• Outlook User
  • New Outlook app
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Outlook & iCloud
  • Developer
  • Microsoft 365 Admin
    • Common Problems
    • Microsoft 365
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins

Can't open or preview .PDF attachment in Outlook

Slipstick Systems

› General › Can’t open or preview .PDF attachment in Outlook

Last reviewed on February 13, 2018     39 Comments

When you attempt to view a PDF file in the reading pane and receive the following error message

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

It means a value in your registry is missing or corrupt. You can fix it by editing the registry.

  1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run command
  2. Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor
  3. Browse to the following registry key and add the AppID value {534A1E02-D58F-44f0-B58B-36CBED287C7C}

Note: if AppID string value does not exist, you need to create it.

Alternately, you can copy and paste the registry values below into Notepad, save the file with a .reg extension then double click to run it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}]
"AppID"="{534A1E02-D58F-44f0-B58B-36CBED287C7C}"

Do It For Me

Don't want to edit the registry yourself? Download the following registry file and double click to run it. It works with all 64-bit versions of Windows.

pdf-preview.reg

More Information

'Adobe PDF preview handler 64-bit fix'

Can't open or preview .PDF attachment in Outlook was last modified: February 13th, 2018 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

  • Previewing Messages and Attachments
  • Excel Files Won't Display in Reading Pane
  • Registry setting for always warn
    Restore the "Always Warn Before Previewing" Dialog
  • Outlook won't open: This functionality requires Internet Explorer 4.0 or above

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

Subscribe
Notify of
39 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

nsk
November 20, 2019 4:58 am

hi

its working excellent now. wonderful guide! thank you

0
0
Reply
F ABAZA
February 3, 2019 4:34 am

worked fin

thanks

0
0
Reply
Gary Skipper
January 10, 2019 11:37 am

Hi Diane,

I'm perplexed. I can't pinpoint when it started but the Outlook 2010 pdf preview handler is not working. It has always worked before now.

Windows 10 Home, 64-bit
Office 2010 Pro Plus, 32-bit
Acrobat Reader DC latest version (uninstalled and reinstalled)(even switched to Edge and no success)
applied reg edit fix even though AppID hex data agreed with fix data. (Had to try it for thoroughness)
rebooted PC, restarted Outlook after regedit fix (tested pdf preview, no joy)
deleted temp files (i.e., %temp%)
Outlook File Preview Options- PDF Preview Handler-checked
Word, Excel, etc previewers are all working (just PDF preview not working)
Windows default file association .pdf set to Acrobat Reader DC

I'm lost for additional measures to fix this less re-installing Office. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks,
Gary

0
0
Reply
Gary Skipper
Reply to  Gary Skipper
February 15, 2019 2:57 pm

It works NOW! I did not work on issue since my last post. On 2/13 My computer automatically installed the latest MS Office 2010 updates and now the pdf viewer is working. This has me suspicious that the previous update may have been the offending culprit. WHO KNOWS!!! All is good again... :)

0
0
Reply
Eric
August 3, 2018 3:47 am

Hi Diane,

Thanks so much for your solution. The pdf-preview.reg file worked like a charm!
Cheers,
Eric

0
0
Reply
Ivica Cuk
June 6, 2017 9:06 am

Hi Diane

Windows 7 professional 32 bit,
Outlook 2013,
Acrobat reader DC ver.8

I have problem when I scan document on HP device with default name “Untitled”. Pdf and send it to mail. On this comp (spec above) it can’t open it, all other PDF with other name I can open, if I forward this mail to colleague he also can open it so it was not damaged.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Ivica Cuk
November 16, 2017 10:09 pm

sorry i missed this... i'm wondering if there are 99 untitled in the temp cache and that is preventing outlook from opening it. (It's an old, long standing problem - each file is added to the cache in name(nn).ext format and the limit is 99.)

0
0
Reply
Christian Muehter
April 21, 2017 3:56 pm

None of this works for me:
Windows 10 64 bit
Acrobat Std XI
Office 2016
all reg hacks etc applied...

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Christian Muehter
April 22, 2017 5:17 am

are you using 32- or 64-bit office?

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Christian Muehter
April 22, 2017 5:20 am

oh, and did you reboot?

0
0
Reply
dmkg
February 25, 2016 6:02 am

I use Nitro pdf and the preview was working fine, even after I installed the newer version of Nitro along side the old one. But after I uninstalled the old version I can no longer see the preview.

