safari pdf automatisch downloaden

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Troubleshooting, how to download pdf files from safari on mac.

Wondering how to download and save PDF files from Safari to a Mac? If you frequently encounter and work with PDF documents on the web, you might be interested in saving them locally to your Mac from time to time. With Safari, it’s easy to open, save, and download PDF files to the Mac.

The process is quite simple as this tutorial will demonstrate through several different ways to download PDF files to save them to the Mac from Safari.

You may have noticed that default Safari will automatically open PDF files that are clicked into in-browser windows. That can confuse some users at first, but it ends up being OK because if we’re looking to save a PDF file that makes it very easy to do as you’ll see.

How to Download & Save PDF Files from Safari to Mac

Opening PDF files in Safari on the Mac allows them to be easily downloaded and saved to the computer, here’s how the process works:

• Open Safari on the Mac if you haven’t done so yet
• Go to the PDF file in Safari that you want to save to the Mac
• With the PDF file open in Safari, pull down the “File” menu and choose “Save As”

• Name the PDF file and select the destination to download the PDF file to and then click “Save” to download and save the PDF file locally to the Mac at that destination

In the example image here, we’re downloading a PDF document of a study (https://www.gwern.net/docs/longevity/2019-decabo.pdf) and saving it locally to the Mac desktop where it can be easily found.

How to Download PDF Files from a Link in Safari

If you want to download a linked PDF file in Safari to the Mac, that works the same as downloading any other linked item in Safari on the Mac:

• Right-click on the PDF file link and choose “Download Linked File As”

• Save the PDF file to the Mac destination as desired

You can use either method to download and save PDF files to the Mac.

How to Download & Save Linked PDF Files in Safari with Option Key

Another neat download trick for Safari that is lesser known is to hold down the OPTION key and then click the link to the PDF, or refresh the current URL if the PDF page is already open in Safari .

That will also download the PDF document directly into the Downloads folder as configured by Safari.

Note that saving a PDF file from Safari is completely different from saving a webpage as a PDF in Safari on Mac , the latter of which actually preserves the webpage as a PDF file and also saves it locally. It’s a bit redundant, but you can technically use that same save-as-pdf approach to an existing PDF too, which may be helpful in some situations if the PDF file you are trying to save is stuck in an iFrame or something similar that prevents easy access to opening, downloading, and saving the file directly.

And yet another neat trick; if you happen to forget where you got a particular PDF from but you want to know the source URL, you can retrieve a files original direct download URL using this Safari trick .

How to Make Safari Download PDF Files Instead of Opening Them

The download tips above will allow you to download PDF files from Safari, but you may still end up opening the PDF file in Safari too. If you want to download PDF instead of opening, you can try the following tricks:

Another option to download a PDF instead of opening it within Safari is this:

• Load the PDF into Safari and then click URL bar
• Hold down the OPTION / ALT key
• Hit return (or refresh the PDF on display) to download the PDF

This will instantly download the PDF file to your Downloads folder, unless you changed the download destination in Safari.

Remember that Safari defaults to using the User Downloads folder on the Mac, but you can change the Safari download location if needed to suit your preferences.

These methods work on practically all versions of Safari for basically all versions of MacOS and Mac OS X, so it shouldn’t matter what software release you are on you will be able to open, download, and save PDF files to the Mac locally if needed.

Do you know of any other tips, tricks, or info about opening, downloading, and saving PDF files from Safari to Mac? Share with us in the comments!

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An even easier GUI way to view and save PDFs in Safari: Many PDFs when clicked on will open in a separate Window or Tab. Hover cursor near the bottom and a small tool bar will appear, showing “Magnifying Glass” icons to Enlarge +, or Shrink – the page, and, two other icons that let you Open in Preview, or, Save to Downloads. (I’d attach a pic if I could!)

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How do I force safari to download PDF files rather than open them in the browser window

Hello. How do I force Safari to download PDF files rather than open them in the browser? I want it to automatically download the files like it does with Microsoft Word or Excel files. I am using Safari 10.02 on Sierra. Thank you.

iMac, macOS Sierra (10.12.2)

Posted on Jan 21, 2017 9:19 PM

Posted on Feb 16, 2017 6:47 PM

How to disable Safari's in-browser pdf viewer and, instead, force download of selected pdf links in macOS Sierra 10.12.3

1. If you have Adobe Reader installed, disable Adobe's pdf viewer browser plug-ins:

a. Open Adobe Reader/Acrobat Pro; go to Preferences -> Internet; under Web Browser Options, uncheck all boxes; confirm preference changes by selecting "OK."

b. Open Safari; go to Preferences -> Security -> Plug-in Settings; in the left column, uncheck boxes next to any Adobe "PDFViewer..." plug-ins.

c. Quit both Adobe and Safari.

d. Open Finder; go to Macintosh HD/Library/Internet Plug-Ins; in that Internet Plug-Ins folder, you should find a few Adobe plug-ins as well as a folder named "Disabled Plug-Ins" (if you do not yet have a Disabled Plug-Ins folder, create one); move both "AdobePDFViewer.plugin" and "AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin" to Disabled Plug-Ins (requires administrator authentication).

