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PDF on web page will not open

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Mac OS 12.5, Firefox 103.0 - PDF on web page will not open; opens OK with Safari.

Please advise. [email]@usa.com

Mac OS 12.5, Firefox 103.0 - PDF on web page will not open; opens OK with Safari. Please advise. [email]@usa.com

Modified by Andrew

All Replies (15)

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Is the PDF embedded into a frame in the page (the frame area is empty), or is it a link/button that doesn't open the PDF directly? If it's a link/button, do right-click (Ctrl+click) context menu items work?

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Product Sheet [pdf] wont open with Firefox but does with Chrome and Safari.

https://www.vollara.com/productdetail/FreshAirPersonal/?u=peerlessproducts > AIR + WATER + MORE > Air – O2 > FreshAir Personal > Product Sheet.

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No problems here to open the product sheet in a new tab.

If you use extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools -> Add-ons -> Extensions) that can block content (Adblock Plus, NoScript, DuckDuckGo PE, Disconnect, Ghostery, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin) always make sure such extensions do not block content.

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Will said

Product Sheet [pdf] won't open with Firefox but does with Chrome and Safari.

What happens when you click that link? For example:

  • The server displays an error message in the tab
  • Firefox displays an error message in the tab (for example, connection failed, page not found)
  • Firefox displays a blank tab
  • Nothing appears to happen

What have you set Firefox to do with PDFs? Typically it would be "Open in Firefox" but could also be set to "Use Preview" or "Save file" or "Always ask". This article will get you to that setting: View PDF files using Firefox’s built-in viewer.

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• What is Going On? • PDFs refuse to Open in Firefox. • See ScreenShot of Firefox PDF selection made; also SS [green] of result [same on 2 websites] when a PDF is selected to open. • Mac Monterey 12.5 installed and up to date; Prob started [I think] with M12.5 install • I've done multiple reboots, restarts of Firefox, looked for switches to set, stayed frustrated, have screamed, etc. • PopUp Blocker is not the prob ... has been reset multiple times with exceptions added.

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Could you report on the link you shared before? I believe that was a different PDF than the one you are trying to open in the OffiDocs editor.

Or is it customary for your Firefox to open links to PDFs in the OffiDocs editor instead of Firefox's built-in PDF viewer?

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Hmm, OffiDocs isn't part of Firefox. Is that an add-on installed on your Firefox? You didn't share your extensions list while posting your question, so here's how to check for problem extensions on your Firefox:

Open the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Command+Shift+a (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions. On the right side, find the "Manage Your Extensions" heading.

If there is at least one extension before the next heading -- "Recommended Extensions" -- please continue:

Then cast a critical eye over the list below that heading. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything that mentions OffiDocs, or PDFs, or looks suspicious, or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove). For your privacy and security, don't let mystery programs linger here.

Any improvement?

If your Add-ons page is blank or is blocked, you can restart Firefox in its Safe Mode to do the above review:

In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to bypass issues that can cause problems with pages.

If Firefox is running:

You can restart Firefox in Safe/Troubleshoot Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Help > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Troubleshoot Mode... (before Fx88: Restart with Add-ons Disabled)

and OK the restart. A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).

If Firefox is not running:

Hold down the option/alt key when starting Firefox. (On Windows, hold down the Shift key instead of the option/alt key.) A small dialog should appear. Click the Open button (before Fx88: "Start in Safe Mode" button).

Note: Don't use the Refresh without first reviewing this article to understand what will be deleted: Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings.

Can you get PDFs to open normally again?

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• I did all u suggested. • PDF worked OK in Troubleshooting but otherwise wont open • I cant find anyway to remove Offidocs which opens a window/tab when a pdf link is clicked in Firefox.

  • I clean with Clean My Mac X and CCleaner.
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• I just selected 'Always use private browsing mode' and I can now open PDFs again. • Thx for all your help!


[removed misinformation]

Modified by James

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Hi Will, it's a pretty serious compromise to never be able to remember any browser history. If you decide to return to normal, you could share your add-on list with us and we could advise on what to remove. Here's how:

You can copy/paste it from the Troubleshooting Information page. Either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > Help > More Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > More Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

Scroll down past the first few tables to the "Add-ons" heading. Then you can select and copy the table that follows (not the entire page, please, that's too much information) using either Command+c or right-click > Copy and then paste it into a reply. It will be messy, but we're used it.

Also, please do not promote COVID misinformation on this forum.

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• Thx for your concern. • Add-ons Name Type Version Enabled ID AdBlocker Ultimate extension 3.7.18 true adblockultimate@adblockultimate.net Add-ons Search Detection extension 2.0.0 true addons-search-detection@mozilla.com Amazon.com extension 1.3 true amazondotcom@search.mozilla.org Bing extension 1.3 true bing@search.mozilla.org Bitly | Short links and QR Codes extension 4.0.8 true extension@bitly.com Cookie AutoDelete extension 3.8.1 true CookieAutoDelete@kennydo.com DuckDuckGo extension 1.1 true ddg@search.mozilla.org DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extension 2022.7.26 true jid1-ZAdIEUB7XOzOJw@jetpack eBay extension 1.3 true ebay@search.mozilla.org Eno® from Capital One® extension 4.1.0 true {4d5b7a5e-5232-9e45-97f4-f8e1ca2626e5} Google extension 1.2 true google@search.mozilla.org Honey extension 12.8.4 true jid1-93CWPmRbVPjRQA@jetpack HTTPS Everywhere extension 2021.7.13 true https-everywhere@eff.org LastPass: Free Password Manager extension 4.101.0.2 true support@lastpass.com PDF editor online extension 2.11.5 true {0f924709-f8c5-4c78-bfd6-458bd584aff3} Wikipedia (en) extension 1.1 true wikipedia@search.mozilla.org Windscribe - Free Proxy and Ad Blocker extension 3.4.4 true @windscribeff Capital One Shopping: Online Coupon Tool extension 0.1.1065 false {aff8af88-06a9-4eee-b383-3af08c47b8c8} Facebook Container extension 2.3.2 false @contain-facebook Ghostery – Privacy Ad Blocker extension 8.7.6 false firefox@ghostery.com JavaScript Toggle On and Off extension 0.2.4 false {479f0278-2c34-4365-b9f0-1d328d0f0a40} Lolli: Earn Bitcoin When You Shop extension 1.7.2 false {9c902552-6559-4189-b5ae-78de839cc9b9} mail.com MailCheck extension 6.1.1 false toolbar@mail.com Startpage.com — Private Search Engine extension 1.3.0 false {20fc2e06-e3e4-4b2b-812b-ab431220cada} • I see nothing to remove.

[removed misinformation]

Modified by James

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This one seems like the most obvious potential culprit:

PDF editor online - https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/editor-pdf-online/

If you go to that page on the Mozilla Add-ons site, it should display a "Remove" button if there's a match with the one you have installed.

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• Removed culprit ... Firefox now Normal. • Thx for your help and persistence!


[removed]

Modified by James

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Hi Will, air cleaners are important, and they definitely should be installed in all our schools, but there's no single silver bullet and we'll continue to need multiple interventions to reduce our losses. Don't believe anyone who says you can put all your eggs in one basket. Stay safe.