How to Stop Adobe Reader From Opening PDFs in the Browser GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Internet, Networking, & Security > Browsers

How to Stop Adobe Reader From Opening PDFs in the Browser

Disable Auto Open in Adobe Acrobat Reader

By Mary Landesman Mary Landesman Writer Brevard College Mary Landesman is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire and a security expert. She was named as one of the women to watch in IT security. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 16, 2022 Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Reviewed by Michael Barton Heine Jr Michael Heine is a CompTIA-certified writer, editor, and Network Engineer with 25+ years' experience working in the television, defense, ISP, telecommunications, and education industries. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Browsers Chrome Safari Firefox Microsoft

What To Know

In Acrobat, got to Edit > Preferences > Internet > Internet Settings > Programs > Manage Add-Ons > Adobe PDF Reader > Disable.It's a good idea to disable auto-open on Adobe Reader because attackers have been known to use it to run malware. This article explains how to stop Adobe Acrobat Reader from automatically opening PDF files in your web browser by default. Instructions in this article apply to Adobe Acrobat Reader DC and Internet Explorer 8 and later. Microsoft no longer supports Internet Explorer and recommends that you update to the newer Edge browser. Head to their site to download the newest version.

How to Keep PDFs From Opening in a Browser

Follow these steps to prevent Adobe Acrobat Reader from opening PDFs within your web browser: Open Adobe Acrobat Reader and select Edit > Preferences in the menu bar. You can also bring up the preferences menu with the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (or Command+K for Mac). Select Internet in the left pane of the preferences window, and then select Internet Settings. Select the Programs tab. Select Manage Add-Ons. Select Adobe PDF Reader in the list of add-ons. If you don't see Adobe PDF Reader listed, try selecting Run Without Permission from the Show drop-down menu. Select Disable so that the PDF Reader won't open PDFs in the browser.

Why You Should Disable Auto Open in Adobe Acrobat Reader

Attackers have exploited Adobe Reader's confirmation-free rendering to spread malware. Turning off the Adobe Reader add-on for Internet Explorer helps you avoid accidentally downloading a computer virus via the internet. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Electronically Sign a PDF XFDF File (What It Is & How to Open One) What Is a PDF File? (And How to Open One) How to Turn a PDF into a Word Document How to Insert a PDF Into Word How to Add Hyperlinks to PDF Files How to Search a PDF What's a PDF Owner Password? (Change Permissions Password) How to Selectively Disable Internet Explorer Add-ons How to Convert Excel Documents to the PDF Format How to Sign a PDF on Android The 9 Best Free PDF Readers for Windows & Mac 10 Best PDF Splitter Tools & Methods How to Convert PDF Files to JPG Format Managing Add-Ons in Internet Explorer 11 How to Delete Internet Explorer ActiveX Controls Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies