How to Disable Chrome PDF Viewer
Disabling the built-in Chrome PDF Viewer forces Google Chrome to download PDF files or open them in a dedicated desktop application like Adobe Acrobat Reader instead of displaying them inside a browser tab. The feature uses a tool called PDF.js to render documents directly in Version 120 and later of the browser.
Turning off this internal reader lets your computer handle PDFs with advanced tools required for filling out forms or viewing secure files. Access the site settings menu in Chrome to change this behavior in just a few clicks.
Disable Chrome’s PDF viewer by going to Settings Privacy and security > Site Settings Additional content settings PDF documents and selecting “Download PDFs.” This forces Chrome to use your default external PDF application.
Method 1Using Chrome Settings
You can disable the Chrome PDF viewer through the browser settings menu by changing how downloads handle documents. Turning off this feature stops PDFs from opening inside browser tabs automatically so they download directly to your computer instead, giving you full control over every file you open.
- Open Google Chrome.
- Click the three dots in the top-right corner and select Settings. %📂%LNK0%%
- Click on Privacy and security on the left, then select Site Settings.
google chrome settings options - Scroll down and click on Additional content settings.
chrome download pdf - Select PDF documents.
- Choose Download PDFs to force Chrome to stop opening them.
download pdf documents in chrome
Method 2Using the Windows Registry (Admin Required)
It is best for IT teams managing many computers.
- Press Win+R, type
regedit, and press Enter.
windows registry editor run box - Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Policies\\Google\\Chrome.
create google chrome key registry - Right-click Chrome, select New DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it
AlwaysOpenPdfExternally. - Set the value to
1.
chrome external open pdf in window
Troubleshooting PDF Issues
If you experience a PDF download loop, clear your browser cache. If PDFs stop opening entirely, return to the settings menu and toggle the setting back to ‘Open PDFs in Chrome’. This resets the MIME types for your browser.
Summary
This allows you to use external tools like Adobe Acrobat. Always ensure your external reader is updated to maintain security after disabling the built-in sandboxed viewer.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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