Guide | How To Permanently Disable Chrome PDF Viewer (2018 Update)

[Ink]

UPDATED VERSION: Prefer your 3rd-Party app? Open PDF files outside of Chrome.

How to Disable Chrome PDF Viewer​

Open Chrome > Settings > Advanced > Site Settings > PDF documents

• chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments
• Enabled ticker to Download PDF Files

Stop Chrome from opening your PDF files?​

Spoiler: Previous Method (No Longer Works!)

Unless you have permanently disabled it (scolldown), Google Chrome will continue to open PDF files** with the following settings:

• chrome://plugins > Chrome PDF Viewer (disabled)***
• chrome://plugins > Chrome PDF Viewer (enabled)

Try New Method

Open the Advanced Settings and found under Privacy (Content Settings) users can now manage how PDF documents are opened.

• Enter URL chrome://settings/content
• Scroll down to PDF Documents > Enable "Open PDF files in the default PDF viewer application"
• Finished to save changes

I believe this is Google's correct way for Chrome users to disable built-in PDF viewer, and to confirm, Chrome PDF Viewer will be disabled by Enterprise Policy (greyed out) under Chrome Plugins.

________________________________________________________________________________________​

Notes:

1. No third-party PDF software installed on Windows 10 Home 64-bit with Google Chrome stable v56.0.2XXX 64-bit.
2. ** Enabled Edge as default PDF viewer for educational purposes to confirm method works.
3. *** Cannot comment on the results if your use PDF software has installed a plug-in Chrome.
4. * Discovered by accident and could not find anything on the web about it.

 

[ozone]

they plan to move "chrome://plugins" setting to "chrome://settings/content", and later completely remove plugins,
but the way they've implemented it in chrome 56 is terrible, each time I restart chrome all plugins (except pdf) are enabled

 

[SHvFl]

Thanks for the guide. I honestly didn't notice the setting there.

 

[Ink]

they plan to move "chrome://plugins" setting to "chrome://settings/content", and later completely remove plugins,

Thanks for the extra details, where did you read that so I can follow up?

 

[ozone]

Thanks for the extra details, where did you read that so I can follow up?

can't find thread in Google Groups but this should help you
673199 - Chrome 56 Disabled plugins get reenabled after browser restart - chromium - Monorail
615738 - Deprecate chrome://plugins - chromium - Monorail

after quick reading I can say that chrome 57 won't have chrome://plugins anymore

 

[Dirk41]

Thank you for sharing
May I ask you why open a pdf in the browser may be dangerous ? Instead of downloading and opening it ?

It could launch a malicious code only by opening it in the browser ?

Thank you

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

I have my default as Nitro Pro, and it is secured with HMP.A

 

[509322]

Thank you for sharing
May I ask you why open a pdf in the browser may be dangerous ? Instead of downloading and opening it ?

It could launch a malicious code only by opening it in the browser ?

Thank you

Both PDF editor\viewers and browsers are susceptible to exploits. The exploit would be program-specific. So, for example, an exploit for Adobe Reader isn't going to work in Edge.

The most targeted PDF software is Adobe products. All the others much, much less so.

* * * * *

Adding a PDF editor or viewer isn't necessary any longer - except when you need the additional features. For simple PDF viewing - you can open the PDFs in AppContainer - which adds another protection layer.

I use Edge - which runs in AppContainer - to view PDFs. Alternatively, you can set Chrome to run in AppContainer. I've also tested all the freeware PDF editor\viewers - and all are OK. Of these, I personally like SumatraPDF. I have it installed.

Security is important, but where PDFs are concerned, for me it all comes down to loading speed, smooth scrolling, a search that works well, the ability to copy-paste text and images, etc. Simple features to meet basic needs.

* * * * *

You'd be surprised how keeping things simple actually goes a long way to protecting a system and keeping you safe.

 

[Dirk41]

Thank you ,but so if you don't want to open the pdf in the browser , you download it and open it in the PC ? What does it change if you open it in the PC instead of opening it in the browser?

 

[SHvFl]

Thank you ,but so if you don't want to open the pdf in the browser , you download it and open it in the PC ? What does it change if you open it in the PC instead of opening it in the browser?

Personally i prefer to read things on my own pdf reader(sumatra). It's not for security or anything if that's what you implying.
My browser and pdf reader and almost equally secure.

 

[Ink]

Updated to reflect changes to Chrome browser.