I have Adobe Reader installed on my computer but some PDF files just won’t open in my Web browser anymore. Is there a way to fix this so I can see the documents?
A number of factors can affect the browser’s ability to display a PDF (Portable Document Format) file within its window. Outdated software, damaged files or scrambled settings are three big culprits here.
You can see if you have the latest version of the program by opening Adobe Reader from your PC’s Programs menu or Mac’s Applications folder. With Reader open, go to the Help menu and choose Check for Updates to see if any new versions are available.
If you already have the latest version installed, you can try repairing the program in case some of its support files are damaged. To do that, go back to the Help menu and choose Repair Adobe Reader Installation.
You should also check that the settings for your browser program have the plug-in software for Adobe Reader enabled. Browsers from different companies keep these settings in different places; check your program’s help guide for specific instructions if you do not know where to look.
In Firefox 8 for Windows, for example, click the orange Firefox button at the top of the browser window and choose Add-ons from the menu. On the Add-ons Manager screen, click the Plug-ins tab on the side and make sure the Adobe plug-in is enabled. Some versions of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer handle add-ons in a similar manner; start by going to the Tools menu to Internet Options to the Programs tab — or just look for a Manage Add-ons option under the Tools menu.
Adobe has a page of instructions for Mac OS X users who browse with Apple’s own Safari program, and Mozilla has technical information for Mac Firefox users on its site. If nothing works, it could be possible that the browser’s security settings may be interfering with PDF display or that the PDF file itself is damaged.
If you want to be able to see, read or print the PDF file, you can try downloading it from the Web site to your computer, where you can open and view it there. Just right-click (or Control-click) the link to the file on the Web page and choose the option to save it. Once you download the file from the site, try opening it directly with the Adobe Reader program.