Safari won't download pdf's

Back up, wipe and re-install macOS, and migrate your files and documents, and not your apps. The migration from a Time Machine backup is offered during the first startup after the install.

Between the sketchy-looking stuff (whether it’s just sketchy looking, or adware, or malware?) and the various fifteen+ year old stuff and the current browser PDF issues, it’s time to start over.

I’d skip re-installing the storage vendor apps, too. Those typically aren’t needed.

If the current local printers all support AirPrint, probably don’t need to reload the vendor printer drivers too.

I would not load add-on anti-malware. That might or might not help with the sketchy-looking stuff, but it won’t help with the old and unused and potentially problematic other stuff.

I would load current versions of just the apps you need, too.

For completeness: It’s probably possible to launchctl unload -w and then delete just the com. onlineapplicationstatus. AppStatus. plist file and the com. appactivity. AppActivity. plist file, but there are numerous other old apps installed here that might be contributing to (or might be causing) the problems.

"Safari won't download pdf's: I'm using Safari 18.1.1 on a MacBook Sequoia 15.1.1 and I'm not able to download pdf's in Safari. On the pdf, I hover over and click the downloads icon and then I get a pop up that says, "Safari can't save the file ... then it gives the file name ... [...]"

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Try Resetting Safari's Settings to Default:

To do so, delete the ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist file from Finder.

First, Use Spotlight to Get to Finder:

1. Open Spotlight: [Hold Down: command + Press Spacebar]
2. Paste this: ~/Library/Preferences/
3. Press: return key

Screenshot:

Then, Delete this File from Trash:

Then, move com.apple.Safari.plist to the trash. Once Moved, delete it from the Trash. It will then be recreated, and add Safari Settings will be replaced.

restart your computer as well.

then use the finder to GetInfo on the Downloads folder and post the permissions or a screenshot that includes the permission on that folder.

Please download and run (free) EtreCheck, and share the results to the clipboard. Then open a new reply here, and press the Additional Text button that looks like a printed page, and paste and post the hardware and software configuration report here. From that, we can get a little more detail about what is installed and what is running here.

"I restarted the computer. And here is what the Download Folder permissions look like."

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Thank you or the screenshot.

Provide the Model and Reinstall the macOS:

When's the last time you reinstalled the macOS on this Mac? What is the macOS installed? Reinstalling the macOS would fix discrepancies between file locations, when it comes to FTP and DTR. So, reinstall the macOS. I see this was created back in 2009. So, just how old is this Mac?

1. Go to: Apple menu
2. Select: About this Mac
3. Copy: [the serial number]
4. Enter it here: View Coverage - AppleCare & Warranty

How to Reinstall the macOS:

Nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, would be replaced or reinstalled back to where they should be. Go Here: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support. Important: Be certain to create a backup of your Mac prior to performing the reinstall. That way, you can have something to restore from the Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall. Once reinstalled, try this once more, seeing if you still get this error.

Please post the EtreCheck data, as that will include the hardware and software configuration details.

“Thanks for the reply. When I looked in the folder, there were 3 files "com.apple.Safari.plist..." I deleted all 3 and deleted them from the recycle bin. I restarted Safari and I still can't download the pdf. I also went back into the Preferences folder and I'm not seeing the "com/apple.Safari.plist" file. Any other ideas? Thanks.”

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Restart your Computer:

As recommend by Grant, I should have mentioned about restarting your computer. So, perform the restart, and report back the results.

"I'm not sure where the 2009 came from, unless that is when my account was created. This is a MacBook Pro 14" 2021 - Apple M1 Max - NF6*****LJ. Also, I just downloaded a pdf using Chrome, with no issues. With all this, do you still recommend reinstalling the OS?"

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I recommend: Proceed with MrHoffman's reply, and see what is found.

Update to macOS 15.7.3, and try again.