How to Enable and Disable Chrome PDF Viewer on PC or Mac
Google Chrome comes equipped with a built-in PDF viewer, allowing you to open and view PDF documents directly within the browser without the need for external applications like Adobe Acrobat Reader. This is often convenient, offering quick access and basic PDF functionality. However, there are times when you might prefer to use a dedicated PDF reader or disable the Chrome PDF viewer altogether. Perhaps you need advanced editing features, or you’re experiencing compatibility issues, or simply prefer the interface of another program. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to enable or disable the Chrome PDF viewer on both Windows PCs and Macs, ensuring you have full control over how you handle PDF documents within your browser.
## Why Disable or Enable the Chrome PDF Viewer?
Before diving into the how-to, let’s consider why you might want to change the default Chrome PDF viewer setting:
* **Preference for a Dedicated PDF Reader:** Many users prefer the feature-rich environment of dedicated PDF readers like Adobe Acrobat Reader, Foxit PDF Reader, or Nitro PDF. These applications often offer advanced editing, annotation, form filling, and signature capabilities that the Chrome PDF viewer lacks.
* **Compatibility Issues:** In rare cases, the Chrome PDF viewer may encounter compatibility problems with certain PDF files. Disabling it and using an alternative reader can resolve these issues.
* **Security Concerns:** While Chrome’s PDF viewer is generally secure, some users prefer to use a dedicated reader with potentially stronger security features or more control over PDF execution.
* **Performance Issues:** In some instances, the Chrome PDF viewer might consume excessive resources or cause performance slowdowns, especially with large or complex PDF files. Using an alternative reader could alleviate these issues.
* **Customization Options:** Dedicated PDF readers often provide extensive customization options for viewing, printing, and managing PDF documents, which are not available in the Chrome PDF viewer.
* **Streamlined Workflow:** If you frequently work with PDFs and require advanced features, using a dedicated reader can streamline your workflow and improve productivity.
* **Forcing Downloads:** Disabling the Chrome PDF viewer forces PDFs to download instead of opening in the browser. This can be useful if you want to save PDFs directly to your computer for later viewing or archiving.
Conversely, you might want to *enable* the Chrome PDF viewer if:
* **Convenience and Speed:** Opening PDFs directly in Chrome is often faster and more convenient than launching a separate application.
* **Simplicity:** For basic PDF viewing needs, the Chrome PDF viewer provides a clean and simple interface without unnecessary features.
* **Cross-Platform Consistency:** Chrome’s PDF viewer works consistently across different operating systems (Windows, macOS, Linux), providing a uniform experience.
* **Minimal Resource Usage (Generally):** For simple PDFs, Chrome’s viewer can be less resource-intensive than some full-featured PDF readers.
## How to Disable the Chrome PDF Viewer on Windows
There are two primary methods to disable the Chrome PDF viewer on a Windows PC:
**Method 1: Using Chrome’s Settings**
This is the recommended and easiest method.
1. **Open Google Chrome:** Launch the Chrome browser on your Windows PC.
2. **Access Chrome’s Settings:** Click on the three vertical dots (ellipsis) located in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window. This will open the Chrome menu. From the menu, select “Settings”. Alternatively, you can type `chrome://settings` in the address bar and press Enter.
3. **Navigate to Privacy and Security:** In the Settings menu, click on “Privacy and security” in the left-hand sidebar. If you don’t see the sidebar, make sure the Chrome window is wide enough. You might need to click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) to reveal it.
4. **Click on Site Settings:** Under “Privacy and security”, find and click on “Site Settings”.
5. **Scroll Down to Content:** In Site Settings, scroll down until you find the “Content” section. Locate and click on “PDF documents”.
6. **Disable the Chrome PDF Viewer:** You will see an option labeled “Download PDFs instead of automatically opening them in Chrome”. Toggle the switch to the **ON** position. When the switch is blue (or the color of your Chrome theme’s active toggle), it means the Chrome PDF viewer is enabled. Switching it **OFF** (to gray) disables the Chrome PDF viewer.
7. **Test the Change:** Close the Settings tab. Now, when you click on a PDF link or try to open a PDF file in Chrome, it should automatically download instead of opening within the browser. If it still opens in the browser, try restarting Chrome.
**Method 2: Using Chrome Flags (Advanced)**
This method involves using Chrome’s experimental features (flags). It’s generally not recommended unless you understand the risks involved, as flags can be unstable and may cause unexpected behavior.
1. **Open Google Chrome:** Launch the Chrome browser.