2. Use command line to create a defaults plist entry disabling WebKit in-line pdf viewing:

a. Open Terminal (located in your Applications/Utilities folder); copy-and-paste the following text to Terminal

defaults write com.apple.Safari WebKitOmitPDFSupport -bool YES

b. Hit Return to execute the command.

Note: There is no (automatic) confirmation/response after successful entry of the above command. If, however, you wish to check whether the command worked, you may enter the following:

defaults read com.apple.Safari WebKitOmitPDFSupport

If the entry was successfully made, the system will return "1" on the next line (corresponding to the newly-written "YES" boolean key).

3. Restart your computer.

Comment: I also removed the Adobe Application Manager internet plug-in (AdobeAAMDetect.plugin) as part of Steps 1.b and 1.d, above. I am unsure whether leaving the AAM plug-in might affect the outcome.

The foregoing worked for me, running macOS 10.12.3 and Safari 10.0.3.

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Feb 16, 2017 6:47 PM in response to Sandra Davis

Jan 22, 2017 5:29 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you. I guess there is no longer anyway to have it automatically download. I was hoping for just a one click solution (the right click involves a second task of selecting a download option). It's not a big deal but it has slowed my workflow down somewhat. Thank you.

Jan 21, 2017 9:27 PM in response to ckuan

Thank you for replying. Yes, I can do that or let it load and then click on the download symbol that appears when you hover near the bottom of the page but what I am trying to do is to have the link download rather than display. I had it set up that way for years on the laptop but I do not remember how I did it. It saves a step as I gather a lot of research to read for later and I am slowed down by having to process each file individually. Thank you.

Jan 22, 2017 5:27 PM in response to Sandra Davis

From the View menu, Show Status Bar.

Then, you can right-click on a link offering a PDF, and there will be two download option on the pop-up menu. I always hover over that PDF link, and then review the link in the status bar to ensure that it really is a PDF — before I download it. You can download the PDF as it is named via the Download Linked File menu item, and it will go to your designated download folder, or select the Download Linked File As... to open a Save panel.

Feb 16, 2017 6:50 PM in response to HankWm

Thank you so much for the step by step instructions. I had given up on this. I haven't tried your solution yet but reading through it I think it will work. The instructions are very precise and clear. Thanks again.

Jan 21, 2017 9:24 PM in response to Sandra Davis

You can use Safari > File > Save As... to save the PDF on your Mac.

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How to Download PDF Files from Safari to iPhone, iPad, and Mac

When browsing the web, we often come across PDF files. If you’re using Safari you can view such files within the browser itself. But if you want to keep them for later reference, you can also save PDF files from Safari to iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This is different from saving webpages as PDFs which is another handy feature of Safari. Let’s check it out.

How to Save PDF Files from Safari on iPhone or iPad

How to download pdf files from safari on mac.

• Download PDF Files from a Link in Safari on Mac

Make Safari Download PDF Files Instead of Opening Them

If you want to save PDF from Safari to the Files app on your iPhone, it’s pretty simple. When browsing on Safari on iPhone, if you tap the link to a downloadable file, a dialog box will appear to confirm that you would like to download the file.

Once you tap “Download,” the file will be added to the downloads manager and start downloading. It will continue downloading until the entire file is downloaded, even if you close Safari or leave the webpage.

By default, downloaded files are saved to a ‘Downloads’ folders in iCloud Drive so that you can access them from all your devices. But you can change the default location that files are saved in if you wish.

When you click on a link to a PDF file in Safari on Mac, it will automatically open it. To save the PDF file that you’re viewing, click on the “File” menu at the top of the screen and choose “Save As.”

In the dialog box that opens, name the PDF file and select the destination where you want to keep the PDF file. Then, click “Save.”

That’s it. Once the file is downloaded, you can view it anytime by opening it from the location where you chose to save it.

How to Download PDF Files from a Link in Safari on Mac

If you want to download a linked PDF file in Safari to the Mac, that works the same as downloading any other linked item in Safari on the Mac:

Right-click on the PDF file link and choose “Download Linked File As”. Then, name the PDF file and save the file to the preferred destination folder.

A neat download trick for Safari is to  hold down the OPTION key and then click the link to the PDF or refresh the current page if the PDF is already open in Safari.

That will also download the PDF document directly into the preset Downloads folder.

