12 Easy Solutions: PDF Not Opening In Chrome Error

PDFs have quickly become an indispensable component of our daily lives. For documents, PDF is one of the most used formats, and we can’t believe how much these files have made our lives simpler.

The most common issue with Chrome’s PDF reader is that it immediately downloads PDFs, which may be rather bothersome if you like previewing documents before storing them locally.

There might be a number of causes for the PDF not opening in Chrome problem. We’ve got that and also the fixes to these issues right here.

Why won’t PDF open in Chrome?

Chrome is a popular browser, and PDFs are the most basic means of securely transferring data. As a result, it is critical to resolve the issue of PDF documents not opening in the Google Chrome browser.

There might be a number of causes for the PDF not opening problem. Excess cookies, as a result of an extension, a flaw in the new update, and so on are a few examples.

There are several methods for resolving the chrome pdf reader not working browser problem.

Fixing the PDF Document Not Opening in Chrome Browser 

1. Reset Google Chrome
2. Use the Clean Up Tool
3. Clear Your Cache
4. Disable the Better browsing option
5. Turn off the Ask where to save each file before downloading feature on the browser
6. Disable hardware acceleration in Chrome
7. Open Chrome in incognito mode 
8. Try Relaunching Google Chrome
9. Update Your Chrome Browser
10. Clear Cookies In Chrome
11. Clean Up Computer From Chrome Browser
12. Disable PDF Downloads In Chrome Browser

Reset Google Chrome

Chrome has an outstanding feature called Incognito mode, which allows users to use the browser without any plugins or cookies.

To utilize Incognito mode, follow the procedures outlined below:

• Launch Chrome and navigate to the settings menu (three dots in the upper right corner). A drop-down list will appear.
• Now,  choose “New incognito window.”
• Select the “On startup” option from the list.
• A screen will be visible. Now choose “Advanced.” The Incognito window will be displayed.
• At the lower part of the screen, choose the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option.
• A dialogue box will appear. Then, select “Reset settings.”

Use the Clean Up Tool

If you can’t open PDFs even when in Incognito mode, the hidden viruses may be to blame. Fortunately, Chrome has a malware detection and removal tool for these situations.

Here’s how you can make use of the cleaning tool:

• Create a new tab.
• In the address bar on top, type in chrome:/settings/cleanup and push the Enter key.
• To begin the scan, click the Find button.

• When the procedure is finished, try opening a PDF file in Chrome in regular mode.

Clear Your Cache

Another typical cause of improperly rendered or malfunctioning PDFs is an out-of-date online cache, especially if the cache becomes damaged or specific site components change later on. As a result, deleting any locally cached data should cause the browser to download new material and, presumably, show your PDFs correctly.

To open Chrome’s Clear Browsing Data panel, press Ctrl-Shift-Del.

Under the Basic tab, pick All Time from the drop-down box next to Time Range. After that, check the boxes next to Cookies and Other Site Data and Cached Images and Files before clicking CLEAR DATA.

Disable the Better browsing option

• Launch the Chrome browser.
• Navigate to chrome:/settings/syncSetup and fill out the form.

• Now deactivate the Make searches and browsing better option.
• Close and reopen Chrome. Now try it again to see if it works.

Turn off the “Ask where to save each file before downloading” feature on the browser

• Launch the Chrome browser.
• Navigate to chrome:/settings/downloads.

• Toggle the “Ask where to save each file before downloading” option off, now. Before downloading any files, inquire as to where they should be saved.
• Restart chrome. 

Disable hardware acceleration in Chrome

Hardware acceleration enables the system to operate at peak efficiency and deliver high-performance results. To activate hardware acceleration in the Chrome browser, follow the procedures outlined below:

• Launch the Chrome browser and navigate to the settings menu (three dots).
• From the drop-down menu, select “Settings.” Now, under the settings menu, scroll down to the bottom and click on “Advanced,”.
• Toggle the “Use hardware acceleration when available” button.

Open Chrome in incognito mode

Chrome has an outstanding feature called Incognito mode, which allows users to use the browser without any plugins or cookies.

To utilize Incognito mode, follow the procedures outlined below:

• Launch Chrome and navigate to the settings menu (three dots in the upper right corner). A drop-down list will appear.
• Now, choose “New incognito window.”

Try Relaunching Google Chrome

When the PDF does not open in Chrome issue occurs, it is preferable to restart the Chrome browser.

To restart the Chrome browser, follow the procedures outlined below:

•  Click on the “X” symbol, or use the keyboard shortcut “Alt+F4”.
•  Double-click the “Google Chrome” icon.
• The Chrome window will open.

Update Your Chrome Browser

Chrome offers bug fixes and new features to its users. As a result, one remedy to this mistake is to update your Chrome to the most recent version.

To upgrade the Chrome browser, follow the procedures outlined below:

• Launch the Chrome browser and navigate to the settings menu (three dots). Now, as seen in the figure below, select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
• Select “About Chrome” from the drop-down menu.
• The About Chrome box will display, and you may check to see whether an update is available.

• Click “Update” to update Chrome, and after the update is complete.

Clear Cookies In Chrome

When a user visits a website or looks for anything in the search box, the memory of that website is saved in the browser as cache memory or cookies. Cleaning these cookies makes room for the PDF to open simply in Chrome.

Follow the instructions below:

• Launch the Chrome browser and navigate to the settings menu (three dots). Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu. As indicated in the figure below, the settings window will appear.
• Select “Clear browsing data,”.
• A new window will open. Make sure to check all of the boxes and then click “Clear Data,”.

Clean Up Computer From Chrome Browser

Chrome offers its customers the ability to identify any malicious files existing in the browser, which is referred to as a clean-up computer.

To clear up the computer and fix the Chrome PDF viewer not working, follow the instructions below:

•  Launch the Chrome browser and navigate to the settings menu (three dots). Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
• As seen in the figure below, the settings box will pop up.
• Select “Advanced” from the menu.
• In the menu section, choose the “Reset and clean up” and then click on the “Clean up the computer,” option.
• Click on the “Find” button which is located in the “Find hazardous software” section.
• The browser will scan for potentially dangerous files.

Disable PDF Downloads In Chrome Browser

PDF downloads in the Chrome browser are also a major source of the PDF not opening in Chrome problem.

To prevent PDF downloads in Chrome, use the following steps:

•  Launch the Chrome browser and navigate to the settings menu (three dots).
•  From the drop-down menu, select “Settings,” and then, in the menu options, select “Privacy and security,”.
•  Select “Site Settings.”
•  Navigate through the page and click on the “Additional content options,” option.
•  Then, click on “PDF documents.”
•  Click on the toggle button under the headline “Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome.”

Repairing an improperly rendered PDF file

When it comes to displaying PDF files, Chrome’s PDF reader might have issues at times. When you open a PDF file, you may see strange text, missing graphics, or sluggish scrolling.

These issues might be caused by an out-of-date Chrome version. While Chrome updates itself automatically, you may initiate a manual upgrade. To do so, follow these steps:

• By clicking the three dots in the top-right corner, you may access the Chrome menu.
• Click the Help button.
• Choose About Google Chrome.
• If the system detects an available update, Chrome will download and install it automatically, without prompting.

Conclusion

This lesson addressed numerous methods for assisting a user in resolving the PDF not opening in the Chrome browser problem. Some techniques in the lesson focus on restoring default settings to cure this issue, while others focus on modifying a few distinct parameters to fix this error.

PDFs have become an important aspect of exchanging digital information, therefore PDF won’t open in Chrome is a serious problem that requires rapid correction.

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