DocumentationExperience Cloud KCS

Configure AEM to open PDFs inline in a new tab from DAM links

Last update: September 10, 2026

This article explains how to adjust Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) so that PDF assets linked from the Digital Asset Manager (DAM) open inline in a new browser tab rather than downloading.

Description description

Environment

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), including AEM as a Cloud Service and AEM 6.5

Issue/Symptoms

When a PDF stored in DAM is linked from a content page, clicking the link causes the PDF to download instead of opening inline in a new browser tab.

  • By default, PDFs are served with Content-Disposition: attachment, prompting download.
  • The desired behavior is for selected PDFs to open inline in a new tab when clicked.

Example HTML link:

<a href="/content/dam/example.pdf" target="_blank">Open PDF</a>

Observed result: PDF downloads instead of displaying inline.

Cause

By default, AEM serves DAM PDFs with Content-Disposition: attachment for security, causing browsers to download the file. Adjusting the HTTP headers and link attributes allows selected PDFs to open inline in a new tab as desired.

Resolution resolution

Follow the steps below to resolve the issue.

  1. To open a PDF in a new tab, set the target="_blank" attribute on the link:

    code language-none 
    <a href="/content/dam/example.pdf" target="_blank">Open PDF</a>

  2. Edit the dispatcher (Apache) configuration to set the header to inline for specific PDFs or folders.

  3. To target a single PDF, use the following configuration:

    code language-none 
    ForceType application/pdf
Header unset Content-Disposition
Header set Content-Disposition inline

  4. To target a folder of PDFs, use the following configuration:

    code language-none 
    ForceType application/pdf
Header unset Content-Disposition
Header set Content-Disposition inline

  5. Deploy the updated configuration via Cloud Manager (for AEM as a Cloud Service) or your AMS deployment process.

  6. Configure the Apache Sling Content Disposition Filter (org.apache.sling.security.impl.ContentDispositionFilter) to allow inline rendering for selected assets.

  7. Refer to the Adobe documentation for filter configuration:

    AEM 6.5 Content Disposition Filter

  8. Verify that clicking the PDF link opens the document inline in a new browser tab.

Notes

  • This ensures the browser opens the link in a new tab or window.
  • The browser’s decision to display or download a PDF is controlled by the Content-Disposition HTTP header.
  • By default, AEM serves PDFs with Content-Disposition: attachment for security, causing downloads.
  • When viewing PDFs directly in Brand Portal, the built-in Document Viewer already opens PDFs inline. There is no separate Brand Portal setting for “open in new tab”; this is controlled by your site’s HTML and HTTP headers.
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