Fix PDFs Saving as HTML in Chrome and Firefox

Tired of saving PDF as HTML instead of a real PDF? A few quick tweaks can fix it. Get your downloads back on track with these simple steps.

There are a few key reasons why PDFs might end up saving as HTML when working in Chrome or Firefox. In most cases, the problem comes down to three things:

• Your computer is opening PDFs with the wrong app
• Your browser is set to handle PDFs in a specific way
• A setting in Chrome or Firefox needs a quick adjustment

In this guide, you’ll walk through fixes for file associations, browser settings, and deeper troubleshooting so you can download and open PDFs normally again. And if the problem persists, you can always use Smallpdf to convert the documents to PDF.

Why Chrome Saves PDFs as “Chrome HTML” Files (And What That Means)

A “Chrome HTML document” is still a PDF file, but Windows has associated it with Chrome as the default opener. Your PDFs aren’t corrupted—they’re just opening with the wrong program.

This happens for a few common reasons:

• Chrome set itself as default during an update.
• Windows file associations changed unexpectedly.
• You accidentally changed the default PDF app.
• A software installation altered your settings.

The good news? It’s easy to fix by telling your computer to use a proper PDF reader instead of Chrome.

Fix 1: Restore PDF File Associations in Windows and macOS

The quickest fix is to tell your computer to open PDFs with a proper PDF reader instead of Chrome.

Windows

1. Right-click any PDF file showing as Chrome HTML and select “Properties.”
2. In the “Opens with” section, click “Change.”
3. Choose your PDF reader.
4. Click “Set default” and “Apply.”

macOS

1. Right-click the problematic PDF and select “Get Info.”
2. Under “Open with,” pick a dedicated PDF app such as Preview instead of a browser.
3. Click “Change All” to apply this setting to all PDFs.
4. Restart your Mac if the changes don’t take effect immediately.

Fix 2: Change Chrome and Firefox PDF Download Settings

Even after fixing file associations, your browser might still try to handle PDFs internally. Here’s how to force downloads instead.

Google Chrome: Set “Download PDFs”

1. Type chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments in the address bar and hit Enter.
2. Select “Download PDFs” instead of “Open PDFs in Chrome.”
3. Restart Chrome.

Firefox: Change the PDF Action

1. Click the three horizontal lines in the upper-right corner and select “Settings.”
2. In the left-hand menu, go to “General,” then scroll to “Applications.”
3. Search for “Portable Document Format (PDF).”
4. In the drop-down menu, select one of the following:
5. “Open in Firefox” to preview PDFs in the browser.
6. “Always ask” to prompt you for an action each time.
7. “Save File” to always download PDFs instead of opening them.
8. “Use other...” to open them in an external app.

Firefox may reset these after updates, so check back if the issue returns.

Fix 3: Troubleshooting if PDFs Still Save as HTML

If the above fixes didn’t work, try these additional steps:

Disable PDF/Download Extensions

Common problematic extensions: PDF viewers, download managers, productivity tools. Disable all extensions temporarily to test.

Clear Browser Cache

A corrupted cache can cause strange behavior. Clearing it can refresh settings and stop PDFs from saving incorrectly.

Use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac) to quickly access cache clearing options.

Try Another Browser or Website

Test logic: If PDFs work in Edge but not Chrome, it’s a Chrome issue. If one website’s PDFs fail everywhere, the site may be sending files incorrectly.

Antivirus and Security App Conflicts

Some antivirus tools and endpoint security apps can block or rewrite download headers. When this happens, PDFs may save incorrectly or appear as HTML files.

To test this safely:

• Pause real-time protection briefly (if allowed by your organization).
• Download a PDF again to see if the behavior changes.

If it works when protections are paused, add your browser to the app’s allowed-list or speak with your IT team.

Always turn protection back on once you’re done testing.

Windows File-Type Caching Issues

Windows sometimes holds onto outdated file associations. This can cause PDFs to appear as Chrome HTML documents even after you’ve changed the default app.

A quick refresh helps: 1. Go to “Settings,” then “Apps,” and “Default Apps.” 2. Search .pdf and reassign your preferred viewer. 3. Restart your device so Windows updates the cached association.

If you use both Windows 10 and Windows 11, note that the “Default Apps” interface differs slightly, which can affect how the change is applied.

macOS Preview and Finder Caching

macOS may cache thumbnail icons or “Open With” settings, especially after system updates.

To reset these: 1. Right-click any PDF and select “Get Info.” 2. Under “Open With,” choose Preview or another PDF app. 3. Click “Change All.” 4. Restart your Mac if the icon or behavior doesn’t update.

This forces Finder to rebuild its file-type cache and apply the correct app to every PDF.

When to Get More Help

Consider deeper troubleshooting if: 1. File associations keep resetting 2. Multiple file types are affected 3. Recent Windows update preceded the issue 4. Company IT policies might be involved

Convert Your PDFs With Smallpdf’s Tools

While fixing file associations solves the Chrome HTML issue, Smallpdf makes working with PDFs even easier. Our tools let you convert, edit, and manage PDFs without worrying about browser settings or file associations.

Whether you need to convert documents, merge files, or edit PDFs directly, Smallpdf handles it all in your browser—no downloads required.

Start your free trial to access all Smallpdf tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop Chrome from opening PDFs automatically?

Go to chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments and select “Download PDFs.” This prevents Chrome from opening PDFs in tabs.

Why did all my PDF icons change to Chrome?

Windows changed the file association for PDFs to Chrome, usually after a browser update or installation. Follow Fix 1 above to restore your preferred PDF reader.

Can I convert Chrome HTML files back to regular PDFs?

Chrome HTML files are already PDFs—they just open in Chrome. Change the default app (Fix 1) to restore normal PDF behavior. No conversion needed.

Will changing the default PDF app affect my downloaded files?

No, changing the default app only affects which program opens PDFs. Your existing files remain unchanged and can still open in any PDF reader.

How do I save PDFs from Chrome without them becoming HTML files?

Right-click the PDF link and select “Save link as” instead of opening it first. Or use Fix 2 to force Chrome to download PDFs directly.

If you adjust these settings and follow other troubleshooting steps, your PDFs should download and open properly again. Finally some relief for your HTML headaches.