Outllok can't open attachments

Question

Outlook not opening attachments on my ipad. Not opening pdfs or other file attachments thtat opn on my PC

Answer 1

Hi @George Kirkish, 

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A forum.  

Thank you for reaching out about your Outlook issue on your iPad. The information you shared is helpful, and this message will guide you through a few steps to get attachments, such as PDF or other files, opening properly again. 

Outlook on iPad uses both the app’s storage and the iOS system viewer to open attachments. Several factors, such as app permissions, outdated versions, or temporary data, can prevent attachments from opening even when they work fine on your PC. 

To better assist you, could you confirm: 

• Does this issue happen with all types of attachments or only specific ones (for example, PDFs)? 
• Are you using Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, or an Exchange account? 
• Have you recently updated iPadOS or the Outlook app? 

Since you haven’t specified your account type, I may not be able to provide an exact solution. However, assuming you're using a work account, you may consider the following steps: 

1/ Start by installing the most recent updates for Outlook and iPadOS to maintain optimal performance. 

• Open the App Store and check for the latest version of Outlook. Then go to Settings > General > Software Update to confirm your iPad is up to date. 

2/ Then, clear the Outlook app cache to remove temporary data and improve performance. 

• Open Settings > Outlook > Storage & Cache (if available) and clear temporary data. This helps remove outdated files that may affect attachments. 

3/ After that, verify file access rights to prevent restrictions that could impact app performance. 

• Make sure you are signed in with the same account that originally received the email. If your organization uses security policies, some attachments may be restricted on mobile devices. 

4/ Lastly, perform a fresh installation of Outlook to eliminate configuration or corruption problems. 

• Delete and reinstall Outlook from the App Store. Then sign in again to refresh connection settings and application data. 

5/ For a more efficient resolution, we recommend using your administrator account or contacting your IT administrator to submit a support request directly to Microsoft Support Team.  

They can raise a support ticket by visiting: Get support - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn 

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. If you continue to experience difficulties, please feel free to attach a screenshot. This will help us better understand the issue and provide more accurate assistance. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.  

Once we have this information, we can review it and provide a more precise solution tailored to your setup. I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this.  

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.  

I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Answer 2

Hi Vy!

Thanks for your input. I have tried everything I can think of to solve the problem. I have an iPad Pro 5th generation running iPadOS 18.6.2.

Running MS Outlook App recently deleted and reinstalled Version 5.2544.1

It is happening with all kinds of attachments pdf, ics, etc.

I'm not seeing storage and cache under settings> Outlook>