Can't auto open PDF file from Safari

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Etrecheck – System Information

Hi Yungkw,

Thanks for getting back to us with those details. Let's try the following steps:

• Open Safari Preferences > General; uncheck the box for opening downloads.
• Close Safari: Quit apps on Mac
• Restart your Mac.
• Open Safari Preferences > General; select the check box for "Open "safe" files after downloading"

Let me know if you see any changes.

Can you also let me know if you tried in a new user? Was the behavior the same?

Best Regards.

Hi Yungkw,

Thanks for reaching out in Apple Support Communities. I understand that since upgrading to macOS Catalina PDF documents aren't opening automatically after downloading from Safari. I also see that you've checked preferences for this and all seems to be in order. I can see why you'd reach out about this behavior; I'd like to help. First, I'd recommend starting your Mac in safe mode and testing for the issue: Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac

If the behavior is resolved in safe mode, restart your Mac normally and test for the issue again. If the issue persists, try testing in a new user account: How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac

Are only PDF documents downloaded in Safari affected? Are you able to download and have other file types auto-open for you?

Let me know what you find.

Best Regards.

For anyone else who's trying to find out why this issue is happening, its some sort of change made in Catalina most likely do to all the privilege restrictions apple implemented. Nothing is wrong with the computer or safari.

In fact some websites .zip files and other docs auto open/unzip automatically, while other sites when downloading PDFs or jpegs, nothing will open automatically. Hopefully its either an error with Safari that will get fixed or an update the developer of the website need to make.

Either way, don't worry about reinstalling Catalina, already tried that and not the issue.

Best,

Hi Yungkw,

We appreciate you letting us know you've tried those steps. Next, use the following resource to run First Aid via Disk Utility on your Mac: Repair a storage device in Disk Utility on Mac

If the behavior continues after running First Aid on your disk, use the resources below to create a backup, then reinstall macOS:

Back up your Mac with Time Machine

How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery

Please note that you do not need to erase your disk to reinstall macOS, but I do recommend a backup as a precaution.

If the issue continues after reinstalling macOS, reach out to Apple for additional assistance: Contact Apple Support

Best Regards.