Merlin
Open in Browser

Open in Browser

Offers the possibility to display documents in the browser window.

What is Open in Browser?
"Open in Browser" is a convenient Firefox add-on that simplifies viewing files by allowing users to open documents directly within their browser. The extension is designed to bypass the irritating download popup that requires you to choose a separate application to view a file. For the most seamless experience, this enables users to continue browsing without interruptions. Compatibility limitations apply if servers do not specify an explicit Content-Type header.
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Merlin
Stats
By: Rob W
Users: 2,274 ▲ 14
Rating: 4.30 (37)
Version: 2.11 (Last updated: 2020-01-08)
Creation date: 2008-07-20
Weekly download count: 44
Firefox on Android: No
Risk impact: High risk impact
Risk likelihood: Low risk likelihood
Manifest version: 2
Permissions:
  • history
  • menus
  • sessions
  • storage
  • tabs
  • webNavigation
  • webRequest
  • webRequestBlocking
  • <all_urls>
Size: 1.25M
URLs: Website
Stats date:

Chrome-Stats Rank

# 1929 ▼ 11
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Other platforms

Not available on Chrome
Not available on Edge
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Merlin
Summary
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Have you ever been annoyed when you wanted to see a document and the download popup appears which forces you to select an external application to view it?

This extension allows you to open the document directly in your browser.

Version 2.0 and later is rewriten using the WebExtensions API. A limitation is that the extension is not able to detect the type when the server does not specify an explicit Content-Type header. In this case, the extension will show the dialog even when it should not be shown. If you would rather see too few dialogs than too many, select the "Open with Firefox" option and remember the choice.

You can always force an "Open in Browser" dialog to be shown by using the "Tools" > "Open in Browser" menu.

Manual configuration after installation (updated again in version 2.7, July 2018): After installing the extension, saving a file can require two confirmations because of browser limitations. To avoid this unnecessary second prompt, follow the following instructions, visit the add-on's preferences page, enable the "Never ask to confirm "Save File" action" option and follow the instructions.

(In version 2.4 until 2.6, a different instruction was shown. To clean up, visit about:config and reset the browser.helperApps.neverAsk.saveToDisk preference.)

If you use Firefox 56 or earlier, install Open in Browser version 1.18.

User reviews
User reviews summary
These summaries are automatically generated weekly using AI based on recent user reviews. Firefox Browser Add-ons does not verify user reviews, so some user reviews may be inaccurate, spammy, or outdated.
Pros
  • Allows for opening XML, audio, and video directly in Firefox
  • Handy for inspecting yaml files without downloading
  • Works well with legacy versions and problematic URLs
Cons
  • Doesn't open Gmail PDFs
  • Requires browsing history
  • Does not work reliably in full screen mode under Mac OS
Most mentioned
  • Handy for opening XML, audio, and video directly in Firefox
  • Doesn't open Gmail PDFs
  • Requires browsing history
Recent reviews
by Firefox user 18370150, 2024-04-15
by Firefox user 18370150, 2024-04-15
by Firefox user 17472807, 2023-06-15
View all user reviews
Safety
Risk impact

Open in Browser is risky to use as it requires a number of sensitive permissions that can potentially harm your browser and steal your data. Exercise caution when installing this add-on. Review carefully before installing. We recommend that you only install Open in Browser if you trust the publisher.

Risk likelihood

Open in Browser has earned a fairly good reputation and likely can be trusted.

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Screenshots
Open in Browser Open in Browser Open in Browser