How to Disable the Chrome PDF Viewer: A Simple Guide

Google Chrome comes with a built-in PDF viewer, which is convenient for quickly opening and viewing PDF files directly in your browser. However, there might be times when you prefer using an external PDF reader or another online tool. While older methods like using chrome://plugins are no longer effective, this article will explore alternative approaches to disable the Chrome PDF viewer.

Why Disable the Chrome PDF Viewer?

There are several reasons why you might want to disable the built-in PDF viewer:

• Preference for external PDF readers: You may prefer the features and interface of dedicated PDF software like Adobe Acrobat Reader or Foxit Reader.
• Compatibility issues: In rare cases, the Chrome PDF viewer might not render certain PDF files correctly, leading to formatting errors or display issues.
• Using online PDF tools: You might frequently use online PDF editors or converters and want PDFs to automatically download instead of opening in Chrome.
• Security Concerns: You may have security concerns related to how Chrome handles PDF files and prefer to use dedicated software with more security features.

Current Methods to Manage PDF Handling in Chrome

Unfortunately, directly disabling the Chrome PDF viewer is no longer a straightforward option. The chrome://plugins page, which previously allowed disabling the PDF viewer, has been removed. However, you can still manage how Chrome handles PDF files through these methods:

1. Configure Download Settings:

   • Instead of disabling the viewer, you can configure Chrome to automatically download PDF files instead of opening them.
   • After downloading, you can then open the PDF with your preferred external application.

2. Using Third-Party Browser Extensions:

   • Some browser extensions can intercept PDF files and redirect them to an external application.
   • Search the Chrome Web Store for extensions that offer PDF handling control. Before installing, check reviews and ensure the extension is reputable and trustworthy.

Steps to Set Chrome to Download PDFs Automatically

While not a complete disablement, automatically downloading PDFs achieves a similar result. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Open Chrome Settings: Type chrome://settings/downloads in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Enable Automatic Downloading (if available): Look for an option like "Automatically download PDFs" or a similar setting. Enable it if present.
3. Set Default PDF Viewer in Your Operating System: Ensure your preferred PDF reader is set as the default application for opening PDF files in your operating system. This ensures that downloaded PDFs open in your desired program.

Conclusion

While the direct method of disabling the Chrome PDF viewer via chrome://plugins is no longer available, you can still manage PDF handling in Chrome by configuring download settings or exploring third-party extensions. These workarounds provide alternative ways to control how you interact with PDF files in your browser. Remember to always prioritize security when choosing extensions and ensure they come from trusted sources.