PDF Previewer Error

Question

Hello,

I have been unable to preview all of my pdf files lately on outlook.

I have checked all the steps from Preview attachments in Outlook but none it has worked. When checking my list of applications for file previews, I could not find Adobe Acrobat Reader on the list (see photo) although I have the application installed.

My Adobe Reader version:

My Office product information

Answer 1

Hi Zoey,

Glad to help you here.

To solve the problem, we have come up with several suggestions to help you.

1. Installing the Latest Version of Adobe Reader

You can encounter such errors due to the outdated Adobe Reader version on your system. So, in such cases, the best solution is to get the latest version of the Adobe Reader or check for its update.

To install the Adobe Reader latest version on the web, follow the below steps:

• Open Reader and select "Help">" About Adobe Reader". (Make sure to remember your product version).
• Move to the Adobe Reader Downloads page and the web page will automatically detect your Reader and OS version.
• If the web page shows that a new version is available, select "Install Now".

Once installing the latest version of Adobe Reader, ensure that it's the default way to open PDF files. Then, restart your Outlook to check if you can now preview your files.

2. Deleting Temporary Files

Corruptions and alike issues with the temporary or cache files could be the reason behind the Outlook PDF preview handler error. So, you can try to get rid of temporary files to fix the problem:

Step 1: Open Outlook.

Step 2: Use "Windows Key + R" to open the Run dialog.

Step 3: Copy the following paths and then paste into run dialog respectively:
%temp%
%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\

Step 4: Delete all files or folders in these paths. Of course, make sure to backup them before getting rid of them from your system.

3. Making Sure That "PDF Preview Handler" is Enabled

It could be the case that the PDF Preview handler is turned off in your Outlook and that's why you're facing the PDF Preview handler error. So, ensure that it is enabled by following the below steps:

Step 1: Open Outlook.

Step 2: Go to "File">" Options">" Test Center">" Trust Center Settings">" Attachment Handling".

Step 3: Here, ensure that the "Turn off Attachment Preview" option is unchecked.

Step 4: Tap the "Attachment and Document Previewers" button and then check if the option that says "PDF Preview Handler" is ticked or enabled.

4. Fix corrupt PDF file causing this issue

If nothing above helps with fixing the PDF preview handler error in Outlook, then we recommend you use a Stellar Repair for PDF. It is a powerful Windows-based PDF repair tool that comes in handy to repair corrupted PDF files. Use this tool to restore headers and footers, forms, word art, clip art, comments, tables, charts, page format in PDF documents with ease.

Get Stellar Repair for PDF on your computer and follow the below steps to learn how to use it for resolving the Outlook PDF preview handler error:

Step 1: Add PDF file

Run the Stellar Repair for PDF. From the main interface, select the "Add File" option to add the damaged PDF file that you would like to repair.

Step 2: Repair the PDF file

Once you click on the "Repair" button, the software will begin repairing your file.

Step 3: Preview and save

In a while, the software lets you preview the repaired PDF file. Finally, choose the file you want to save and hit on the "Save Repaired Files" button and that's it.

Hope the issue can be handled.

Sincerely,

Rebecca

Answer 2

Dear Rebecca,

Unfortuantely, the problem persists. There is an error message that states "This file cannot be previewed because there is no previewer installed for it".

I have completed Option 1 and Option 2, doubled checked that I have the latest Adobe acrobat reader and that it is my default app.

For Option 3, as mentioned in my above question, the PDF Preview Handler does not appear in my "Attachment and Document Previewers" windows.

For Option 4, I doubt that it is my pdf files that are corrupted as this is error persists for all my pdf files.

Thank you

Answer 3

I have broken my head over this for months. Shame on microsoft for not looking into this properly.

Here is a definite fix. At least it was for me.

I figured it out accidentally when I noticed my outlook pdf preview on my surface pro worked but not on my desktop.

Ready for it....Microsoft you are going to get quite a bit of hate for this.

Get rid of office 32 bit, uninstall it.

Install office 64 bit

Outlook pdf preview immediately works with no further intervention if Adobe acrobat is default and installed. For those who dislike Adobe, works with sumatra pdf 64 bit installed with the preview option ticked at installation.

DONE

PS I figured this out TODAY. Please forward this anywhere you like, there are troves of people everywhere on the net frustrated by this for years.

Answer 4

I was seeing the PDF preview not working in Outlook on some of my test machines. The root cause was that I had Office 32 bit installed. The default install of Adobe Reader is 64 bit. If you have Office 32 bit do the following to install the 32 bit Adobe Reader:

1. Go to this page https://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/ 
2. Choose the 32 Bit version of Adobe Reader as seen below

I submitted a content request to update the Outlook Desktop article to include this information, Preview attachments in Outlook (microsoft.com). Hopefully these instructions will be added in that topic shortly.

Answer 5

Gabriel Bratton, thank you so much! This is exactly what my problem was. After hours spent trying to figure out the problem, uninstalling Adobe Reader DC for 64 bit and installing the one for 32 bit fixed the problem instantly.