2. **Access Chrome Flags:** Type `chrome://flags` in the address bar and press Enter. This will open the Chrome Flags page.
3. **Search for PDF Viewer:** In the search box at the top of the Flags page, type “PDF Viewer”.
4. **Disable PDF Viewer:** Look for the flag labeled “PDF Viewer”. By default, it is usually set to “Default” or “Enabled”. Click the dropdown menu next to the flag and select “Disabled”.
5. **Relaunch Chrome:** After changing the flag, Chrome will prompt you to relaunch the browser for the changes to take effect. Click the “Relaunch” button at the bottom of the page. Chrome will close and automatically reopen.
6. **Test the Change:** Now, when you click on a PDF link or try to open a PDF file in Chrome, it should automatically download instead of opening within the browser. If it still opens in the browser, try restarting your computer.
**Important Notes for Windows Users:**
* **Default PDF Reader:** Disabling the Chrome PDF viewer doesn’t automatically set another program as the default PDF reader. You’ll need to manually set your preferred PDF reader as the default application for opening PDF files in Windows. To do this:
* Right-click on a PDF file.
* Select “Open with” -> “Choose another app”.
* Select your preferred PDF reader from the list.
* Check the box that says “Always use this app to open .pdf files”.
* Click “OK”.
* **Chrome Updates:** Chrome updates can sometimes reset your settings, including the PDF viewer setting. If you find that the Chrome PDF viewer is re-enabled after an update, simply repeat the steps above to disable it again.
## How to Disable the Chrome PDF Viewer on macOS
The process for disabling the Chrome PDF viewer on a Mac is very similar to the Windows method using Chrome’s settings.
**Method 1: Using Chrome’s Settings**
This is the recommended method for macOS as well.
1. **Open Google Chrome:** Launch the Chrome browser on your Mac.
2. **Access Chrome’s Settings:** Click on “Chrome” in the menu bar at the top of your screen, then select “Preferences”. Alternatively, you can type `chrome://settings` in the address bar and press Enter.
3. **Navigate to Privacy and Security:** In the Settings menu, click on “Privacy and security” in the left-hand sidebar.
4. **Click on Site Settings:** Under “Privacy and security”, find and click on “Site Settings”.
5. **Scroll Down to Content:** In Site Settings, scroll down until you find the “Content” section. Locate and click on “PDF documents”.
6. **Disable the Chrome PDF Viewer:** You will see an option labeled “Download PDFs instead of automatically opening them in Chrome”. Toggle the switch to the **ON** position. When the switch is blue (or the color of your Chrome theme’s active toggle), it means the Chrome PDF viewer is enabled. Switching it **OFF** (to gray) disables the Chrome PDF viewer.
7. **Test the Change:** Close the Settings tab. Now, when you click on a PDF link or try to open a PDF file in Chrome, it should automatically download instead of opening within the browser. If it still opens in the browser, try restarting Chrome.
**Method 2: Using Chrome Flags (Advanced)**
This is the less recommended option, similar to the Windows instructions. Proceed with caution.
1. **Open Google Chrome:** Launch the Chrome browser.
2. **Access Chrome Flags:** Type `chrome://flags` in the address bar and press Enter. This will open the Chrome Flags page.
3. **Search for PDF Viewer:** In the search box at the top of the Flags page, type “PDF Viewer”.
4. **Disable PDF Viewer:** Look for the flag labeled “PDF Viewer”. By default, it is usually set to “Default” or “Enabled”. Click the dropdown menu next to the flag and select “Disabled”.
5. **Relaunch Chrome:** After changing the flag, Chrome will prompt you to relaunch the browser for the changes to take effect. Click the “Relaunch” button at the bottom of the page. Chrome will close and automatically reopen.
6. **Test the Change:** Now, when you click on a PDF link or try to open a PDF file in Chrome, it should automatically download instead of opening within the browser. If it still opens in the browser, try restarting your computer.
**Important Notes for macOS Users:**
* **Default PDF Reader:** Disabling the Chrome PDF viewer doesn’t automatically change the default PDF reader on your Mac. macOS uses Preview as the default PDF viewer. If you want to use a different PDF reader, you’ll need to change the default application:
* Right-click on a PDF file in Finder.
* Select “Get Info”.
* In the “Get Info” window, find the “Open with:” section.
* Click the dropdown menu and select your preferred PDF reader.
* Click the “Change All…” button. This will change the default application for all PDF files.
* Confirm your choice by clicking “Continue”.
* **Quick Look:** macOS has a feature called Quick Look that allows you to preview files by pressing the Space bar. Even with the Chrome PDF viewer disabled, Quick Look will still use Preview to display PDFs. This is a separate system function and is not affected by the Chrome setting.
