Opening PDF Files in Chrome — Three Methods That Work

Chrome opens PDFs automatically in most cases

When you click a PDF link in Chrome, the browser usually opens the file in its built-in PDF viewer instead of downloading it to your computer. This happens by default on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The PDF appears in a new tab with basic tools at the top — you can read it, search within it, zoom in and out, and print it without installing anything extra.

If a PDF does not open this way, or if you want to change how Chrome handles PDFs, you have three straightforward options. Each one takes less than a minute to set up.

Key Takeaways

Chrome's built-in PDF viewer opens most PDFs automatically in a new tab, with no download or installation required.
You can change Chrome's PDF behavior in Settings under Privacy and Security, then Site Settings, then PDF Documents.
If a PDF does not open, you can right-click the link and choose "Save link as" to download it, then open it from your Downloads folder.
Some PDFs may open in an external program instead of Chrome if your computer is set to use a different default viewer.

Let Chrome open PDFs in a new tab (the default method)

This is what happens automatically when you click most PDF links. Chrome detects the file type and displays it in its built-in viewer without asking you first.

If this stopped working, you can turn it back on. Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy and security, then Site Settings. Scroll down and click PDF Documents. Make sure the toggle next to "Download PDF files instead of opening them in Chrome" is turned off (it should be gray, not blue). Close the Settings tab and try opening a PDF link again.

The PDF will now open in a new tab. You will see a toolbar at the top with buttons to download the file, print it, open it in a different program, or search for text within the document. Use the plus and minus buttons to zoom in and out, or scroll through pages with your mouse or keyboard arrow keys.

Download a PDF and open it from your computer

If you want to save a PDF to your computer instead of viewing it in Chrome, right-click the PDF link and select Save link as. A window will open asking where you want to save the file. By default, Chrome saves to your Downloads folder. Choose a location, keep the filename as is (or change it if you want), and click Save.

Once the download finishes, you can open the PDF in several ways. The easiest is to click the download icon (a downward arrow) in the top right corner of Chrome, find the PDF in the list, and click it. The file will open in Chrome's PDF viewer. Alternatively, open your file manager (File Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac), navigate to your Downloads folder, and double-click the PDF. It will open in whatever program your computer uses by default — usually Chrome, but possibly Adobe Reader or another PDF viewer if you have installed one.

Open a PDF in a different program instead of Chrome

If you want PDFs to always open in a program other than Chrome — such as Adobe Reader, Preview on Mac, or another PDF viewer — you can change this in Chrome's settings. Open Chrome, click the three vertical dots, and go to Settings. Click Privacy and security, then Site Settings. Scroll down and click PDF Documents. Toggle the switch next to "Download PDF files instead of opening them in Chrome" to on (it will turn blue).

Now when you click a PDF link, Chrome will download it instead of opening it. The file will appear in your Downloads folder, and you can double-click it to open it in your default PDF program. If you want to change which program opens PDFs by default, that setting lives in your operating system, not in Chrome. On Windows, search for "Default apps" in the Start menu and look for PDF. On Mac, right-click a PDF, select "Open with", choose your preferred program, and click "Change All".

What to do if a PDF will not open at all

Sometimes a PDF link is broken, the file is corrupted, or your internet connection dropped during the download. If you see an error message like "Failed to load PDF document" or the page stays blank, try these steps in order.

First, refresh the page by pressing Ctrl+R on Windows or Command+R on Mac. Wait a few seconds for the page to reload, then click the PDF link again. If that does not work, try opening the link in a new tab by right-clicking it and selecting Open link in new tab. If the PDF still will not load, try downloading it instead using the "Save link as" method described above, then opening it from your Downloads folder. If you downloaded the file and it still will not open, the file itself may be damaged. Contact whoever sent you the PDF and ask them to send it again.

Printing a PDF from Chrome

When a PDF is open in Chrome, printing is straightforward. Press Ctrl+P on Windows or Command+P on Mac. A print dialog will open showing a preview of the PDF on the left and print options on the right. Choose your printer from the dropdown menu at the top, set the number of copies, and select which pages you want to print (all pages, or a specific range). Click Print to send it to your printer.

You can also print from the PDF toolbar. When the PDF is open, look for the printer icon in the toolbar at the top of the page and click it. This opens the same print dialog. If you want to save the PDF as a different file instead of printing it to paper, you can select "Save as PDF" from the printer dropdown menu. This creates a copy of the PDF on your computer with a new name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my PDF open in Adobe Reader instead of Chrome?

Your computer is set to use Adobe Reader as the default program for PDFs. If you want Chrome to open them instead, change your default PDF program in your operating system settings. On Windows, search for "Default apps" and select PDF. On Mac, right-click a PDF, choose "Open with", select Chrome, and click "Change All".

Can I edit a PDF in Chrome?

Chrome's built-in PDF viewer lets you read, search, and print PDFs, but not edit them. To edit a PDF, you need a separate program like Adobe Reader, Preview on Mac, or a free online tool. Download the PDF to your computer, then open it in an editing program.

How do I search for text inside a PDF in Chrome?

When a PDF is open in Chrome, press Ctrl+F on Windows or Command+F on Mac. A search box will appear at the top of the page. Type the word or phrase you are looking for, and Chrome will highlight every match in the document and show you which page each one is on.

What if a website forces me to download PDFs instead of opening them in Chrome?

Some websites are set up to download PDFs automatically. When this happens, the file goes to your Downloads folder. You can then open it in Chrome by clicking the download icon in the top right corner of Chrome and selecting the file, or by opening your Downloads folder and double-clicking the PDF.

Can I open a PDF from a link in an email?

Yes. If you receive an email with a PDF link, click the link and it will open in Chrome the same way it would on a website. If the email has an attached PDF file instead of a link, click the attachment to download it, then open it from your Downloads folder or directly from the email.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.