SwifDoo PDF

Efficient PDF Toolkit for Windows

  1. OCR PDFs to make scans searchable and editable;
  2. Unleash PDF creativity on iOS and Android effortlessly;
  3. Translate PDF accurately to break down language barriers

Table of content

Share this article

Home / Blog / How to Open and View PDF Online without Downloading for Free

How to Open and View PDF Online without Downloading for Free

By Lena | Follow twitter | Updated on March 7, 2024 | Deutsch
Introduction:
When you click on a PDF file on a web page, the file will be downloaded to your computer. However, you just need to view it and do not want it to take up space on your computer! Don’t worry too much. Just read this guide to see how to open PDF online without downloading.
summary

The colorful PDF format 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 downloading them is unnecessary. In this case, you may want to know how to view PDF online without downloading.

Well, as long as you adjust the settings in your browser, you can open PDF online. Let’s start to see how to make it.

The browser's built-in reader can only meet basic reading needs. A professional PDF reader would be a better choice if you prefer to read PDFs the way you like. Click the button below to get 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.

If you don't want to spend time adjusting settings, click the button below to get an easy-to-use PDF reader!

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 PDFs 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 > Choose Site settings and select Additional content settings > Click  PDF documents.

Step 3. Select Open PDFs in Chrome option. In this way, you will be able to open PDF in Chrome without downloading the file.

Chrome PDF Setting

Top 5 Best Chrome PDF Viewers for 2024 | Free Download

Top 5 Best Chrome PDF Viewers for 2024 | Free Download

Check this post to learn the top 5 best Chrome PDF viewers and editing PDFs on Chrome hassle-free, also learn how to enable or disable the Chrome PDF extension.

READ MORE >

Open and View PDF Online without Downloading in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge has one built-in PDF viewer to 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.

Windows Edge PDF Setting

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.

Firefox PDF Setting

Open and View PDF Online without Downloading in Internet Explorer

Windows Internet Explorer has no built-in PDF viewer that can help you view PDF online without downloading. To open PDF online, you should first install an extension. The detailed steps are below.

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.

IE PDF Extension

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.

Safari Security Setting

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 PDF via SwifDoo PDF

SwifDoo PDF
  • 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
Free Download
Windows 11/10/8.1/7

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.

How to Open and View PDF on Android Phone | 3 Ways

How to Open and View PDF on Android Phone | 3 Ways

This guide will tell you how to open PDF on Android, including the method to view PDF without downloading.

READ MORE >

Lena has been in the editing industry for 8 years. She is familiar with a variety of products that can make things easier, such as PDF tools, video recording software, iOS location changer, etc. She enjoys sharing her knowledge with users to help them solve problems in their work and life. In her spare time, she likes to play with her cat.

Related Articles