Registry entries are exactly as you suggest, so clearly something else is preventing the preview from working.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  dmkg
February 25, 2016 8:05 am

Did you reinstall or repair the nitro install? It sounds like removing the older version removed the files that are used for preview.

0
0
Reply
dmkg
Reply to  Diane Poremsky
February 25, 2016 9:15 am

I installed version 10 so had both versions 9 & 10 for a short time during which preview was ok but not after I removed version 9.

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  dmkg
February 27, 2016 12:11 am

Reinstall or repair the v.10 installation.

0
0
Reply
Dinesh
February 24, 2016 12:02 pm

The registry entry on my machine is exactly as you suggest but the previewer won't work. I use Nitro pdf and it was working fine. Then I installed the newer version of Nitro along side the old version and it still worked ok. Today I removed the old version and after that preview handler won't work!

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Dinesh
February 27, 2016 12:10 am

Did you try repairing the nitro installation?

0
0
Reply

Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com

Latest EMO: Vol. 30 Issue 33

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Support Services

Do you need help setting up Outlook, moving your email to a new computer, migrating or configuring Office 365, or just need some one-on-one assistance?

Our Sponsors

CompanionLink
ReliefJet
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Week Month All
  • Jetpack plugin with Stats module needs to be enabled.
  • Urban legend: Microsoft Deletes Old Outlook.com Messages
  • Buttons in the New Message Notifications
  • Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically
  • Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell
  • Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook
  • Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail
  • Import EML Files into New Outlook
  • Opening PST files in New Outlook
  • New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies
  • Insert Word Document into Email using VBA
Ajax spinner

Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of issues affecting recently released updates at Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook (Windows).

For new Outlook for Windows: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in new Outlook for Windows .

Outlook for Mac Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for Mac

Outlook.com Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

Office Update History

Update history for supported Office versions is at Update history for Office

Outlook Suggestions and Feedback

Outlook Feedback covers Outlook as an email client, including Outlook Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows clients, as well as the browser extension (PWA) and Outlook on the web.

Outlook (new) Feedback. Use this for feedback and suggestions for Outlook (new).

Use Outlook.com Feedback for suggestions or feedback about Outlook.com accounts.

Other Microsoft 365 applications and services




New Outlook Articles

Urban legend: Microsoft Deletes Old Outlook.com Messages

Buttons in the New Message Notifications

Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail

Import EML Files into New Outlook

Opening PST files in New Outlook

New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Newest Code Samples

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments

Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line

Change the Mailing Address Using PowerShell

Categorize @Mentioned Messages

Send an Email When You Open Outlook

Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA

Repair PST

Convert an OST to PST

Repair damaged PST file

Repair large PST File

Remove password from PST

Merge Two Data Files

Sync & Share Outlook Data

  • Share Calendar & Contacts
  • Synchronize two computers
  • Sync Calendar and Contacts Using Outlook.com
  • Sync Outlook & Android Devices
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
  • Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Productivity

Productivity Tools

Automatic Message Processing Tools

Special Function Automatic Processing Tools

Housekeeping and Message Management

Task Tools

Project and Business Management Tools

Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In

Run Rules on messages after reading

Help & Suggestions

Submit Outlook Feature Requests

Slipstick Support Services

Buy Microsoft 365 Office Software and Services

Visit Slipstick Forums.

What's New at Slipstick.com

Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | Office 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer
Outlook for Mac | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2025 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

:wpds_smile::wpds_grin::wpds_wink::wpds_mrgreen::wpds_neutral::wpds_twisted::wpds_arrow::wpds_shock::wpds_unamused::wpds_cool::wpds_evil::wpds_oops::wpds_razz::wpds_roll::wpds_cry::wpds_eek::wpds_lol::wpds_mad::wpds_sad::wpds_exclamation::wpds_question::wpds_idea::wpds_hmm::wpds_beg::wpds_whew::wpds_chuckle::wpds_silly::wpds_envy::wpds_shutmouth:
wpDiscuz

Sign up for Exchange Messaging Outlook

Our weekly Outlook & Exchange newsletter (bi-weekly during the summer)






Please note: If you subscribed to Exchange Messaging Outlook before August 2019, please re-subscribe.

Never see this message again.

You are going to send email to

Move Comment