and only leave application/x-pdf

1. Portable Document Format (doesn/matter)
2. Portable Document Format (binary/octet-stream)
3. Portable Document Format (application/x-octet-stream)
4. Portable Document Format (application/x-download)
5. Portable Document Format (application/force-download)

Hello again cor-el, and thank you so much for your patience and willingness to help.

I do not have an enabled Adobe Reader plugin. My understanding of such plugins is that they allow one to read PDF documents from within Firefox. I don't want that capability. I would like Firefox to ask me each time I download a PDF "Do you want to save this document or do you want to open it with Adobe Reader?"

Currently (since I set pdfjs.disabled to true) Firefox only asks me where I want to save the document.

I'm not sure how to remove the actions you suggest I remove. There doesn't appear to be any sort of "Delete" button or icon next to any of the document types.

If the Adobe Reader program is set as the default application for PDF files on your computer (right-click a saved PDF file in Windows Explorer and use Open or open with) then Firefox should offer this program as the first choice for an application when you get the Open with and save dialog.

You can also temporarily set a default automatic action to use the Adobe Reader program and change that afterward to Always Ask in Options > Applications.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file

I do not have "Adobe PDF Document" or any entries named "Portable Document Format" under Options > Options > Applications. How can I get that back and then set it to open inside FF using Foxit plugin ? thanks

You can delete the mimeTypes.rdf file in the Firefox profile folder to reset all file actions.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/mimeTypes.rdf
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/File_types_and_download_actions#Resetting_download_actions

You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder