If you’re using Google Chrome 68 or later versions in 2018 and want to disable Chrome’s built-in PDF Viewer to enable Adobe Reader or other desktop application for viewing PDF files on your computer, follow the instructions given below.
Since the Plugins page has been removed in Chrome 57, you may find it difficult to manage PPAPI-based Flash and built-in PDF Viewer plugins. If you don’t know, they’ve been moved to content settings. If you want to disable/enable the Chrome PDF Viewer, from version 57 onwards, you’ve to follow the below steps.
Disable or enable Chrome PDF Viewer in Chrome
1. Click on Chrome menu, select Settings
2. Scroll down and click on Advanced
3. Under Privacy & Security, click on Content Settings,
4. Scroll down and click on PDF Documents or visit chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments
- To disable Chrome PDF Viewer, turn on ‘Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome’ Setting,
- To enable PDF Viewer, you need to turn off the above mentioned setting.
Done! Chrome Internal PDF Viewer will be enabled/disabled as per the setting chosen by you.
Note: Chrome blocks Flash by default. You can allow sites to run Flash or manually add sites that can run Flash by visiting the Flash section in Content Settings.
SEE: Opera 51 adds option to run Flash on All sites
How to Change the Default PDF Viewer in Windows 10
Are you trying to enable or disable Chrome PDF Viewer? What’s the reason for that? Which application you’re going to use for your PDF needs then? Are you using Adobe Reader or any web-based PDF Viewer such as Microsoft Edge, Vivaldi or Opera? Let us know in the comments below.
Related articles:
Opera integrates Chrome PDF Viewer into the developer Stream
Comparison Between Firefox PDF Viewer (PDF.js) and Chrome PDF Viewer
Google Chrome: How to Always Open PDFs with System Viewer?
Google Chrome 8 released with built-in PDF Viewer enabled by default
There is no option for “Open PDFs using a different application’.” There is only a check box for using the pdf viewer, which is unchecked, but it keeps using it . . . Ideas?
wording is different setting is the same, Chrome 57 settings hasn’t been materialized. Selecting the setting will disable Chrome PDF Viewer.
when you have this turned on, and not using chromes builtin in pdf viewer, it directs it to your default pdf viewer as set in Default Programs inside Control Panel.
THanks dor the help, but this did not work for me. The aforementioned box is checked, but I still can’t open pdf in chrome.
You need to uncheck it for PDFs to open in Chrome.
did you find a solution yet?
It works for me…!! Thank you… Finally found the solution…
You’re welcome Anieq. Glad that we could help.
I have the box unchecked, and pdf’s are opened in the viewer, but it requires I download them first. I can’t seem to figure out how make open them in the viewer without having to download them. I often have to look at dozens of pdf documents online (statements on websites etc) in a day, that I don’t need or want to save or download…..
I have the same problem. It’s horrible!
check to see if you have ASK TO SAVE EACH FILE BEFORE DOWNLOADING checked in settings.
When you have the PDF boxed checked [or toggled] you are using your default pdf viewer and need to download a copy to view it.
I have done what you said above, but at every restart of the computer Chrome still becomes the default app for pdf again. I have to tell the system manually that I want Foxit to be the default app. I have tried to make another browser my default, but that is blocked.
I like Chrome for the most part, but this is very irritating.
Which Windows OS you’re using? Windows 10?
Hi there,
I have enabled “Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome”, and now Chrome collapses every time I click on a pdf-link. It’s a brand new issue, which started today. I restarted and reinstalled Chrome, restarted computer, but the issue persists.
If I disable the function, it opens pdf in a new tab. If I enable it, Chrome tries to open a new tab but won’t succeed, but it keeps on trying until i close it.
Any idea?
Thanks
OK, sorry, I’ve just found the solution. I write down the story so as to help others with the same isse:
This morning AVG sneakily installed its “Secure Browser” and set the system’s default pdf viewer to itself. I instantly uninstalled it and the system viewer changed to Chrome. But this way every pdf opened in Chrome instead of Acrobate Reader DC (my preference). So I disabled the “open in Chrome” function as described in the post, but this drove Chrome into an infinite attempt to open a tab. I think it wanted to open with system viewer but it redirected to chrome which was disabled, and so on. The solution was to reset system viewer to ARDC.
Nicole
SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 @ 7:29 PM
check to see if you have ASK TO SAVE EACH FILE BEFORE DOWNLOADING checked in settings.
When you have the PDF boxed checked [or toggled] you are using your default pdf viewer and need to download a copy to view it.
After a couple of hours I found this step…IT WORKED FOR ME!!!!!! Thanks so much!