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Firefox opens multiple blank tabs instead of any PDF file.

  • 3 replies
  • 59 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by LawDown

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Yesterday my Firefox was opening files just fine, but today I can't open PDFs. It isn't the usual PDF issue I've heard described either. Every time I click on a PDF to open it, Firefox opens tons of blank tabs ( 20 to 30) and I have to shut down the application, or in some cases the entire computer, to make it stop. Eventually, I will get an error message saying the file can't be opened, but not before tons of new tabs have popped up. I'm only clicking it once, yet I get 25 tabs! I've already removed & reinstalled Firefox and it didn't help. How can I fix this?

Yesterday my Firefox was opening files just fine, but today I can't open PDFs. It isn't the usual PDF issue I've heard described either. Every time I click on a PDF to open it, Firefox opens tons of blank tabs ( 20 to 30) and I have to shut down the application, or in some cases the entire computer, to make it stop. Eventually, I will get an error message saying the file can't be opened, but not before tons of new tabs have popped up. I'm only clicking it once, yet I get 25 tabs! I've already removed & reinstalled Firefox and it didn't help. How can I fix this?

All Replies (3)

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} While you are in safe mode; Press the Alt or F10 key to bring up the tool bar. Followed by;

Windows; Tools > Options Linux; Edit > Preferences Mac; application name > Preferences

Then Advanced > General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Poke around safe web sites. Are there any problems?

Then restart.

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I also had this problem. It's easily solved, though. Right-click on the PDF file (or any other file that develops this issue) - and choose "Open With" and then make sure the box at the bottom has the "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" - checked! And the program to choose will be whichever Adobe product you use, the Adobe Reader, or Adobe Acrobat.

I suspect a mischievous virus or something of the sort causes this, as many people seem to develop it around the same time.

Modified by MadisonAdmin

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I did this and turned off hardware acceleration, but still have the problem when I try to download a .pdf file in the newest Firefox.