How To Fix Outlook PDF Preview Handler Error This File Cannot Be Previewed Because Of An Error

By Tabassum Chaudhary . January 11, 20243 Mins read

Are you tired of encountering the dreaded “This file cannot be previewed because of an error” message in Outlook when you attempt to preview a PDF?

It’s a common issue that can disrupt your workflow and cause unnecessary delays. But fear not!

The error message reads as “This file cannot be previewed because of an error with the following previewer: PDF Preview Handler. To open this file in its own program, double-click it.”

In this blog post, we’ll dive into a step-by-step guide to troubleshoot and fix the Outlook PDF preview handler error, so you can get back to previewing your PDF attachments with ease.

How To Fix Outlook PDF Preview Handler Error This File Cannot Be Previewed Because Of An Error?

To fix Outlook PDF preview handler error this file cannot be previewed because of an error, you can update your PDF reader software, set Adobe Acrobat Reader as the default PDF previewer, and enable the PDF preview handler. Additionally, you can disable protected mode in Adobe Acrobat Reader, and clear temporary files.

1. Update Your PDF Reader Software

Ensure that your PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, is up to date.

An outdated PDF reader can cause compatibility issues with Outlook’s preview handler.

Visit the official website of your PDF reader to download and install the latest version.

Open Adobe Acrobat Reader and go to the Help menu.
Select Check for Updates.
If an update is available, click Download and follow the prompts.
Alternatively, visit the official Adobe Acrobat Reader download page.
Download the latest version and run the installer.
Follow the installation instructions.
Restart your computer after the installation to apply the update.

2. Set Adobe Acrobat Reader As The Default PDF Previewer

If Adobe Acrobat Reader is not set as the default PDF handler, Outlook might not use its preview handler. To set it as the default:

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
Click on Choose default apps by file type.
Scroll down to .pdf and set Adobe Acrobat Reader as the default.

3. Enable The PDF Preview Handler

Outlook has a setting that allows you to enable or disable the preview handler for different file types:

In Outlook, go to File > Options.
In the Outlook Options dialog box, select Trust Center.
Click on the Trust Center Settings button.
Go to Attachment Handling and click on the Attachment and Document Previewers button.
In the list, make sure that the “PDF Preview Handler” option is checked.

4. Disable Protected Mode In Adobe Acrobat Reader

Sometimes, the protected mode in Adobe Acrobat Reader can interfere with the preview handler in Outlook.

Open Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Go to Edit > Preferences.
In the Categories pane, select Security (Enhanced).
Uncheck the option Enable Protected Mode at startup.
Click OK and restart Adobe Acrobat Reader.

5. Clear Temporary Files

Over time, temporary files can accumulate and cause issues with the preview handler. To clear temporary files,

Open the Run dialog box by pressing Win + R.
Type %temp% and press Enter.
In the folder that opens, select all files and delete them.

6. Repair Adobe Acrobat Reader Installation

If the issue persists, try repairing the Adobe Acrobat Reader installation:

Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Find Adobe Acrobat Reader in the list and click on Change.
Choose the repair option and follow the on-screen instructions.

7. Check For Outlook Updates

An outdated version of Outlook may also cause preview issues. Check for any available updates for Outlook:

In Outlook, go to File > Office Account.
Under Product Information, click on Update Options and then Update Now.

8. Fix Corrupt PDF File Causing This Issue

If the error occurs with a specific PDF file, it’s possible that the file itself is corrupted. Here are some steps to repair the PDF:

Try opening the PDF with a different reader or web browser to see if the file is indeed corrupt.
Use Adobe Acrobat’s built-in repair tool. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and go to File > Save As Other > Optimized PDF and see if this process fixes the issue.
If you have a backup of the PDF file, try using that version to see if the error persists.
There are also third-party PDF repair tools available that can attempt to fix corrupted PDFs. Make sure to use a reputable tool and to have a backup of your PDF before attempting any repairs.

9. Edit The Windows Registry To Correct Preview Handler Settings

If none of the above steps work, you might need to edit the registry. This is for advanced users and should be done with caution:

Open the Run dialog box by pressing Win + R.
Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Classes\CLSID\{DC6EFB56-9CFA-464D-8880-44885D7DC193}.
Check if the AppID key exists. If it doesn’t, create a new String Value called AppID, and set its value to {534A1E02-D58F-44f0-B58B-36CBED287C7C}.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.

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