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.

.pdf hyperlinks in word open in Internet Explorer instead of Firefox

  • 1 reply
  • 26 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by atreyu

Robbie123
Robbie123
more options

I have website addresses copied and pasted into a word document, which automatically makes them a hyperlink. Normal website addresses open fine in firefox (which is my default browser) when I Ctrl+click on them. Web links to a .pdf, however, open Internet Explorer and then open in Adobe Acrobat inside Internet Explorer. How can I get .pdf links to open in Firefox when I Ctrl+click on them?

I have website addresses copied and pasted into a word document, which automatically makes them a hyperlink. Normal website addresses open fine in firefox (which is my default browser) when I Ctrl+click on them. Web links to a .pdf, however, open Internet Explorer and then open in Adobe Acrobat inside Internet Explorer. How can I get .pdf links to open in Firefox when I Ctrl+click on them?

All Replies (1)

atreyu
atreyu
more options

I have the same problem (roughly) - I have PDF hyperlinks in an Excel spreadsheet and, when clicked, instead of them opening directly in Acrobat (or via Firefox, my default browser), they open via IE. Regular HTML links in the Excel spreadsheet open in Firefox.

I have enabled the Block PDF files' access to all web sites option under Trust Manager category in the Adobe Reader Preferences tab.

I have also disabled the Adobe PDF Link Helper Extension in the Manage Add-ons tab in IE.

Obviously, neither of these settings made any difference.


  • Windows XP Pro SP3
  • Microsoft Office Excel 2003 SP3
  • Internet Explorer 8.0
  • Adobe Reader X (Version 10.1.1)
  • Firefox 8.0