The PDF format is colorful and can be a good vehicle for any idea, lesson, or tutorial. Therefore, PDF documents can be found everywhere on the web. Generally speaking, most PDF files will only be viewed once, so there is no need to download them. In this case, you may want to know how to view PDF online without downloading.
Well, as long as you make some adjustments to the settings in your browser, you can open PDF online. Let’s start to see how to make it.
Open PDF Online in Browser
Some browsers like Chrome include a built-in PDF viewer that can help you open and view PDF online without downloading. All you have to do is go to Settings to enable the feature. What if the browser does not have a built-in PDF viewer? In this case, you can add an extension to your browser to open PDF online. Next, I’ll show you how to open and view PDF online in different browsers.
Open and View PDF Online without Downloading in Chrome
Google Chrome is the most used browser in the world, thanks to Google's constant efforts to optimize the browser. It’s easy to view PDF online without downloading in Chrome. All you have to do is to enable the default PDF viewer.
Step 1. In Google Chrome, click the three-dots icon in the upper right corner > Click Settings.
Step 2. Go to Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional content settings > PDF documents.
Step 3. Select Open PDFs in Chrome. In this way, you will be able to open PDF in Chrome without downloading.
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READ MORE >Open and View PDF Online without Downloading in Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge also has one built-in PDF viewer that can help you open PDF online without downloading. By default, when you click a PDF file, the browser will open the file in a new tab so you can view it. If you find that Microsoft Edge automatically downloads PDF files, you can follow the steps below to adjust the settings.
Step 1. In Microsoft Edge, click the three-dots icon in the upper right corner.
Step 2. Click Settings > Choose Cookies and site permissions.
Step 3. Scroll down to find PDF documents and click on the option.
Step 4. Now you can turn off Always download PDF files to prevent browsers from downloading PDF files.
Open and View PDF Online without Downloading in Firefox
Mozilla Firefox makes it easy for users to open PDF online. In fact, Firefox relies on add-ons to open PDF files. But by default, Firefox automatically installs the extension so you don't have to do anything. When you can’t view PDF in Firefox without downloading, please go to Settings to see if the plug-in settings are set correctly.
Step 1. In Firefox, click the hamburger button in the upper right corner.
Step 2. Click Settings > Under General, scroll down to find Applications.
Step 3. Choose Portable Document Format (PDF).
Step 4. From the list, select Open in Firefox.
Open and View PDF Online without Downloading in Internet Explorer
Windows Internet Explorer does not have a built-in PDF viewer that can help you view PDF online without downloading. When you want to open PDF online, you should first install an extension, below are the detailed steps.
Step 1. In Internet Explorer, choose Tools and then Manage Add-ons.
Step 2. Click Toolbars and Extensions > Choose to show All add-ons.
Step 3. Find Adobe Acrobat Reader and enable it. Or you can click Find more toolbars and extensions... at the bottom to find the one you like.
Open Downloaded PDF Online without Downloading in Safari
Safari is the default browser on a Mac computer. You can easily open PDF online in Safari when the extension is activated. Just follow the steps below to enable the extension.
Step 1. Open Safari > Click Preferences... from the menu bar.
Step 2. Click Security > Then choose Website Settings next to Allow Plug-ins.
Step 3. Select Adobe Reader and choose Allow Always.
Step 4. Click Done to save the change and you can now view PDF in Safari without downloading.
What to Do When You Can’t Open PDF Online?
When you can't open PDF online or the file is displayed incorrectly, you can try the following methods to solve the problem.
- Close the browser and try again.
- Restart your computer and try again.
- Update the browser to the latest version.
- Clear your browser’s cookies and caches.
- Update the extension. Or you can uninstall and reinstall the extension.
- Try a different browser.
- Download the PDF file and use a desktop app like SwifDoo PDF to view the file.
- View PDFs in various modes - Even read PDFs out loud
- Translate PDFs into other languages immediately
- Merge and split PDFs to create the one you need
Windows 11/10/8.1/7/XP
Final Words
Now you know how to open PDF online. As you can see, as long as the settings are correct, then the browser will be a good helper when you want to view PDF file. However, the browser offers limited functionality, if you want to view the PDF or edit it as you wish, a desktop PDF tool would be a better option. Why don't you try SwifDoo PDF? The tool is lightweight and won't take up much space.
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