The default option in Google Chrome is to automatically open PDF Files, as soon as they are downloaded from the internet. However, it is also possible to prevent Google Chrome from opening PDF Files.
When you prevent Google Chrome from automatically opening PDF Files, they will be downloaded to your computer and you can open them manually at any time by double-clicking on the downloaded files.
Prevent Google Chrome from Opening PDF Files
All that is required to prevent Google Chrome from automatically opening PDF Files is to access the browser settings on your computer and select the option to download PDF Files, instead of opening them in the browser window.
1. Prevent Chrome from Opening PDF File Downloads
Follow the steps below to stop Google Chrome from automatically opening the downloaded PDF files.
1. Open the Google Chrome browser on your computer.
2. Click on 3-dots Menu icon and select Settings in the drop-down menu.
2. On Chrome Settings screen, select Privacy and Security in the left-pane > Scroll down in the right-pane and click on Site Settings tab.
3. On the Site Settings screen, expand Additional Content Settings section and click on PDF Documents.
4. On the next screen, select the Download PDFs option.
After this change, you will no longer find Google Chrome automatically opening PDF Files on your computer.
From now onwards, Google Chrome will be downloading PDF Files to the Downloads Folder on your computer and you will be required to open them manually by double-clicking on the downloaded files.
If you are using Windows computer, double-clicking on a downloaded PDF File will make it open in Microsoft Edge browser window, which is the default PDF Viewer in Windows 11/10.
However, you can also make PDF Files open in Adobe Acrobat or any other third-party PDF Reader of your choice by using steps as provided in this guide: How to Change Default PDF Reader in Windows 11/10.