This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Buscar en Ayuda

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

pdf files not showing or downloading

  • 13 respuestas
  • 63 tienen este problema
  • 1 visita
  • Última respuesta de bobcoe

more options

PDF files not downloaded or displayed i Firefox in version 15.0.1. A white blank page is just displayed. This is reported back to me from many users and not just on my computer.

PDF files not downloaded or displayed i Firefox in version 15.0.1. A white blank page is just displayed. This is reported back to me from many users and not just on my computer.

Solución elegida

Try to disable the Adobe Reader plugin in Firefox (Tools > Add-ons > Plugins) and use the external Adobe Reader application or Preview application instead.

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

PDF files may also be found under another entry like Portable document.

Leer esta respuesta en su contexto 👍 9

Todas las respuestas (13)

more options

URL of a page where that happens?

more options

Hi, I can give you a link to one of these files, but as I mentioned, it is happening for several of my clients. http://sukkersheriffen.dk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1.-kapitel-af-Sukkersheriffen.pdf

more options

Firefox had this problem before and it was an incompatible plug in with not solution other than disable the plug in and download every pdf file to see the document.

It is happening again and is not one particular website is every pdf link on the net.

Fix it this time guys. Firefox is my favorite browser and I am using safari for 2 weeks now.

Modificadas por mmatrix00 el

more options

Hi there. Can I ask what computers you are using? If you are using a Mac then this problem can be easily resolved.

more options

Yes, I am using mac. What's the solution then?

more options

If you're using a Mac then you can go here: http://mzl.la/LCWQaZ to get the help you need. Hope it helps :)

more options

I guess you can't see my troubleshooting info? There is also information about what system I use next to my initial post.

Anyway, here is what I wrote in the troubleshooting info:

As of recently, my guess is since version 15.0.1, but could be before, it is not possible to download or view a pdf files in Firefox. A white blank page is just displayed. I create website for a living and I have a few of my clients reporting back to me, that their clients cannot download/view pdf's in Firefox. When I check the link to the file in Chrome, Safari etc, then the file is displayed just fine, so I am guessing it is something in Firefox. I have searched your support forum and I found this article https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/pdf-files-are-blank-and-cant-be-downloaded-mac?as=aaq and I have tried to follow the steps, but there is no pdf type when I search. But since it is not only on my computer this issue happens, then I guess it could be something in Firefox. I use macbook OS X 10.8.2.

more options

Solución elegida

Try to disable the Adobe Reader plugin in Firefox (Tools > Add-ons > Plugins) and use the external Adobe Reader application or Preview application instead.

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

PDF files may also be found under another entry like Portable document.

more options

Hi Cor-el. Thanks for the tip. Disabling the Adobe plugin in plugin tools worked. I hardly ever use Adobe and always use Preview if possible. However, having to change these settings, to me, seems like a bug in Firefox. None of the other main browsers are not affected by the Adobe plugin. Most people will not have the knowledge or know-how to find this solution and fix the issue on their own, and therefore I think the issue lies in the hands of Firefox.

Thanks for your help on this.

Cordially Vayu

more options

I tried several of the solutions without success. Finally, I clicked Help->Troubleshooting information, and the little Reset Firefox button on the upper right hand side of the screen.

The reset removed all of my add-ons, but I was then able to reset the pdf reader (Preferences->Applications; search "pdf") which was not present before.

I also added on the recommended pdf viewer (https://github.com/mozilla/pdf.js/) which did not work before but does now.

All my bookmarks were preserved. I only need to decide which add-ons to reload.

Modificadas por jgaryellison el

more options

You can disable the Adobe Reader plugin in Firefox (Tools > Add-ons > Plugins) and use the external Adobe Reader application or Preview application instead.

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

PDF files may also be found under another entry like Portable document.

more options

PDF not working-Black screen. May sites coming in messed up. Search function in ADDINS poor, does not find anything just putting in single wooed ie PDF vs. PDF Reader or Lasspass Vs. Lastpass Password Manager.

Have to use Chrome for most of my work.

From using FF from verion3.0 or earlier it is not getting any better, only slightly faster.

more options

To suggest we reinstall or disable the Adobe Reader plugin is not helpful for visitors to our site who have no idea why the pdfs look wrong. And most viewers seem to be ignoring the yellow alert bar that appears above the window "displaying" the pdf.

I suggest that the Firefox team should disable the plugin in the next build.