Some web browsers have a built-in PDF viewer that allows you to quickly view PDF documents without leaving your browser. Unfortunately, features like this are not compatible with protected PDF eBooks and may prevent you from viewing them. If you would like to download or open a PDF protected eBook, you’ll need to disable your browser’s built-in PDF viewer and open your eBook in Adobe Reader. For assistance with Adobe Reader, refer to our article on Adobe Reader Installation and Setup. If you have recently installed Adobe Reader, we recommend restarting your computer before beginning the troubleshooting steps below.
Here are some instructions on how to disable the PDF viewers in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox!
You may receive the following error message if Adobe Reader is not set as your default PDF viewer and your eBook is attempting to open in the Chrome PDF Viewer:
"Chrome PDF Viewer: There is a problem with this protected pdf document. It may be damaged or has been tampered with. Please contact the publisher for a clean file. Message Code: 013"
To ensure your eBooks open correctly, follow these steps:
- With Google Chrome open, click the menu button located to the right of the address bar at the top of the browser.
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- Type the word PDF in the Search settings bar, then click on Site Settings under Privacy and security.
- Scroll down and select the Additional content settings drop-down menu. Then select PDF Documents.
NOTE Some versions of Google Chrome may not require students to select the Additional content settings drop-down, and will instead just have an option to select PDF Documents.
- Turn on the option for Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Chrome.
NOTE We recommend updating Google Chrome when available to ensure you have the most up to date settings listed above. If you are using an older version and do not have the settings listed above, type chrome://plugins into the address bar at the top, then scroll down the list of plugins until you locate Chrome PDF Viewer. Finally, click Disable to allow your PDF files to open in Adobe Reader.
On Windows 10 devices, Microsoft Edge is the default PDF Viewer. Unfortunately, this will prevent you from logging into the PDF version of your eBook. Upon trying to open your eBook, you may receive an error like the following:
“There is a problem with this protected pdf document. It may be damaged or has been tampered with. Please contact the publisher for a clean file.”
There are currently two versions of Microsoft Edge, and the solution to this issue will vary depending on which version you have. You can determine which one you have by looking at the app icon.
Old Microsoft Edge |
New Microsoft Edge |
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After determining which Edge version you’re using, see the appropriate steps below to disable the Edge PDF viewer:
Old Microsoft Edge
- Open the Windows Start Menu and click on the gear for Settings.
- Type “default” in the search bar at the top and select Default app settings.
- Select Default Apps on the left. Scroll down and select Choose default Apps by file type.
- Scroll down and look for .pdf on the left side
(1) Next to .pdf, click on Microsoft Edge to choose an app.
(2) Once the Choose an app popup opens, select Adobe Reader to set as the default app to open the PDF file type.
NOTE If Adobe Reader is not listed, click here for instructions on installing a supported version.
New Microsoft Edge
- Select the three horizontal dots in the upper right corner of Edge.
- Select Settings.
- On the left side menu, select Cookies and site permissions.
- Scroll down to PDF documents.
- Turn on the option “Always open PDF files externally”.
- Restart your browser, and then attempt to open your PDF eBook again. You may be prompted to select a program to open the file with. If so, select Adobe Reader / Adobe Acrobat Reader DC.
NOTE If Adobe Reader is not listed, click here for instructions on installing a supported version.
In order to ensure your eBooks are opening correctly when using Firefox, follow these steps:
- With Firefox open, click the menu button
located to the right of the address bar at the top of the browser. - Select Options (Preferences on a Mac).
- Navigate to the Applications.
- Find the Portable Document Format (PDF)in the list and click on it to select it.
- Click on the drop-down arrow in the Action column and select Use Adobe Reader.
- Restart your browser to save these changes.