View PDF files using Firefox’s built-in viewer

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Firefox includes a built-in PDF viewer that lets you view PDF files directly in your browser. This article will show you how to use the built-in PDF viewer and how to resolve common issues.

Use Firefox’s built-in PDF Viewer

Firefox’s built-in PDF viewer allows you to view almost all PDF files found on the web without needing an external application (exceptions include PDF files with an incorrectly set MIME type). The built-in viewer is automatically used when PDF files are set to Open in Firefox in your Firefox settings for different types of files, which is the default setting. When you click a link to a PDF file or open it from the Firefox Downloads panel, it will open with the built-in PDF viewer.

Firefox PDF viewer - updated V122

The PDF file will open directly in Firefox without being saved. To save the PDF to your computer, click the download button Fx106 PDF dl button in the PDF viewer’s toolbar.

Fill out forms in PDF Viewer

Some PDF files have interactive fields to fill in data (such as on forms). Using Firefox's built-in PDF viewer, you can fill out fields such as text, check boxes and radio buttons. After entering data into these fields, you can download the file to have the filled-out version saved to your computer.

Firefox PDF fill out forms - updated v122

PDF Viewer toolbar functions

  • View document thumbnails or outline: The slider button on the far left will open a sidebar with thumbnails of the document's pages. Some documents will also have an outline view available. These make it easy to navigate through a long document.
    Fx106 PDF Sidebar
  • Page up and down or skip directly to a page: You can use the up and down arrows to page through a document or enter the number of the page you want to go to.
    Fx106 PDF Pager
  • Change the size of the document: Use the + and buttons to zoom in and out or choose a zoom setting from the dropdown menu.
    Fx106 PDF Zoom
  • Print: Click the Printer button to open the print setup dialog.
    Fx106 PDF Print
  • Download: Click the Download button to save the PDF file to your computer.
    Fx106 PDF Download

Annotate PDF files

Annotating a PDF allows you to add notes, highlights, and other markings directly on the document. This is especially useful for making corrections, highlighting important information, or adding personal notes for future reference.

  • Click Annotate PDF 1 to choose a color and text size before selecting where on the document you wish to add text.
  • Click Annotate PDF 2 to choose a color, thickness and opacity before then being able to draw on the document. Downloading the file saves a copy of the document with your annotations.

Highlight in PDF files

Add a highlight

  1. To highlight text or an area in a PDF document, first select the desired text or area. Then, click on Firefox PDF highlighting option.
    Firefox PDF select text to highlight
  2. Choose your preferred highlight color and adjust the thickness of the highlight.
    Firefox PDF highlighting settings

Show/hide all highlights

  1. To manage the visibility of all highlights in a PDF file, first click Firefox PDF highlighting option at the top right of your screen.
  2. Then, use the toggle located under the Show all option to either display or hide all the highlights in the PDF file.
    Show/hide all PDF highlights

Edit or delete a highlight

  1. Click on the area you previously highlighted.
    Edit or delete Firefox PDF highlight
  2. To change the color of your highlight, click on Color selection dropdown for PDF highlight and select a new color.
  3. To remove the highlight, click Trash can icon.

Add an image to PDF files

Starting in Firefox version 119, you will be able to add an image to a PDF file. This feature is being rolled out gradually, so it may not be available to you at this time.

In many PDF-related tasks, incorporating images can provide supplementary information to your content.

Inserting an image

  1. On the top right of the screen, click Add image to PDF 2.
  2. Click + Add image. This will prompt the file selection window.
  3. Browse and select the desired image file to add it to the PDF.

Repositioning and resizing the image

  1. Drag and drop the image to your preferred location within the PDF.
  2. To adjust the image size, click and drag its borders until it fits your desired dimensions.

Adding Alt Text for accessibility

  1. After adding the image, click + Alt text.
  2. In the provided space, either:
    • Write a concise description of the image for screen readers, or
    • Mark the image as decorative if it's for aesthetic purposes only.
  3. Click Save to insert the alt text.
    Add image to PDF

PDF Viewer keyboard shortcuts

Command Shortcut
Next page N or J or
Previous page P or K or
Zoom in Ctrl + +Command + +
Zoom out Ctrl + Command +
Automatic Zoom Ctrl + 0Command + 0
Rotate the document clockwise R
Rotate counterclockwise Shift + R
Switch to Presentation Mode Ctrl + Alt + PCommand + Alt + P
Choose Text Selection Tool S
Choose Hand Tool H
Focus the Page Number input box Ctrl + Alt + GCommand + Alt + G

Troubleshoot problems with the PDF viewer

  • With certain types of PDF files, the PDF Viewer may have problems displaying fonts, colors, or the whole document. If some PDF files don't render well or are blank, click the download button on the right side of the document header to open it with the default PDF viewer application on your computer.
  • If you can't open any PDF files with the built-in PDF viewer, a Firefox extension could be the cause. You can disable all of your extensions, to see if one of them was the problem. For details, see Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems.


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