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.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Firefox has taken over PDFs

  • 3 replies
  • 0 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Figure8565

Tony
Tony
more options

In the last few days whenever I download a PDF file instead of it being displayed in my default PDF read Firefox (version 121.0.1) takes over and displays the contents of the file. I do not want this, I prefer my PDF reader! How do I stop Firefox trying to take over this function? (other than converting to Chrome)

In the last few days whenever I download a PDF file instead of it being displayed in my default PDF read Firefox (version 121.0.1) takes over and displays the contents of the file. I do not want this, I prefer my PDF reader! How do I stop Firefox trying to take over this function? (other than converting to Chrome)

Chosen solution

Thank you for your response.

I found the cause. There is a Firefox setting: settings/general/applications (you have to scroll down) and PDF had been set to “open in Firefox” I reset it to my usual PDF reader and all was fine.

A recent Firefox upgrade must have changed the setting (naughty, especially without asking), it also overrides the Windows default for that file-type, which was still set to the default (first thing I checked).

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (3)

Figure8565
Figure8565
more options

Does this only happen with PDFs you download through Firefox?

  • If so, that would probably be some setting I don't know about...hopefully other can provide input.

However, if this happens for all PDF files, regardless of where they come from, you will want to check the default application selected by your operating system.

  • If you are using Windows, have you checked the default application selected in Windows? Navigate to "Settings" (the gear icon in the start menu) > "Apps" > "Default apps" (in the left navigation bar) > "Choose default apps by file type" (link at the bottom of this settings page). Scroll down the .pdf, and slect the reader you want, if it is not already selected.
Tony
Tony Question owner
more options

Chosen Solution

Thank you for your response.

I found the cause. There is a Firefox setting: settings/general/applications (you have to scroll down) and PDF had been set to “open in Firefox” I reset it to my usual PDF reader and all was fine.

A recent Firefox upgrade must have changed the setting (naughty, especially without asking), it also overrides the Windows default for that file-type, which was still set to the default (first thing I checked).

Figure8565
Figure8565
more options

Ah, I had forgotten about that setting. Good find!

Strange that it got changed without asking.