Unable to open PDfs in Outlook

Dear @Dee King,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Community.

The error message you're seeing along with the issue of being unable to open the PDF in Adobe, indicates a deeper problem than a simple Outlook previewer glitch. This suggests that the issue might be with the PDF file itself or with your Adobe Acrobat/Reader installation.

Here are a few steps to troubleshoot this issue:

1.Test with a Different PDF

First, let's determine if the problem is with a single file or with all PDFs.

• Try to preview or open a different, known-good PDF file in Outlook.
• If the new file opens without any issues, the original PDF may be corrupted. If it also fails, the problem is likely with your software.
• If the PDF file is corrupted:
• Ask the sender to resend the file: If the PDF was sent to you via email, politely ask the sender to attach it again and send a fresh copy.
• Download the file from a different source: If you downloaded the file from a website, try finding an alternative download link or a different source for the same document.

2.Repair Adobe Acrobat/Reader

Since you mentioned the file won't open in Adobe either, a repair of your Adobe installation is a strong next step.

1. Close all applications.
2. Open the Windows Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Find your Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader in the list.
4. Right-click on it and select Change or Repair.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the repair.

3.Run an Office Repair

A corrupted Outlook installation can cause problems with the preview handler. An Online Repair can often fix these issues.

1. Close all Office applications.
2. Open the Windows Control Panel and go to Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Find your Microsoft Office installation in the list.
4. Right-click on it and select Change.
5. Choose Online Repair and follow the on-screen instructions.

If these steps do not work, consider a complete reinstallation of Adobe Acrobat/Reader as a final measure to resolve any potential corruption.

I hope this information helps clarify the situation and provides you with workable solutions. Should you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're always here to help. Have a wonderful day!

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