* **Chrome Updates:** As with Windows, Chrome updates can sometimes reset your settings on macOS. If you find that the Chrome PDF viewer is re-enabled after an update, simply repeat the steps above to disable it again.
## How to Enable the Chrome PDF Viewer
If you’ve previously disabled the Chrome PDF viewer and want to re-enable it, the process is essentially the reverse of disabling it.
**Enabling via Chrome Settings (Windows and macOS):**
1. **Open Google Chrome:** Launch the Chrome browser.
2. **Access Chrome’s Settings:** Navigate to Settings as described previously (three dots -> Settings or Chrome -> Preferences on Mac, or type `chrome://settings` in the address bar).
3. **Navigate to Privacy and Security -> Site Settings -> PDF documents:** Follow the same path as when disabling the viewer.
4. **Enable the Chrome PDF Viewer:** Toggle the switch labeled “Download PDFs instead of automatically opening them in Chrome” to the **OFF** position. This means the switch should be gray and the text should indicate that PDFs will open automatically in Chrome.
5. **Test the Change:** Close the Settings tab. Now, when you click on a PDF link or try to open a PDF file in Chrome, it should automatically open within the browser.
**Enabling via Chrome Flags (Windows and macOS):**
If you disabled the Chrome PDF viewer using Chrome Flags, you’ll need to re-enable it through the same method.
1. **Open Google Chrome:** Launch the Chrome browser.
2. **Access Chrome Flags:** Type `chrome://flags` in the address bar and press Enter.
3. **Search for PDF Viewer:** In the search box at the top of the Flags page, type “PDF Viewer”.
4. **Enable PDF Viewer:** Look for the flag labeled “PDF Viewer”. If you previously disabled it, it will be set to “Disabled”. Click the dropdown menu next to the flag and select either “Enabled” or “Default”. “Default” will typically mean that the viewer is enabled, unless you’ve made other changes to Chrome’s configuration.
5. **Relaunch Chrome:** After changing the flag, Chrome will prompt you to relaunch the browser for the changes to take effect. Click the “Relaunch” button at the bottom of the page. Chrome will close and automatically reopen.
6. **Test the Change:** Now, when you click on a PDF link or try to open a PDF file in Chrome, it should automatically open within the browser.
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
* **PDFs Still Opening in Chrome After Disabling:**
* **Restart Chrome:** The most common solution is to completely close and restart Chrome. Make sure all Chrome windows are closed, not just minimized.
* **Check Default PDF Reader:** If you want PDFs to open in a specific application, ensure that application is set as the default PDF reader in your operating system (as described in the Windows and macOS notes above).
* **Clear Cache and Cookies:** Sometimes, cached data can interfere with Chrome’s settings. Try clearing your browser’s cache and cookies.
* **Check Extensions:** Some Chrome extensions might be interfering with PDF handling. Try disabling extensions one by one to see if one is causing the issue.
* **Check Chrome Flags:** Double-check that the “PDF Viewer” flag is not set to “Enabled” if you intend to disable the Chrome PDF viewer.
* **PDFs Not Opening at All:**
* **Check File Association:** Verify that your operating system has a program associated with the .pdf file extension. If not, you’ll need to install a PDF reader and set it as the default.
* **Corrupted PDF File:** The PDF file itself might be corrupted. Try opening a different PDF file to see if the problem persists.
* **Insufficient Permissions:** Ensure you have the necessary permissions to access the PDF file. Try opening the file from a different location (e.g., your Downloads folder instead of a network drive).
* **Chrome PDF Viewer Not Working Properly:**
* **Update Chrome:** Ensure you are using the latest version of Chrome. Outdated versions can have bugs and compatibility issues.
* **Reset Chrome Settings:** As a last resort, you can try resetting Chrome’s settings to their default values. This will erase all your customizations, so be sure to back up any important settings before doing so.
* **Reinstall Chrome:** If all else fails, try uninstalling and reinstalling Chrome.
## Conclusion
Controlling the Chrome PDF viewer is a straightforward process that can significantly impact your PDF workflow. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily enable or disable the built-in viewer on both Windows and macOS, allowing you to choose the PDF viewing experience that best suits your needs and preferences. Remember to consider your specific requirements and troubleshoot any issues that may arise to ensure a seamless and efficient experience. Whether you prefer the convenience of Chrome’s built-in viewer or the advanced features of a dedicated PDF reader, you now have the knowledge to manage your PDF handling effectively.