# Need to specify an external program to open PDF files. Internal viewer doesn't always work **URL:** \ **Category:** Desktop Support\ **Tags:** linux\ **Created:** [July 31, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/need-to-specify-an-external-program-to-open-pdf-files-internal-viewer-doesnt-always-work/73286 "2019-07-31T14:17:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![w7hd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e68b1a/32.png) [@w7hd](https://community.brave.app/u/w7hd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/need-to-specify-an-external-program-to-open-pdf-files-internal-viewer-doesnt-always-work/73286/1 "2019-07-31T14:17:36Z")
The internal PDF viewer now appears to always work in Linux Mint 19.1 Mate. But, I need to be able to specify an external PDF handler. Version 0.66.101 Chromium: 75.0.3770.142 (Official Build) (64-bit) NOTE: This MAY have been fixed. I was able to successfully open a PDF document However, now the home URL has been replaced with this: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/brave/original/3X/0/d/0d0e3fa57e501b432fbe3cd38101e198193ae277.png) ---
**Author:** ![hnktong](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/hnktong/32/15117_2.png) [@hnktong](https://community.brave.app/u/hnktong)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/need-to-specify-an-external-program-to-open-pdf-files-internal-viewer-doesnt-always-work/73286/2 "2019-07-31T18:10:08Z")
Welcome, @w7hd. Document Viewer is the Mint PDF viewer. Find it in Menu-\>Accessories. If you’re looking at a document in the built-in PDF Viewer extension for Brave, there is a download icon in the top right of the viewer pane you can use to save the PDF, then open it in Document Viewer. Here’s an image showing the icon location: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/brave/original/3X/7/9/79d1029e557716872b9a6667911708619764639e.jpeg) If you don’t want to use Brave’s PDF Viewer at all, go to brave://settings/content/pdfDocuments and flip the toggle to Download PDF files instead of automatically opening them in Brave. Here’s an image showing the Settings location: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/brave/original/3X/e/8/e84224ef47ffa72136b3abb68e5b395d02ad3d57.png) Those are both from this somewhat related thread. > [@Want to download or save PDF as PDF instead of Brave HTML Link](https://community.brave.app/t/want-to-download-or-save-pdf-as-pdf-instead-of-brave-html-link/72425/2): > > Hi, @albert.peterlin. I have experienced this and agree. Ordinarily we’d bug you about what version of Brave and Windows you’re using, but I don’ think that matters in this case. If the fix(es) below don’t work, then we’ll need that information to troubleshoot further. For reference, typing brave://version in the address bar takes you to a page with that information, and going to Start-\>Windows Administrative Tool-\>System Information will get the Windows version. I believe there are two ways to… ---
**Author:** ![w7hd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e68b1a/32.png) [@w7hd](https://community.brave.app/u/w7hd)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/need-to-specify-an-external-program-to-open-pdf-files-internal-viewer-doesnt-always-work/73286/3 "2019-07-31T19:37:15Z")
But that is a two-step process. It would be simpler to use the Mint PDF viewer as the default. ---
**Author:** ![hnktong](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brave/user_avatar/community.brave.app/hnktong/32/15117_2.png) [@hnktong](https://community.brave.app/u/hnktong)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2019, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/need-to-specify-an-external-program-to-open-pdf-files-internal-viewer-doesnt-always-work/73286/4 "2019-07-31T19:39:21Z")
My recollection is there’s a way to set Brave to open downloaded PDFs automatically, but I don’t remember how at the moment and have to leave. You could try what I’d do and search Brave Community for it or the web generally for Chrome open downloaded PDF. If I have time and remember later I’ll see what I can find. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/brave/original/3X/1/8/182067f3480d1a5e7aea5ae3131b116ca1ef7918.png) [@system](https://community.brave.app/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://community.brave.app/t/need-to-specify-an-external-program-to-open-pdf-files-internal-viewer-doesnt-always-work/73286/5 "2019-08-30T14:30:25Z")
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