Usually, you will probably end up opening PDF files on Safari when trying to download them. If you want to avoid this and directly save a PDF from Safari on Mac, you can try the following tricks:

• If it’s a link that is clickable to open the PDF, you can just hold the OPTION/ALT key when clicking the URL to instantly download the PDF to the default download location. This will instantly download the PDF file to your Downloads folder unless you changed the download destination in Safari
• Another option to download a PDF instead of opening it within Safari is to load the PDF within a tab and then click the URL bar. Hold down the OPTION/ALT key and hit Return (or refresh the PDF on display) to download the PDF

Wrapping Up…

As you can see, it’s a breeze to download and save PDF files on Safari on the iPhone and Mac. You can later access them from your downloads folder even when you’re offline. If you have any questions or thoughts about this, share in the comments section below.

Mehak has a master’s degree in communication and over ten years of writing experience. Her passion for technology and Apple products led her to iGeeksBlog, where she specializes in writing product roundups and app recommendations for fellow Apple users. When not typing away on her MacBook Pro, she loves being lost in a book or out exploring the world.

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iPad   Safari automatically download pdf files

• Thread starter User0713
• Start date Aug 17, 2022
• Tags download safari security questions
• Sort by reaction score
• iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

macrumors newbie

• Aug 17, 2022

I was playing a free online game on my iPad Safari and decided to take some screenshots. However, I realised they whenever I take a screenshot, the entire webpage is saved as a pdf into the Downloads folder in Files. Also, Safari did not show that a file was being downloaded (the download icon did not show). I use software version 15.5. Anyone know what is happening?  

It's likely because it happens so fast you wouldn't see a download progress bar. Is the screenshot function inside the game or are you creating screenshots another way?  

Ignore this message  

WildSky said: It's likely because it happens so fast you wouldn't see a download progress bar. Is the screenshot function inside the game or are you creating screenshots another way? Click to expand...

Attachments

rui no onna

Contributor.

User0713 said: I took the screenshot with home button and off button (the normal screenshot way). But even if the download is very fast, wouldn’t the download icon (image 1) stay at the top of the screen until I clear it? Also, there was no download warning like this. (Image 2) Click to expand...

macrumors 68040

• Aug 18, 2022

update to 15.6. For reasons probably only known to Apple 😄 sometimes in 15.5 the full page PDF is saved too when taking a screenshot. It’s one of life’s misteries - as well as why screen shots you cropped before saving, appear uncropped in Photos. 🤷🤪🤓  

Slartibart said: update to 15.6. For reasons probably only known to Apple 😄 sometimes in 15.5 the full page PDF is saved too when taking a screenshot. It’s one of life’s misteries - as well as why screen shots you cropped before saving, appear uncropped in Photos. 🤷🤪🤓 Click to expand...

User0713 said: So it is a known problem? Thank you so much I was afraid the kinda-unsafe-online-gaming site found a way to put malware onto my iPad. Click to expand...

Safari User Guide

• Get started
• Go to a website
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• Import bookmarks and passwords
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• View links from friends
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide ads when reading
• Translate a webpage
• Download items from the web
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a webpage
• Print or create a PDF of a webpage
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• Keyboard and other shortcuts

See a PDF in Safari on Mac

Safari has a built-in PDF reader that automatically displays PDF documents right in the browser window. You don’t have to download and install a separate PDF reader app.

Open Safari for me

Move the pointer to the bottom center of the browser window to see controls.

• Automatically download pdfs in chrome

How to automatically download PDFs in Chrome instead of opening them

• User by Fatima Wahab
• Calendar Jul 27, 2019
• Comment 3 Comments

Chrome is a capable browser. It will use up all your RAM like a sponge soaking up water but it will use that RAM for good, mostly. Among the many useful things it can do is its ability to open a PDF file. It might seem trivial but there was once a time when good PDF readers were hard to come by. In Chrome, when you click on a link to a PDF file, it loads in the browser and you can read it. There’s an option to save the file offline however, if you prefer to automatically download PDFs in Chrome instead of opening them first, you can set it to do just that.

Automatically download PDFs in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the more options button at the top right. From the menu, select Settings. On the Settings page, scroll all the way down and click ‘Advanced’ at the end.

Scroll to the Privacy & Security settings and click ‘Site Settings’.

On the Site Settings page, click ‘PDF documents’.

On the page that follows, turn on the ‘Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome’ option.

That’s all you have to do. The next time you click on a link to a PDF, you will get the familiar Save As dialog. Select where you want to save the file to, and it will be saved.

This is a Chrome based setting and it will change how Chrome works. You may have a PDF viewer installed on your system. If this PDF viewer is set as the default app for handling all PDF files on your system, it may intercept the file and open it instead . This tends to happen because file defaults are set at an OS level. Technically, the setting that we’ve changed should prevent it from happening but some apps are more proactive than others at what they do. Check if the PDF viewer you have installed has any setting that you can change that will prevent it from communicating with Chrome, or any other browser you might have installed.

Of course, with this setting set the way it is, you simply cannot open PDF files in Chrome any more. Even if you drag & drop a PDF file onto the browser, it’s just going to download again. It’s all or nothing once you make the change. It’s easy to undo so if you ever find yourself browsing one too many PDFs and you’d rather open them, change the switch back to the off position.

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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