Google Chrome is quite a versatile browser that can be used to open various multimedia content. Aside from being able to play video and music content it can also open PDF files. Although this is quite a solid browser there are instances when certain issues can occur. In this latest installment of our troubleshooting series we will tackle the Chrome failed to load PDF document error.
What to do when you get the failed to load PDF document error in Chrome
Before performing any of the recommended troubleshooting steps listed below it’s best to restart your computer first. This action refreshes the operating system and removes any corrupt temporary data that could be causing the problem.
Update Chrome
The first thing you will want to do in this case is to make sure that the Chrome browser installed on your computer is the latest version. This ensures that any PDF glitches that are present in the old version will be patched in the latest version.
- Open Google Chrome
- Press the three-dot icon on the upper right side.
- Go to Help
- Click on About Google Chrome.
- The updating feature will automatically scan for a new version of Google Chrome .If a new version is found you will be prompted to install it.
- Restart the browser once the installation has been completed.
Try to check if the failed to load PDF in Chrome issue still occurs.
Change the PDF settings in Chrome
The default setting of Chrome is to open the PDF document internally but you can change this to open the files in a dedicated PDF viewer.
- Open Google Chrome
- Press the three-dot icon on the upper right side.
- Go to Settings.
- Scroll all the way down and click Advanced.
- In the Privacy and security section click Site settings.
- Select PDF
- Enable Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome option
From now on any PDF file you view on Chrome will be downloaded. You will need a third party PDF reader to open this file.
Disable Chrome Extensions
Sometimes this issue can be caused by interference from an extension that is installed in the browser. If this is the culprit then you will need to disable these extensions.
- Open Google Chrome
- Press the three-dot icon on the upper right side.
- Click More Tools
- Click on Extensions
- Turn off the switch for all active extensions.
Try to check if Chrome can now open PDF files.
Clear the cache of Chrome
There are instances when the problem can be caused by corrupted cached data which is why you will need to clear the cache of the browser.
- Open Google Chrome
- Press the three-dot icon on the upper right side.
- Click More Tools
- Click Clear browsing data
- At the top, choose a time range. To delete everything, select All time.
- Next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files,” check the boxes.
- Click Clear data.
Try to check if the Chrome failed to load PDF document error still occurs.