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Firefox stopped opening PDF files yesterday and will only allow me to save the file, the option to Use Adobe Acrobat option is missing

Rodney0909
Rodney0909
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I have been using Firefox for several years, yesterday it stopped opening PDF files, it will only allow me to save them. I opened the options tab and under Applications, The Content Type, Adobe Acrobat Document the option Use Adobe Acrobat (in Firefox) is not there is only allows me to chose Use Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, Always Ask or Save File. I deleted Use Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and it still would not work, has there been a new update or fix, please help, thanks!

I have been using Firefox for several years, yesterday it stopped opening PDF files, it will only allow me to save them. I opened the options tab and under Applications, The Content Type, Adobe Acrobat Document the option Use Adobe Acrobat (in Firefox) is not there is only allows me to chose Use Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, Always Ask or Save File. I deleted Use Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and it still would not work, has there been a new update or fix, please help, thanks!

Chosen solution

Hi Rodney0909, the entries for "Adobe Acrobat Document" are usually saved as you associate non-standard document types with Adobe Reader through the download dialog (the application selected for how to Open it).

You can scroll down to Portable Document Format (PDF) or type pdf in the search bar above the content type list to get to the more general PDF-related preference (the one used for the standard "application/pdf" content type).

Does that one let you choose your preferred viewer? And if so, does it work?

See also: View PDF files in Firefox or choose another viewer

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All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Hi Rodney0909, the entries for "Adobe Acrobat Document" are usually saved as you associate non-standard document types with Adobe Reader through the download dialog (the application selected for how to Open it).

You can scroll down to Portable Document Format (PDF) or type pdf in the search bar above the content type list to get to the more general PDF-related preference (the one used for the standard "application/pdf" content type).

Does that one let you choose your preferred viewer? And if so, does it work?

See also: View PDF files in Firefox or choose another viewer

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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If selecting a setting other than "Save File" for pdf's in Options > Application is not working, the settings file which stores your download handling preferences might be corrupted. What we usually suggest in that case is as follows:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename mimeTypes.rdf to something like mimeTypes.old.

Start Firefox back up, and it should build a new mimeTypes.rdf file from the Windows registry and plugin data. Normally your PDF viewer will be reset back to the built-one, but you can select Adobe Acrobat if you prefer. See: View PDF files in Firefox or choose another viewer.