Opening PDF files within Firefox

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A PDF reader plugin can be used to display PDF file inside the Firefox browser window. If there is a problem with the plugin, Firefox may try to download the PDF file instead of opening it. This article helps you to open PDF files within Firefox.

Some PDF readers plugin are:

Only the first page is visible (Mac 10.5 and below)

If PDF documents open within Firefox but only the first page is viewable, make sure that the QuickTime plugin isn't set to handle PDF content:

  1. From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
  2. From the View menu, choose QuickTime.
  3. Click the Plug-In tab and click MIME settings....
  4. In the list of MIME types, click the triangle next to "Images - Still image files".
  5. If "PDF Image" is checked, click the check box to clear it.
  6. Click OK

If you can't view a PDF in Firefox, continue with the next following instructions.

Check Firefox settings

  1. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button (Tools menu in Windows XP) and then click OptionsOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select PreferencesAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu and select Options...On the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Preferences...At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Edit menu and select Preferences...
  2. Select the Applications panel.
  3. Find Adobe Acrobat Document (if you're using Adobe Reader) or PDF files (for other PDF readers) in the list and click on it to select it.
  4. Click on the drop-down arrow in the Action column for the above entry and select Use PDF reader name (in Firefox).
    Opening PDF - Win

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    • If Use PDF reader name (in Firefox) is not listed as an Option, see Reset download actions below and then repeat this set of instructions.
  5. Click OK to close the Options windowClick Close to close the Preferences windowClose the Preferences window

If you still can't view a PDF in Firefox, continue with the following instructions.

Reset download actions

  1. Open your profile folder:

    1. At the top of the Firefox windowOn the menu bar, click on the Help menuAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button, go over to the Help menu (on Windows XP, click on the Help menu)On the menu bar, click on the Help menuAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information. The Troubleshooting Information tab will open.
    2. Under the Application Basics section, click on Open Containing FolderShow in Finder. A window with your profile filesfolder will open.
      Note: If you are unable to open or use Fire​fox, follow the instructions in Finding your profile without opening Firefox.

  2. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Firefox button (File menu in Windows XP) and then click ExitOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select QuitAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select ExitOn the menu bar, click on the Firefox menu and select Quit FirefoxAt the top of the Firefox window, click on the File menu and select Quit.
  3. Delete the mimetypes.rdf file.


Check Application settings

If the PDF reader plugin comes bundled with a reader application, check the application plugin setting if there is some.

  • Adobe Reader:
    1. Open Adobe Reader.
    2. Once in Adobe Reader, click the Edit menu in the menu bar, and then click Preferences... The Preferences window will open.
    3. In the Categories section, click on Internet.
    4. Make sure the first check box, Display PDF in browser, is checked.
    5. Click OK to dismiss the Preferences window, and then close Adobe Reader.

If you still can't view a PDF in Firefox, continue with the next following instructions.


Re-initialize the plugins database

Follow the instructions in the Re-initializing the plugins database section of the Troubleshooting plugins article.

This will force Firefox to rebuild its plugin database. If you still can't view a PDF in Firefox, continue with the next following instructions.


Re-install the application

If the PDF reader plugin comes bundled with a reader application and the above troubleshooting methods for Firefox did not work, uninstall and re-install the application.

If you still can't view a PDF in Firefox, continue with the next following instructions.


Further information for Adobe Reader

If none of the above troubleshooting methods worked, see Can't view PDF on the web from Adobe.com for further instructions.

Contributors to this page: Chris_Ilias, ThomasLendo, scoobidiver

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