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.

PDF files viewed through built-in PDF firefox causing firefox to crash (PDF cancer bug)

more options

- when i view PDF file after downloading it , it suggest for me to open it either by adobe acrobat or firefox , when i choose firefox it will open the file through multiple non-ending windows causing firefox act as a body with cancer. (thats why i called it cancer)


- about my firefox


Name: Firefox Version: 57.0 Build ID: 20171112125346 Update Channel: release User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:57.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/57.0 OS: Windows_NT 10.0 Multiprocess Windows: 1/1 (Enabled by default) Web Content Processes: 2/4 Stylo: true (enabled by default) Google Key: Found Mozilla Location Service Key: Found Safe Mode: false

- when i view PDF file after downloading it , it suggest for me to open it either by adobe acrobat or firefox , when i choose firefox it will open the file through multiple non-ending windows causing firefox act as a body with cancer. (thats why i called it cancer) - about my firefox ------------------ Name: Firefox Version: 57.0 Build ID: 20171112125346 Update Channel: release User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:57.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/57.0 OS: Windows_NT 10.0 Multiprocess Windows: 1/1 (Enabled by default) Web Content Processes: 2/4 Stylo: true (enabled by default) Google Key: Found Mozilla Location Service Key: Found Safe Mode: false
Ìsopọ̀ yíyà aṣàfihàn

Ti ṣàtúnṣe nípa user1427675

All Replies (5)

more options

I would choose to use Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Pro for pdf files. I myself have Acrobat Pro as default for all and any related pdf files. I find Adobe does pdf far better then others. It does cost unless you use the free Acrobat Reader but even then that is better then the alternative.

more options

WestEnd said

I would choose to use Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Pro for pdf files. I myself have Acrobat Pro as default for all and any related pdf files. I find Adobe does pdf far better then others. It does cost unless you use the free Acrobat Reader but even then that is better then the alternative.

But thats not a solution to the bug itself. You are just suggesting another method about how to view pdf files. In other word you are avoiding the bug but not solving it.

(This bug needs code adjustment to firefox)

more options

Well FF isn't native to pdf files reading anyway that in itself is a bug to start with. PDF is a adobe format to begin with. Avoiding it or not I never use it to read something when Acrobat is made for pdf. But if that was a bug then you need to do a Reporting of Bugs to support on Feedback to fix it.

more options

Note that you should never choose Firefox as the application to handle a file when you get an 'open with' dialog. Firefox wouldn't ask when it can handle this file type and setting Firefox as the default (always use...) will cause tabs opening endlessly. You will have to remove this action.

Also check the setting for Portable Document Format in "Options/Preferences -> General -> Applications"

Is the builtin PDF Viewer enabled?

more options

Usually if Firefox shows the download dialog, that means Firefox can't open the download in a tab. With PDFs, it's possible to configure Firefox to do it, but please use the method cor-el described, not the applications list under Open in the download dialog.

See also: Firefox repeatedly opens empty tabs or windows after you click on a link.