This form cannot be opened in a Web browser. To open this form, use Microsoft InfoPath.

I have an InfoPath 2010 form that is used in a particular site, and it’s designed to be used with InfoPath Filler as the client.  I use a URL similar to the following on the site home page to allow the user to launch the form:

http://server/path/Forms/template.xsn

Of course, it works for me, as well as 99% of all other users.  But for a few people, the following error shows up after clicking the link:

Generally I have the help desk make sure that their OS and browser is set to launch .xsn files as InfoPath, but in this one particular case it didn’t seem to make a difference.  The user was still getting the error.  What gives?

It turns out that if you’re using a non-Internet Explorer browser like Firefox, you’ll get this error.  Since we use IE as our “standard” in-house browser, it’s a matter of having them use IE instead of Firefox or Chrome or whatever.

I realize the right answer would be to “fix” things so that .xsn files would be launched correctly (with InfoPath Filler) regardless of the browser being used.  But there doesn’t seem to be a way to add .xsn files to Firefox as a “new” application to use.  Given this particular situation, I’m fine with just figuring out the “why” that caused this not to work for the user in the first place.

7 responses to “This form cannot be opened in a Web browser. To open this form, use Microsoft InfoPath.

  1. Holden Caulfield

    Not sure if anyone still needs the resolution to this however clicking “Compatibiltiy view” in IE worked forme

  2. That was the answer for me!! Thanks Holden

  3. That’s Awesome…It worked…

  4. In my case, I am having Evaluation Version of Office 2013. Therefore, it is not allowing me to publish browser form.

  5. thank you Holden! Looked every where for a solution

  6. Running IE In compatibility more resolved the issue

  7. I found a solution that solves the problem where InfoPath Filler does not open in browsers other than IE. Check out this article: SharePoint incompatible Chrome InfoPath solution

    Note that this solution only works for Chrome.

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