Why PDF Files Are Saved to Desktop Before Printing and How to Fix It
Question details
Users experience PDF files automatically downloading to the desktop from emails or web browsers before they can be printed or viewed.
- Product
- PDF Reader / Web Browser
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening and printing PDF files from an email client or a web browser.
- Observed behavior
- Instead of opening directly in the browser or application for immediate viewing and printing, the PDF file is automatically saved to the desktop as a local file.
Ensure your web browser is up to date and check if your preferred PDF viewer is correctly installed and set as the default application for handling PDF files.
Modify Browser PDF and Download Settings
Adjust your web browser settings to open PDFs directly instead of downloading them automatically to your desktop.
Web browsers often default to downloading unrecognized or complex file types. By changing the site settings in browsers like Chrome or Edge, you can force PDFs to open in a new tab for immediate printing.
Open your web browser (e.g., Google Chrome) and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner, then select 'Settings'.
Go to 'Privacy and security', click on 'Site Settings', and scroll down to expand 'Additional content settings'. Click on 'PDF documents'.
Select the option to 'Open PDFs in Chrome' (or your respective browser) rather than 'Download PDFs'.
To prevent other files from cluttering your desktop, go to the 'Downloads' section in settings, click 'Change' next to the Location path, and select a dedicated 'Downloads' folder instead of the Desktop.
Adjust Email Client Attachment Preferences
Change how your desktop email application handles PDF attachments when you click on them.
Open and Print PDFs Directly Using WPS Office
WPS Office includes a robust, built-in PDF reader that allows you to open, view, and print PDF files seamlessly without cluttering your desktop with downloads.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and complete the installation process on your computer.
- 2. Set as Default Application: Right-click any PDF file on your computer, select 'Open with' > 'Choose another app', select WPS Office, and check 'Always use this app to open .pdf files'.
- 3. Open PDFs Instantly: Click on any downloaded PDF link or email attachment, and it will immediately open in the clean WPS PDF interface.
- 4. Print Directly: Click the Print icon on the top toolbar or press Ctrl+P to configure your printing preferences and print the document instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do PDFs download instead of opening in Chrome?
Chrome may be configured to download PDF files automatically. You can change this by going to Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Additional content settings > PDF documents, and selecting 'Open PDFs in Chrome'.
How can I change my default download location to stop files saving to my desktop?
In your web browser settings, navigate to the Downloads section. Click 'Change' next to the current download location and select a different folder, such as your system's default 'Downloads' or 'Documents' folder.
Can I print a PDF directly from an email without downloading it?
Yes. Most modern web-based email providers (like Gmail or Outlook) have built-in document previewers. Simply click on the PDF attachment to preview it, then click the printer icon in the top right corner of the preview overlay to print directly.
