Email attachments do not open

Question

I get this message when I try to open a pdf attached to an email, any idea why ? We can't open this file

Something went wrong.

Refresh

Answer 1

Try to refresh the email, then download the PDF and open it on your device instead of previewing. If you use a browser, clear cache or try another supported browser like Microsoft Edge.

If you use the app, update it through Windows Update. If the file still does not open, ask the sender to resend it since the attachment might be corrupted.

Answer 2

The error message indicates a problem opening attachments, but the provided information only covers specific, known issues in Outlook and OneDrive, not Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.

From the available information, the only directly relevant guidance for attachment-opening issues is:

1. If the PDF is being opened from Outlook (desktop or web) and not directly in Edge:
   • There are known issues where attachments do not open or show errors in Outlook clients. For example, attachments may fail to open due to:
     • Outdated graphics drivers causing Protected View failures when opening Office attachments from Outlook.
     • Mailbox policies in Outlook on the web blocking certain attachment types.
     • OS or app bugs on macOS or with helper applications already running.
   • In such cases, updating the relevant components (graphics drivers, OS updates) or adjusting mailbox policies has resolved the issues.
2. If the attachment is being opened from a mobile scenario (OneDrive for Android):
   • Attachment opening can fail due to missing storage permissions. The fix is to reset OneDrive’s file/media permissions in Android settings and then re‑grant access when prompted.

Because the context does not include specific troubleshooting steps for PDF opening failures in Microsoft Edge on Windows 10, no further product-specific steps can be provided here.

---

References:

• Office file links and attachments in Outlook Desktop show to be in Protected View but do not open
• Unable to open email attachments in OneDrive for Android
• Can't open or view attachments in Outlook on the web
• A PDF attachment from a Mac Mail client is not displayed when you use Outlook 2010 to open the email message in an Exchange Server 2007 SP3 environment
• Outlook for Mac fails to open attached files if the helper application is already running after installing macOS 11.6.6 update
• "You don't have appropriate permission to perform this operation." message when I try and open an attachment in Outlook - Microsoft Q&A
• Outgoing emails with attachments undelivered as spam - Microsoft Q&A
• Why is Outlook asking if I’m missing an attachment on every single email? - Microsoft Q&A
• Error message when trying to download attachments from OWA 365 - Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft 365 issue opening .pdf - Microsoft Q&A