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Downloads open contiunous tabs, can get the downlload.

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When I want to download a bank statement I have the option to View PDF or download PDF. Either way opens one tab after another and I have to shut down Firefox to stop it.

What can I do to stop this?

Steve McCormick

When I want to download a bank statement I have the option to View PDF or download PDF. Either way opens one tab after another and I have to shut down Firefox to stop it. What can I do to stop this? Steve McCormick

Isisombululo esikhethiwe

Hi Steve, could you clear Firefox's settings for opening PDFs? Somehow that seems to have been set to a dysfunctional behavior. You can try changing it on the Options page. If that doesn't work, you'll need to remove a settings file.

Options Page

  • Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
  • Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
  • Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
  • Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

Scroll down to the Applications section. You can type pdf in the bar above the list to filter it. The following settings should be safe:

  • Preview in Firefox
  • Always Ask
  • Save File
  • Use Adobe Acrobat (this refers to an external application)
  • Use Adobe Reader (this refers to an external application)

Avoid anything like "Use Firefox" because it can cause an infinite loop of new tabs or new windows as Firefox keeps getting told to open itself to open the PDF.

Remove Settings File

If the first method didn't work:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then right-click > Rename handlers.json to something like handlersOLD.json.

Start Firefox back up and default PDF behavior should be restored ("Preview in Firefox").

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All Replies (2)

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Isisombululo Esikhethiwe

Hi Steve, could you clear Firefox's settings for opening PDFs? Somehow that seems to have been set to a dysfunctional behavior. You can try changing it on the Options page. If that doesn't work, you'll need to remove a settings file.

Options Page

  • Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
  • Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
  • Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
  • Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it

Scroll down to the Applications section. You can type pdf in the bar above the list to filter it. The following settings should be safe:

  • Preview in Firefox
  • Always Ask
  • Save File
  • Use Adobe Acrobat (this refers to an external application)
  • Use Adobe Reader (this refers to an external application)

Avoid anything like "Use Firefox" because it can cause an infinite loop of new tabs or new windows as Firefox keeps getting told to open itself to open the PDF.

Remove Settings File

If the first method didn't work:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Open Folder" button. This should launch a new window listing various files and folders in Windows Explorer.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then right-click > Rename handlers.json to something like handlersOLD.json.

Start Firefox back up and default PDF behavior should be restored ("Preview in Firefox").

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Thanks Jscher2000