I can't save pdf from Safari

If you hover your pointer over the pdf file that is showing in Safari, and move it towards the bottom of the screen, a phantom set of icons will appear that allow you to save or print the pdf file. Pretty simple.

In the Finder, select Go ▹ Go to Folder... from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-G. Copy the line of text below into the box that opens, and press return:

/Library/Internet Plug-ins/AdobePDFViewer.plugin

If a Finder window opens with that item selected, delete it, then quit and relaunch Safari. Otherwise post again.

Your screenshot isn't visible. What is the text of the message?

Why can't I save pdf files in Safari...: Apple Support Communities

What has changed in Safari? Even if the fix described worked (reported by original poster not to), it used to be the case that you could control click on the pdf within Safari and get the option to open up in Acrobat Pro. That's now gone. I can't imagine how/why, but this isn't Java-related is it? For me, always running the latest version of Lion available and now having updated the Java fixes, ....this is the only variable I know of that corresponds to this change in Safari w/pdfs for me.

So, can't open in Acrobat, can't save fro within Safari. What's the alternative? Firefox?

This is a definite nuisance.

I have the same problem which also appeared in the last day or so i.e. "save as" doesn't work for PDF files and gives the same error message. However, I have found an alternative approach; if you hover the cursor over the PDF file and then click on the disk icon that appears you can save the file.

I hope this helps.

Try Google Chrome. No problems at all.

Yes, it does (cursor over the pdf to find the "save" icon), and I noticed the same thing. While visually appealing, it's an odd change to a very basic function. The loss of the control-click option to open up in Acrobat will hopefully be fixed by an Adobe update or Apple update.

Is anyone having problems with viewing pdfs within FireFox (v11)? I haven't used it as a default browser in ages, but when I go to open a pdf, there's nothing, a blank page. This even though the prefs are set to view the pdf. (This could be my ignorance with FireFox, I'm more concerned with the "Save As" for pdfs and control click to open in Acrobat pro fro within Safari.At least being able to save a pdf file as "scammo" writes, is a function that gets around the problem.

Thanks.

Have you tried to option-click on the link which will download the pdf to your specified download location then do whatever you want from there on the file?

I have this same problem also on all my systems running Safari. This occured after the latest Flash update that I downloaded from Adobe yesterday. If anyone has determined a fix, please let me know. I'll do the same.

Cheers

OK, I was able to fix my problem. You can try this.

In Finder Go to: Macintosh HD/Library/Internet Plug-Ins and look for "AdobePDFViewerNPAPI.plugin" and move it to Disabled Plug-ins Folder (if you want to keep it). You will have to remove this file from the Internet Plug-Ins folder altogether. (I put mine in the trash)

In the ../Internet Plug-Ins folder you should also have the file called "AdobePDFViewer.plugin" leave this. In my case this was the older plug-in dated June 2011. This works. The plug that I removed was part of the Adobe updated I downloaded yesterday which was the problem (Thanks Adobe)

Relauch Safari and you should be able to save the PDF files.

Cheers

Thanks sacmacguy! I spent 57 minutes on the phone with Apple help, to no avail. Five minutes later I was back in business due to your answer.

PanGalacticGargleBlaster wrote:

Is anyone having problems with viewing pdfs within FireFox (v11)? I haven't used it as a default browser in ages, but when I go to open a pdf, there's nothing, a blank page. This even though the prefs are set to view the pdf. (This could be my ignorance with FireFox, I'm more concerned with the "Save As" for pdfs and control click to open in Acrobat pro fro within Safari.At least being able to save a pdf file as "scammo" writes, is a function that gets around the problem.

Thanks.

I was able to get Firefox working again by going to Firefox > Preferences > Applications and switching all to Adobe settings to "Use Adobe Reader (default)" instead of the plugin. Then I went to Tools > Add-ons... > Plugins and disabled the Acrobat plugin. Restarted Firefox and now pdf worked.