How do I force Internet Explorer to download PDF files instead of trying to open them?

windows-7 pdf internet-explorer-11

24,184

Solution 1

To change the default PDF open behavior when using a web browser:

In Adobe Acrobat\Reader Choose Edit—>Preferences Select the Internet category from the list on the left To display the PDF in the browser, check "Display in browser" To open PDFs from the web directly in Acrobat, uncheck "Display in browser

Solution 2

Add the following content to a .reg file and merge it to the registry.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AcroExch.Document]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AcroExch.Document.11]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\11.0\Originals]
"bBrowserIntegration"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\11.0\FeatureLockDown]
"bBrowserIntegration"=dword:00000000

Note: the above registry modifications were working correctly up until 27-JUL-2015. It appears that a recent Adobe Reader update is bypassing the registry changes and once again the PDF file is being displayed in Adobe Reader instead of being downloaded. However, after applying the above registry changes, IE behaviour was restored to downloading PDF files rather than opening them in Adobe Reader.

Solution 3

Right click the PDF link, and click "Save Link As", or "Save Target As".

24,184

jjz

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Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

jjz almost 2 years

On a website that generates PDF reports, Internet Explorer 11 tries to open the PDF file with the associated PDF viewer on my system instead of just saving the downloaded file. I want Internet Explorer to download the PDF file straight to disk. I do not want the PDF file opened in any PDF viewer nor in IE itself.
jjz over 9 years

This does not work because the link is a javascript function.
voidmain almost 9 years

I tried your suggestions and lots of others that didn't work. forums.adobe.com/thread/1082459 forums.adobe.com/thread/1086608 The only solution for me was the above registry changes.
El Turner almost 9 years

Glad to see you found some help!
voidmain almost 9 years

No you misunderstood me. Your comment was of no assistance. Rather it was the registry changes that I posted below. Somehow the order of my comment on the page was moved below yours even though I posted first.
El Turner almost 9 years

I didn't misunderstand, I was glad that you found the help you needed... Even if it wasn't me that helped.
El Turner almost 9 years

You can flag the answer so it will stay at the top and people will know this was resolved