Outlook 365 pdf attachments

Question

Outlook 365 pdf attachments

Dennis A. Peters 0

How do I make Outlook 365 pdf attachments open in adobe instead of outlook native preview pane

Ferdinand Nanalig 31,340 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-17T15:14:38.8533333+00:00

Hi! Let me help you.

Before we proceed, could you please answer a few questions?

Does this happen with all PDF attachments or only certain emails?

Are you using the new Outlook for Windows or Outlook (Classic)?

When you double-click the PDF attachment, does it open in Outlook's preview, or does it open in another app (such as Microsoft Edge)?

If your goal is to have PDF attachments open in Adobe Acrobat instead of Outlook's built-in preview, try the following:

Save the PDF attachment to your computer.

Right-click any PDF file and select Open with > Choose another app.

Select Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Check Always use this app to open .pdf files, then click OK.
Dennis A. Peters 0 Reputation points

2026-06-17T17:43:26.3066667+00:00

My question was how to avoid the preview. The answer includes using the preview and several additional steps, save etc.. From the preview I can just click open and it opens in adobe, so saving etc.is all extra steps, not fewer.

3 answers

Your answer

Ferdinand Nanalig 31,340 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-06-17T15:14:38.8533333+00:00

Hi! Let me help you.

Before we proceed, could you please answer a few questions?

Does this happen with all PDF attachments or only certain emails?

Are you using the new Outlook for Windows or Outlook (Classic)?

When you double-click the PDF attachment, does it open in Outlook's preview, or does it open in another app (such as Microsoft Edge)?

If your goal is to have PDF attachments open in Adobe Acrobat instead of Outlook's built-in preview, try the following:

Save the PDF attachment to your computer.

Right-click any PDF file and select Open with > Choose another app.

Select Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Check Always use this app to open .pdf files, then click OK.
Dennis A. Peters 0 Reputation points

2026-06-17T17:43:26.3066667+00:00

My question was how to avoid the preview. The answer includes using the preview and several additional steps, save etc.. From the preview I can just click open and it opens in adobe, so saving etc.is all extra steps, not fewer.

Answer 1

In Outlook:

Single-click selects the attachment.

Preview is built into the Reading Pane if Attachment Preview is enabled.

Double-clicking opens the attachment using the default PDF application (Adobe, if it's the default).

The only way to avoid seeing the preview is to:

Disable the Reading Pane, or

Disable Attachment Preview in Trust Center.

Open Outlook.

Select File > Options.

Go to Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.

Select Attachment Handling.

Check Turn off Attachment Preview.

Click OK, then restart Outlook.

This disables Outlook's built-in attachment preview, so PDF attachments will no longer be previewed in the Reading Pane. Double-clicking a PDF will then open it with your default PDF application (such as Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Answer 2

Bulldog 3,035

First:

Download the attachment to your computer.

Then:

Right-click on the downloaded file and choose Open With > Adobe whatever

0 comments

Answer 3

Outlook’s native preview pane is used only for viewing the PDF inside Outlook. To have PDFs open in Adobe Acrobat/Reader instead of another app when you open them from Outlook, set Adobe as the default PDF app in Windows.

In Windows, change the default app for .pdf files to Adobe Acrobat/Reader. Use the steps in Change default apps in Windows (linked from the Outlook attachment troubleshooting article) to associate the PDF file type with Adobe.
In Outlook, open the email and use the attachment dropdown next to the PDF, then choose Open (instead of Preview). The file will open in the default PDF app, which will now be Adobe.
If PDF preview in Outlook is failing with “no previewer installed,” ensure the bitness of Adobe Acrobat Reader matches Outlook, or disable conflicting preview handlers such as the PowerToys PDF previewer as described in the PDF preview error article.

Note that the Preview option in Outlook will still use the registered preview handler; to avoid that completely, always choose Open after setting Adobe as the default PDF app.

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