We're calling on all EU-based Mozillians with iOS or iPadOS devices to help us monitor Apple’s new browser choice screens. Join the effort to hold Big Tech to account!

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.

Search Support

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

Why can't I open pdfs from websites?

more options

Whenever I click on a link to a pdf on any website, I get an error message window with no message in it. The title bar of the message window says "Adobe" and there is a graphic of a question mark in the window (not clickable) and that's it. The pdf will not open. I can right-click and choose "save link as" and then save the pdf link to my desktop and open it from there, but, what a pain!

I tried this in IE as well; I have a similar problem there, but the difference is, I get that error message window the first time, but if I close it and try again to open the pdf, THEN it works. That doesn't happen with Firefox.

I'm at work and we just got new Dell laptops with Windows 7. Everyone who got a new computer is having this problem now, but I was actually having this problem with my old desktop computer too.

I have no problem opening pdfs from non-internet sources (i.e., email, or just saved on my hard drive or network drives).

Whenever I click on a link to a pdf on any website, I get an error message window with no message in it. The title bar of the message window says "Adobe" and there is a graphic of a question mark in the window (not clickable) and that's it. The pdf will not open. I can right-click and choose "save link as" and then save the pdf link to my desktop and open it from there, but, what a pain! I tried this in IE as well; I have a similar problem there, but the difference is, I get that error message window the first time, but if I close it and try again to open the pdf, THEN it works. That doesn't happen with Firefox. I'm at work and we just got new Dell laptops with Windows 7. Everyone who got a new computer is having this problem now, but I was actually having this problem with my old desktop computer too. I have no problem opening pdfs from non-internet sources (i.e., email, or just saved on my hard drive or network drives).

All Replies (1)

more options