How to Fix PDF Preview Handler in Outlook?

Jackson Strong | June 17th, 2024 | Data Backup

Outlook is one of the most popular email clients for email management. However, despite Outlook’s impressive features, various users reported that the PDF preview handler in Outlook is not working. This article will cover possible reasons causing this error and some efficient and effective methods to fix it. Read this blog completely and resolve your query easily.

What is PDF Preview Handler in Outlook? Outlook Preview Handler is a feature that allows you to view PDF attachments of Outlook without any separate application. Several options are available for you to explore upon receiving an email in Outlook. You can decide to download the attachment to your local drive or you can simply view it.

Despite its usefulness users might face several issues. One of them is the Outlook PDF preview handler error. Usually, this happens if the default PDF reader isn’t installed, Outdated Adobe Acrobat Reader, incorrect file associations, if the PDF file preview handler is disabled, etc. There could be many more reasons why Preview Handler is not working in Outlook.

Let’s explore these reasons in more detail so that you can act accordingly.

Why is Outlook PDF Viewer Not Working?

  1. Missing Adobe Acrobat Reader Installation: One of the primary reasons the PDF Preview Handler fails is that the default PDF viewer is either not installed or the installation is corrupted.
  2. Outdated Adobe Acrobat Reader: Using an outdated version of Adobe Acrobat Reader can lead to compatibility issues with Outlook. And it causes the preview handler to malfunction.
  3. Disabled Preview Handler: The PDF Preview Handler might be disabled in the registry.
  4. Corrupted Outlook Profile: A corrupted Outlook profile can cause problems viewing PDF files in Outlook.
  5. Insufficient Permissions: If the user does not have the necessary permissions, the PDF Preview Handler might not function correctly.

How to Fix PDF Preview Handler in Outlook?

1. Use the Latest Version of Adobe Reader

Errors can occur if Adobe Reader is outdated. To fix this, update to the latest version:

Install from the Web:

  1. Visit the Adobe Reader download page.
  2. Click Install Now.

Check for Updates:

Open Adobe Reader or Acrobat.
Go to Help >> Check for Updates.

update pdf handler in outlook

Follow the instructions to install any available updates.

After updating make sure Adobe Reader is set as the default PDF viewer. Restart Outlook to see if the issue is resolved.

2. Set Adobe Acrobat Reader as Default PDF Previewer

Outlook may struggle to choose a preview handler which can cause issues. Make Adobe Acrobat Reader the default.

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader.

2. Click on the Menu and select Preferences.

3. Next, choose General under categories and check Enable PDF thumbnail previews.

Set Adobe Acrobat Reader as Default PDF Previewer

4. Click Application Startup and click Select As Default PDF Handler.

5. Choose Adobe Acrobat as the default PDF opener.

Choose Adobe Acrobat as the default PDF opener

3. Delete Temporary Files

Corrupt temporary files can cause the preview handler error. To get rid of this issue, delete these files.

  1. Run Outlook and press Windows Key + R.
  2. Enter the following paths one by one and delete all files in these folders:

%temp%

%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\

fix pdf preview handler error in outlook

4. Ensure PDF Preview Handler is Enabled

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Go to File >> Options >> Trust Center >> Trust Center Settings > Attachment Handling.
  3. Next, deselect the turn-off Attachment Preview.
  4. Click Attachment and Document Previewers and check the PDF Preview Handler.

outlook pdf preview handler not working

5. Disable Third-party Extensions

Third-party add-ons might cause issues. Disable them to find the problematic one.

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
  3. Click Go next to Manage COM Add-ins.
  4. Uncheck each add-on one by one and click OK to disable them.

fix pdf preview handler error in outlook

By following these methods, you should be able to fix the PDF Preview Handler issue in Outlook.

Conclusion

If the above situations occur, Outlook may encounter PDF handler error. In this article, we have explained the reasons that cause this problem and how to fix Outlook PDF preview handler not working issues. We recommend that you first understand the cause and then select the appropriate method that you think is best for your situation.