Updated for Safari 4

A special feature of Apple's Safari browser is the ability to open PDF files directly in Safari. In this tutorial, I explain how to work with PDF files in the latest versions of Safari.

When you click the link for a PDF file, Safari will open the file in the same window. Note that opening a PDF file may take time, so be patient while Safari opens the file.

Safari for Mac OS X adds a control bar for PDF files but it is only visible when you move your mouse to the bottom of the Safari window.

Control bar for PDFs in Safari browser

There are four buttons on the control bar (from left to right):

  • Zoom out - Click this button and the text on the PDF page will become smaller.
  • Zoom in - Click this button and the text on the PDF page will become larger.
  • Open PDF in Preview - Click this button and the PDF file will open in the Mac OS X Preview program. You can then use Preview to view, save or print the PDF document. Note that the PDF document will also remain open in Safari.
  • Save PDF to downloads folder - The PDF document will be saved to the downloads folder you set in Safari's preferences pane.

Saving PDF Files

Once a PDF file opens in a Safari window, you can save the file to your hard drive by selecting Save As... from the File menu. A Finder pane will open and you can name the file and select a location on your hard drive for the saved PDF file.

Using the PDF Contextual Menu

When you right-click on a PDF page in Safari, you will see a long list of options.

PDF contextual menu in Safari

The options let you save or print individual pages from the document, zoom in and out and resize pages and view the document as single or double pages. You can also select to open the document in Preview.