Configure browser to use the Adobe PDF plug-in to open online PDF files

Solve PDF issues by reconfiguring your browser to work with Acrobat or Reader plug-in.

PDF issues

Many recent browser versions include their own, native PDF plug-ins that automatically replace the Acrobat and Reader plug-in from Adobe. Installing Firefox 19 or later, for instance, can result in your Adobe plug-in being disabled and replaced. Browser plug-ins typically do not support all PDF capabilities or offer comparable features. If you experience the following problems, you may need to revert to the Adobe plug-in:

  • Parts of a PDF don’t display
  • Poor performance or image quality
  • Large files sizes when printing to PDF
  • 3D models don't render
  • Embedded SWF files don't play

Solution: Revert to Adobe PDF plug-in

Choose your browser and system:

Manually change your browser preferences so that it uses the Acrobat or Reader PDF viewer.

Firefox on Windows

  1. Choose Firefox > Options > Applications.

  2. In the Content Type area, scroll to Portable Document Format (PDF).

  3. Click the Action column next to Portable Document Format (PDF), and then select an application to open the PDF. For example, to use the Acrobat plug-in within the browser, choose Use Adobe Acrobat (in Firefox).

Firefox on Mac OS

  1. Select Firefox.

  2. Choose Preferences > Applications.

  3. Select Portable Document Format (PDF) from the Content Type Column.

  4. Click the Action column next to Portable Document Format (PDF), and then select Use Adobe Acrobat NPAPI Plug-in.

Chrome on Mac or Windows

Chrome and Acrobat are no longer compatible. For more information, see Change in support for Acrobat and Reader plug-ins in modern web browsers.

Safari on Mac OS

  1. In the Finder, select a PDF, and choose File > Get Info.

  2. Click the arrow next to Open With to expose the product menu.

  3. Choose either Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader from the application menu.

  4. Click the Change All button.

  5. When asked if you want to change all similar documents, click Continue.

Safari on Mac or Windows - browser preferences

  1. Launch Safari and choose Safari > Preferences.

  2. In the Preferences window, click Security, and then click Website Settings next to Internet plug-ins.

  3. Select Adobe Reader in the list of plug-ins. Under When Visiting Other Websites, in the drop-down list choose Allow Always and click Done.

    The browser is now set to use the Adobe Reader plug-in to display PDFs.

 Adobe

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