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Outlook: Problem with PDF Preview Handler

Scenario

When you want to preview a PDF attachment in the reading pane in Outlook and click Preview, it fails and you receive this error message:

"This file cannot be previewed because of an error with the following previewer: PDF Preview Handler."

https://www.mshowto.org/images/articles/2019/09/090919_1159_OutlooktaPD1.png

Solution

You can follow the troubleshooting steps below:

1. Installing the Latest Version of Adobe Reader

You can download and install the latest version Adobe Reader or try updating it. After that:

  • Launch it and accept the EULA.
  • Make sure that it's the default app to open PDF files.
  • Restart Outlook and check if you can preview PDF attachments now.

2. Deleting Temporary Files

Corruptions and similar problems with the temporary/cache files might be the reason behind this issue.

  • Close Outlook.

  • Open Run dialog box (Windows key + R).

  • Copy these paths and paste into there respectively:

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

  • Delete all files/folders in those paths after preferably backing up them.

3. Making Sure That "PDF Preview Handler" is Enabled

In Outlook, navigate through “File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center settings > Attachment Handling” and:

  • Make sure that “Turn off Attachment Preview” box is unchecked.
  • Click “Attachment and Document Previewers” button and check if “PDF Preview Handler” is enabled/ticked in the list in the opened window.

This is the most common cause of the problem. Adobe Reader may not have created the required registry record in 64-bit Windows or it might be corrupted. In order to fix it, you'll need to create the required registry value manually:

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}
Value name: AppID
Value type: REG_SZ
Value: {534A1E02-D58F-44f0-B58B-36CBED287C7C}

  • Copy the text below and paste it to a notepad, then save it with a name like PDFPreviewHandler.reg as a REG file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}]
"AppID"="{534A1E02-D58F-44f0-B58B-36CBED287C7C}"
  • Double-click on the REG file to merge it. After that, the corresponding value in registry will look like this:

https://www.mshowto.org/images/articles/2019/09/090919_1159_OutlooktaPD2.png

  • Restart your computer.

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