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everytime there is a firefox update, i can't view PDF files in the browser.? why? what can I do?

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  • 38 have this problem
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  • Last reply by boopbettyx

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This is becoming such a pain in the ass that I may just ditch Firefox all together and use Chrome. Just when I get the files working and all those setting figured out, the new Firefox update just blocks PDF files all over again. I've tried all possibilities in the settings. I've even restarted the program, the computer twice, and none of my PDF's view in the browser NOR do they download. ????!!! so frustrating i may just go with another browser. I used to like Firefox but this happens every single time!

This is becoming such a pain in the ass that I may just ditch Firefox all together and use Chrome. Just when I get the files working and all those setting figured out, the new Firefox update just blocks PDF files all over again. I've tried all possibilities in the settings. I've even restarted the program, the computer twice, and none of my PDF's view in the browser NOR do they download. ????!!! so frustrating i may just go with another browser. I used to like Firefox but this happens every single time!

Chosen solution

Sorry to hear about that.

Updates normally do not affect the most relevant settings:

  • Application preferences
  • Plugins and status (Always Activate, Ask to Activate, Never Activate)
  • Extensions and their enabled/disabled status

Did you notice an Old Firefox Data folder on your desktop? That could indicate that Firefox performed a "Refresh" during your update, either because of a problem in your settings or if you clicked a button to solve Firefox being slow. After a Refresh, many settings may return to their default value, and most Extensions are missing.

At this point, it appears you have the Adobe Acrobat plugin, and you have the PDF Viewer extension. To choose between these, or to open PDFs outside of Firefox, you can use the Preferences dialog:

"3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences > Applications

After the list loads, you can type or paste pdf in the search box above the list to quickly filter it and update your preference.

Actually, it sounds as though you are painfully familiar with this process already.

Could you describe what your preferred settings were before and what they changed to?

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Chosen Solution

Sorry to hear about that.

Updates normally do not affect the most relevant settings:

  • Application preferences
  • Plugins and status (Always Activate, Ask to Activate, Never Activate)
  • Extensions and their enabled/disabled status

Did you notice an Old Firefox Data folder on your desktop? That could indicate that Firefox performed a "Refresh" during your update, either because of a problem in your settings or if you clicked a button to solve Firefox being slow. After a Refresh, many settings may return to their default value, and most Extensions are missing.

At this point, it appears you have the Adobe Acrobat plugin, and you have the PDF Viewer extension. To choose between these, or to open PDFs outside of Firefox, you can use the Preferences dialog:

"3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences > Applications

After the list loads, you can type or paste pdf in the search box above the list to quickly filter it and update your preference.

Actually, it sounds as though you are painfully familiar with this process already.

Could you describe what your preferred settings were before and what they changed to?

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again, today, the same problem. As soon as my Mac updates Adobe!, the F$%&@ thing will never open PDF! it take me about 3 hours to change every setting in the Preferences. Now it's been over 4 hours!!!!!! i'm gonna stop updating things if this keeps happening! safari works, Chrome works, just Firefox doesn't! WTF!???