Fix Mac Preview Not Opening PDF [5 Simple Solutions]

Imagine encountering the issue where "Mac Preview not opening PDF". The app seems to open image files of various types without any problems, but it fails to open PDFs, and no error message is displayed. When you attempt to open a PDF file, you see the Preview app icon bouncing in your dock, but no window actually opens. Upon clicking the app icon, it shows your file directory. However, when you double-click on any PDF file within that directory window, nothing occurs. Don't worry if this happens; there are some simple solutions for you!

Solution 1: Repair Mac Preview with Document Repair Software to Open PDF

If your Mac's Preview is unable to open PDF files, it could be due to document corruption. In such situations, a reliable repair tool like tools Fixo Document Repair can come to your rescue.

This software specializes in repairing damaged PDF files on Mac, ensuring that you can access your documents without any issues. This PDF repair tool is equipped with advanced algorithms to effectively repair various types of PDF file corruption. It offers a high success rate in recovering data from corrupted PDFs.

Utilize the Fixo Document Repair tool to repair your PDF files and restore smooth functioning of Preview.

Step 1. Download and open Fixo on your Mac. From the left panel, choose "File Repair." Click "Add Files" to select the corrupted Office documents, such as Word, Excel, PDF, and any others you wish to repair.

Step 2. To repair corrupted files in bulk, click the "Repair All" button. If you wish to repair a specific document, hover your cursor over it and click the "Repair" button. You can click the eye icon to preview the repaired document.

Step 3. Click "Save" to save the selected document. To keep all repaired documents, choose "Save All." Once the saving is complete, click "View Repaired" to locate the repaired folder.

This is an image description in English: A screenshot displaying the third step of the MacFixo Document Repair process. The image shows a user interface with options or progress indicators related to repairing a document on a MacFixo software.

Are your friends having trouble with Preview on their Mac? Share these tips with them on social media to help them resolve the issue of Preview not working on Mac!

Solution 2: Force Quit Preview to Solve Mac Preview Not Opening PDF

If Preview is not functioning properly, a simple solution is to force quit the application and restart it. To close Preview, access the Apple menu bar, click on "Preview," and select "Quit Preview" from the dropdown menu.

However, if Preview becomes unresponsive and normal quitting doesn't work, follow these steps to force quit it on your Mac:

Step 1. Press the "Command + Option + Escape" keys all at the same time.

Step 2. From the list of apps, choose "Preview."

Step 3. Click "Force Quit" and confirm by clicking "Force Quit" in the pop-up window that appears.

Solution 3: Restart the Preview App to Resolve "PDF Cannot Be Opened with Mac Preview"

If you're experiencing problems opening PDFs with Mac Preview, restarting the Preview app might resolve the issue. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Open "Finder."

Step 2. Click on "Go" in the top menu.

Step 3. While holding down the "Options" key on your keyboard, choose "Library" > "Preferences."

Step 4. Find and delete the file named "com.apple.Preview.plist."

Step 5. After deletion, reopen the "Preview" app. Your device will automatically generate a new PLIST file.

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Fix 4: Re-enable Preview on Mac to Resolve PDF Preview Not Opening on Mac

If you're unable to view thumbnails or previews of selected files in Finder, the Preview pane is probably disabled. Here's how to re-enable it:

Step 1. Open "Finder" on your Mac.

Step 2. In the top menu bar, select "View" and choose "Show Preview."

Step 3. If Preview still doesn't show up, go back to the "View" menu and select "Hide Preview."

Step 4. Repeat the process of selecting "Show Preview" from the "View" menu. Performing this action several times should resolve the issue and restore the Preview function.

Fix 5: Resolve Mac Preview Not Opening PDF by Restarting Your Mac in Safe Mode

If you're encountering the 'Mac Preview not opening PDF' issue due to possible conflicts with login items, restarting your Mac in Safe Mode can assist in diagnosing and resolving the problem.

Safe Mode prevents unnecessary items from loading during startup. Follow these steps depending on your Mac version:

⌚ For Intel-based Mac:

Step 1. Turn on your Mac. As it starts up, press and hold the "Shift" key.

Step 2. Once you see the login window, release the Shift button. Proceed to log in to your system.

For Apple Silicon Mac:

Step 1. Shut down your Mac by pressing and holding the power button.

Step 2. Release the power button when you see the startup options. Select your system disk.

Step 3. Press and hold the "Shift" key.

Step 4. Select "Continue in Safe Mode" and log into your system when prompted.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mac Preview Not Working to Open PDF

Here's additional information on how to resolve the issue with Mac Preview not opening PDF files. Take a look!

1. Why isn't Preview opening on my Mac?

Here are several potential causes:

• Corrupted user settings or profiles
• Hardware issues
• Accessibility Settings
• Third-party Applications
• Outdated Software
• System Updates

2. How to fix Preview on Mac?

Here are various methods to fix Preview on Mac:

• Use Document Repair Software
• Force Quit Preview
• Restart the Preview App
• Reactivate Preview
• Restart your Mac in Safe Mode

3. How do I force open a PDF in Preview on a Mac?

To force open a PDF in Preview on your Mac, follow these steps:

1. Step 1. Choose your image file or PDF.
2. Step 2. Navigate to the "File" menu at the top of your screen.
3. Step 3. Select "Open With" and then pick "Preview" from the available choices. This will open the selected files in the Preview application.

Closure

If you encounter issues with Mac Preview not opening PDF files, try these troubleshooting steps: ensure your software is updated, examine potential corrupted user settings, and investigate hardware or third-party software conflicts. For targeted PDF repair, consider using Fixo Document Repair to efficiently fix damaged PDF files. Download Fixo Document Repair now to address PDF problems on your Mac.