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Why firefox built-in PDF Viewer makes windows 10 crashe

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 56 views
  • Last reply by Christophe

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I have a computer with Windows 10. For about two to three months from now, every so often, my computer/windows crashes when I open or save a PDF file on Firefox, which is extremely upsetting. I just found out some days ago that Firefox doesn't use anymore the adobe reader plugin, but uses instead its own built-in PDF viewer. When I changed the setting to use the external adobe reader software to open and/or download pdf files, it seems that my computer doesn't crashes anymore. So my questions are: why the bult-in PDF viewer makes windows 10 crash? Will that problem be fixed, and when? and lastly, why does Firefox forces to use its own built-in PDF viewer when it can't function correctly with windows 10? This have been the more upsetting problem I have had with my computer for a long time!

I have a computer with Windows 10. For about two to three months from now, every so often, my computer/windows crashes when I open or save a PDF file on Firefox, which is extremely upsetting. I just found out some days ago that Firefox doesn't use anymore the adobe reader plugin, but uses instead its own built-in PDF viewer. When I changed the setting to use the external adobe reader software to open and/or download pdf files, it seems that my computer doesn't crashes anymore. So my questions are: why the bult-in PDF viewer makes windows 10 crash? Will that problem be fixed, and when? and lastly, why does Firefox forces to use its own built-in PDF viewer when it can't function correctly with windows 10? This have been the more upsetting problem I have had with my computer for a long time!

Chosen solution

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
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Chosen Solution

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox menu button/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
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Thanks for the answer, I will try this and come back. Do you need my windows crash data/logs to look into this problem further?