View PDF files in Firefox or choose some other viewer

Firefox includes a built-in PDF viewer to display PDF files inside the browser window. This article explains how to utilise the born PDF viewer, how to fix the common issues yous might encounter, and how to use another PDF viewer.

Table of Contents

  • ane Firefox's congenital-in PDF Viewer
    • 1.1 Use a third-party PDF viewer for downloaded PDF files
  • 2 Disable the built-in PDF viewer and use some other viewer
  • three Set Firefox to enquire yous what to do with PDF files
  • 4 Using Firefox's built-in PDF viewer
    • 4.1 Fill out forms in PDF Viewer
    • 4.two PDF Viewer toolbar functions
    • 4.3 PDF Viewer keyboard shortcuts
    • 4.4 Troubleshoot issues with the PDF viewer

Firefox'southward congenital-in PDF Viewer

Firefox includes a built-in PDF viewer that allows y'all to view almost all PDF files found on the web without an external application (exceptions to this are PDF files with a MIME type incorrectly fix). This built-in PDF viewer is enabled past default. When you click on a link to a PDF file or open it from the Firefox Downloads panel, it will be rendered with the built-in pdf viewer.

PDF JS

To acquire more nigh the built-in PDF viewer, encounter Using Firefox'southward built-in PDF viewer (below).

Use a third-party PDF viewer for downloaded PDF files

When Firefox is set every bit the default for viewing PDFs in the browser, yous can nevertheless open downloaded PDF files with a tertiary-party tool. To open a PDF file you downloaded in Firefox using another viewer:

  1. Open the Downloads panel by clicking the download icon 57 download icon next to the address bar.
  2. Right-click on the file folder iconWinDownloadFile of the PDF file and select . Hold down the control fundamental while you lot click (ii-finger click) the magnifying glass icon MagnifyingGlassof the PDF file and select .
  3. Then, in the Downloads folder, right-click Control-click on the file, select and cull your favorite PDF viewer.

Disable the built-in PDF viewer and use another viewer

You can too set a different third-party PDF viewer to handle PDF files, instead of Firefox's built-in PDF viewer. To switch from using the built-in PDF viewer to another viewer:

  1. In the Menu bar at the acme of the screen, click and select . Click the menu push button Fx57Menu and select . Click the menu push button Fx89menuButton and select .

  2. In the panel, get down to the Applications section.
  3. Find Portable Certificate Format (PDF) in the list and click on the entry to select information technology.
  4. Click on the arrow nether the Action column for the above entry and select the PDF viewer you lot wish to use from the drop-downwardly menu.
    Fx77Applications-PDF-Mac Fx78Applications-PDF Fx78Applications-PDF-Win

Notation: When is the selected action, the built-in PDF viewer is used.

Ready Firefox to ask you what to do with PDF files

If you desire Firefox to ever inquire you what to do with PDF files, follow the above steps to alter the action for the Portable Document Format (PDF) entry, except select from the drop-down carte. The adjacent time you click on a link to download a PDF file, Firefox will evidence y'all a prompt asking what to do with the file. You tin then choose to open information technology with Firefox'southward built-in PDF viewer, open information technology with a different PDF application, or you can cull to save the file.

Fx78openingPDF-AlwaysAsk

For more information, meet Manage file types and download deportment in Firefox.

Using Firefox's built-in PDF viewer

Fill up out forms in PDF Viewer

Some PDF files have interactive fields to make full in information (such as on forms). Using Firefox'south congenital-in PDF viewer you can make full out fields such as text, check boxes, and radio buttons. Subsequently entering information into these fields you can download the file to have the filled-out version saved to your calculator.

PDF Form
  • View document thumbnails or outline: The slider button on the far left will open up a sidebar with thumbnails of the certificate's pages. Some documents will also have an outline view available. These make information technology piece of cake to navigate through a long document.
    PDF Thumbnails
  • Page upwards and downwardly or skip straight to a folio: Y'all tin can use the upwards and down arrows to folio through a certificate or enter the number of the page you want to go to.
    PDF Pager
  • Change the size of the certificate: Employ the + and - buttons to zoom in and out or choose a zoom setting from the dropdown menu.
    PDF Zoom
  • Fullscreen or Presentation style: Click the fullscreen button to let the PDF file to take over your entire screen. Press ESC to exit fullscreen manner.
    PDF Fullscreen
  • Print: Click the Printer button to open up the print setup dialog.
    PDF Print
  • Download: Click the Download button to save the PDF file to your calculator or to open it with a PDF reader program.
    PDF Download
  • Re-create current view: Right-click Hold downwards the command key while yous click the current view button to open the electric current view in another tab or window.
    PDF Copy

PDF Viewer keyboard shortcuts

Command Shortcut
Next folio Due north or J or → or Page Down
Previous folio P or K or ← or Page Upward
Zoom in Ctrl + + command + +
Zoom out Ctrl + - control + -
Automatic Zoom Ctrl + 0 command + 0
Rotate the certificate clockwise R
Rotate counterclockwise Shift + R

Troubleshoot problems with the PDF viewer

  • With certain types of PDF files, the PDF Viewer may take bug displaying fonts, colors, or the whole document. If some PDF files don't render well or are bare, click the download button on the right side of the document header to open it with the default PDF viewer application on your computer.
  • If you tin can't open any PDF files with the built-in PDF viewer, a Firefox extension could be the crusade. You can disable all of your extensions, to see if one of them was the problem. For details, see Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration problems to solve common Firefox problems.


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AliceWyman, Chris Ilias, philipp, Underpass, Thomas, Tonnes, Aleksej, Jesant13, Michael Verdi, scoobidiver, Swarnava Sengupta, ideato, Matt_G, mgatkin, Nybble, Lan, scootergrisen, Artist, YD, Hopeless Host, Jeff, Angela Lazar, Pascal Chevrel, PGGWriter, Bithiah

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