How to Fix Acrobat Downloading ASP Files Instead of PDF Forms on macOS
Question details
The user is unable to open certain online fillable PDF forms because Adobe Acrobat downloads them as ASP files rather than rendering the PDF.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC Pro
- Device & OS
- macOS Mojave (macOS 10.14)
- Scenario
- Attempting to open and fill out online PDF forms directly through a web browser on macOS.
- Observed behavior
- Instead of opening the online PDF form, an ASP file is downloaded to the computer. However, local PDF files and standard online documents continue to open normally.
Verify that your internet connection is stable and check your web browser's default download settings to ensure it isn't automatically forcing server scripts to download instead of rendering standard PDF file types.
Download the Form Locally and Rename the File Extension
Bypass browser compatibility issues by manually downloading the file and ensuring it has the correct PDF extension before opening it in Acrobat.
Often, a server misconfiguration or browser PDF handling error will cause the active server page (.asp) to download instead of streaming the PDF data. Manually downloading and renaming the file resolves this in most cases.
Right-click (or Control-click) the online fillable PDF form link in your web browser and select 'Download Linked File' or 'Save Link As...' to save it to your Mac.
Locate the downloaded file in Finder. If it has an '.asp' extension, click on the file name, delete '.asp', and type '.pdf'. Press Return and confirm the change when prompted by macOS.
Launch Adobe Acrobat DC Pro, click on 'File' in the top menu bar, select 'Open', and navigate to your newly renamed PDF file to fill out the form.
Update macOS and Adobe Acrobat DC Pro
Ensure you have the latest compatibility patches installed for macOS Mojave and Adobe Acrobat.
Modify Browser PDF Handling Preferences
Force the web browser to download PDFs rather than relying on an outdated or incompatible Acrobat web plugin.
Use WPS PDF to Easily Open and Fill Online Forms
Avoid browser plugin conflicts and system compatibility errors on macOS by using WPS Office's built-in PDF reader. It provides a robust, lightweight solution to seamlessly open, fill out, and manage your PDF forms.
- 1. Download the file: Save the problematic online form directly to your Mac. If it downloads as an ASP file, rename the file extension to .pdf.
- 2. Open WPS Office: Launch WPS Office on your Mac and navigate to the 'PDF' tab on the main dashboard.
- 3. Load your form: Click 'Open' and select your downloaded PDF file. WPS PDF will instantly load the document.
- 4. Fill and save: Use the interactive fields to fill out your form seamlessly, then click 'Save' to retain all your inputted data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my browser download an ASP file instead of the PDF form?
This usually happens due to a server-side misconfiguration where the active server page (.asp) script fails to pass the correct PDF MIME type to your browser. Your browser then defaults to downloading the script file itself instead of rendering the PDF content.
Is it safe to rename an .asp extension to .pdf?
Yes, if the file was intended to be a PDF and simply downloaded with the wrong extension due to a server error, renaming it to .pdf will allow your operating system and PDF reader to recognize the file format and open it safely.
Does Adobe Acrobat DC Pro have compatibility issues with macOS Mojave?
When macOS Mojave (10.14) was initially released, Acrobat users experienced compatibility issues, including Apple Event restrictions and PDF saving errors. Adobe has since released updates and compatibility patches to resolve these issues, so keeping your software updated is highly recommended.
How do I stop PDFs from opening in my browser by default?
You can change this behavior in your browser settings. For instance, in Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Additional content settings > PDF documents, and select 'Download PDFs' instead of 'Open PDFs in Chrome'.
