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

Èròjà atẹ̀lélànà yii ni a ti fi pamọ́ fọ́jọ́ pípẹ́. Jọ̀wọ́ béèrè ìbéèrè titun bí o bá nílò ìrànwọ́.

Firefox opens multiple blank tabs instead of any PDF file.

  • 3 àwọn èsì
  • 59 ní àwọn ìṣòro yìí
  • 5 views
  • Èsì tí ó kẹ́hìn lọ́wọ́ LawDown

more options

Yesterday my Firefox was opening files just fine, but today I can't open PDFs. It isn't the usual PDF issue I've heard described either. Every time I click on a PDF to open it, Firefox opens tons of blank tabs ( 20 to 30) and I have to shut down the application, or in some cases the entire computer, to make it stop. Eventually, I will get an error message saying the file can't be opened, but not before tons of new tabs have popped up. I'm only clicking it once, yet I get 25 tabs! I've already removed & reinstalled Firefox and it didn't help. How can I fix this?

Yesterday my Firefox was opening files just fine, but today I can't open PDFs. It isn't the usual PDF issue I've heard described either. Every time I click on a PDF to open it, Firefox opens tons of blank tabs ( 20 to 30) and I have to shut down the application, or in some cases the entire computer, to make it stop. Eventually, I will get an error message saying the file can't be opened, but not before tons of new tabs have popped up. I'm only clicking it once, yet I get 25 tabs! I've already removed & reinstalled Firefox and it didn't help. How can I fix this?

All Replies (3)

more options

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} While you are in safe mode; Press the Alt or F10 key to bring up the tool bar. Followed by;

Windows; Tools > Options Linux; Edit > Preferences Mac; application name > Preferences

Then Advanced > General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Poke around safe web sites. Are there any problems?

Then restart.

more options

I also had this problem. It's easily solved, though. Right-click on the PDF file (or any other file that develops this issue) - and choose "Open With" and then make sure the box at the bottom has the "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" - checked! And the program to choose will be whichever Adobe product you use, the Adobe Reader, or Adobe Acrobat.

I suspect a mischievous virus or something of the sort causes this, as many people seem to develop it around the same time.

Ti ṣàtúnṣe nípa MadisonAdmin

more options

I did this and turned off hardware acceleration, but still have the problem when I try to download a .pdf file in the newest Firefox.