Are you constantly addressing the issue of Mac Preview not opening PDF? By reading this troubleshooting guide, you will learn the best go-to methods to fix the Mac Preview not working with PDF files. By implementing these methods, you can access or open your PDF document with Mac Preview. Now, let’s dive into learning the basic to advanced fixes for the issue of Preview can’t open PDF document.
Understanding Mac Preview and Its Key Features
For MacBook users, Preview is the robust and most versatile built-in application for editing, viewing, and handling different file formats with ease. This proficient tool efficiently manages PDFs and images. Additionally, this creative software is lightweight, allowing users to open or read their PDF documents without any hassle or data loss. Here are the other key features of Mac Preview for managing the PDF file:
Access PDFs: Mac users utilize Preview for viewing or reading the PDF document. It allows you to perform actions like zoom in/out. In this way, you can access the PDF without installing third-party viewer tools.
Modify PDF Document: Mac Preview allows users to add, highlight, and insert comments or notes in the document. With this, you can ensure seamless collaboration with the document.
Filling Out Document: If the PDF has interactive form fields then, using the Preview application, you can directly edit these fields. Moreover, it is a simple and effective way to access or modify the document.
Overall, Mac Preview is an all-in-one solution for handling PDF documents. In this way, you can ensure document collaboration and customize your PDF file. Here, the issue of can’t highlight text in PDF or Mac Preview not opening PDF. Now, let’s move on to understand the common reasons behind this error.
Why is Mac Preview Not Opening PDF?
If you’re facing the issue of PDF won't open in Preview, it will certainly happen due to myriad reasons. In the following section, we will share the common glitches or errors that trigger the problem of PDF not opening in Mac Preview. Moreover, the consequences of this pesky problem prevent users from viewing and making quick changes to the document. Now, let’s understand the common reasons behind the problem of Mac Preview not working with PDF:
Damaged or Corrupted PDF: Some PDF document is damaged or corrupted due to improper downloading or sharing of the file. Moreover, this issue is capable of stopping users from accessing the document with Preview.
Temporary Application Glitches: There are software glitches like working on outdated versions of PDF documents. It might happen when the older edition of Preview won’t support the recent PDF formatting or style.
Ignorant Towards Mac Updates: Using the outdated or older version of Mac OS often conflicts with the Preview application. Additionally, it impacts the working of Mac Preview when handling the PDF document.
Advanced PDF Security: Some documents are protected with robust security or strong encryption, preventing users to access or view the PDF with Preview. In this case, you need to remove the protection to open the file using Mac Preview.
Overall, these are the common reasons for Mac Preview cannot open PDF. Now, you must be wondering about the troubleshooting workarounds to fix this work-stealing task.
5 Simple Fixes for Mac Preview Not Opening PDF File
Previously, we shared the causes for the error of PDF won't open in Preview. Here are the basic to advanced workarounds to try when facing the issue of PDF not working with Mac Preview. Now, let’s understand the fixes for Mac Preview cannot open PDF:
1. Update the Mac Preview App
2. Update Your Mac OS System
3. Use PDF Reader Tools to Access Files
4. Reset the Mac Preview Preferences
5. Try the Alternative to the Preview App
Now, let’s understand these methods closely.
Fixes 1: Update the Mac Preview App
When addressing the problem of Mac Preview not opening PDF, try to update your Preview application. It is one of the best go-to and effective fixes for resolving this issue. Updating the Preview automatically helps to address and fix the temporary glitches. Additionally, it allows users to improve software compatibility, especially errors with the new formatting and complex PDF styling.
Since Preview is the built-in application in macOS, you need to update your MacBook. After this, it will get updated and ensure accessing the PDF with ease. In this way, you can resume the working of Preview with better performance.
Fixes 2: Update Your Mac OS System
Working on the older version of Mac OS can impact the compatibility of the Preview application, especially when accessing PDF documents. Here, it is essential to update your operating system i.e. MacBook to resolve the system bugs and enhance compatibility. Therefore, ensure to update your Mac OS to access PDF on Mac Preview. Here is the stepwise guide to install and check new updates on macOS:
Go to Menu > pick System Preferences.
After this, go to System Settings > Software Update.
If found any recent updates> hit Update Now.
Tip 3: Use PDF Reader Tools to Access Files
If you’re constantly experiencing problems with Mac Preview not opening PDF, try using a third-party PDF reader tool. It allows you to access or view the content of PDF documents without any challenge. In this case, you can highlight text and add comments in the PDF file. There are various online and desktop-based PDF viewers such as Adobe Reader. In this way, you can eliminate the bugs or challenges that are associated with Mac Preview.
Tip 4: Reset the Mac Preview Preferences
Resetting the Mac Preview preferences can fix the issue of PDF won't open in Preview. Since the Preview preferences might be corrupted due to misconfiguration of settings. Additionally, it stops users from accessing or opening the document with Mac Preview. Here, deleting these files allows you to resolve the temporary bugs and clear the culprit data. Now, follow the instructions to reset the Preview preferences:
Firstly, shut down the Preview app.
Move to Finder from Dock.
Go and Go to Folder and type: ~/Library/Preferences.
Now, find the file name “com.apple.Preview.plist”.
Press right-click to “Move to Trash”.
Now, reopen the PDF with Mac Preview.
Tip 5: Try the Alternative of Preview App
The issue of Mac Preview not opening PDF might occur if the document is encrypted with high protection. Here, use the SysTools PDF Unlocker Tool, one of the advanced and secure tools for removing the robust security from your document. This tool is designed for Windows or Mac OS, allowing you to remove the strong PDF security like password and owner permissions with ease.
Additionally, it allows you to access your document passwordless or without any encryption. So, download this tool to remove the unwanted security from the PDF file and then, open it with Mac Preview.
Concluding Words
In this troubleshooting guide, we have shared 5 fixes for Mac Preview not opening PDF. By following these methods, you can open or access the PDF with Mac Preview. However, if your document is protected, use the SysTools unlocking tool to remove any PDF protection from the file. Moreover, you can try the demo version of this software to explore the robust features at once.
