Why Won’t My PDF Open? 6 Common Causes and Easy Fixes

There are many answers to the “Why won’t my PDF open?” question—your PDF reader may be outdated, the file may be corrupted, or you may not have completed the download.

Whatever the reason may be, there’s no reason to fret—a PDF not opening isn’t an uncommon issue, which means there are ways to resolve it.

In this article, we’ll examine the causes of the “PDF file won’t open” error and offer fixes depending on your operating system and browser. Let’s dive in!

6 Reasons Why PDF Doesn’t Open

Here are the most common reasons why a PDF file doesn’t open:

Outdated PDF reader: PDF technology constantly evolves with new features, and older software may not understand these updates. Simply put, if your reader is outdated, it may not recognize a file using advanced functions like digital signatures. As a common PDF reader problem, this can either cause the file not to display properly or fail to open at all.

PDF cannot be opened due to outdated PDF reader

Corrupted PDF file: Your system crashing or power failing can disrupt the creation, transfer, or saving of a PDF file and corrupt it. This is known as a PDF file error—it essentially means that the file’s structure is broken so that no program can read it properly. As a result, the original data may be lost, and you may be unable to open the file.

Incorrect file association: If your device uses an incompatible program to open a PDF file, you’ll likely see an error or a page with incoherent text. This doesn’t mean the PDF isn’t readable—the issue lies with how the device interprets it. For example, if your computer tries to open a PDF file in a text editor, this means the file association is wrong.

Password-protected PDF: A PDF document containing sensitive information is likely to be secured with a password. Needless to say, if you don't enter the correct password, the file won't open, and even a minor typo can prevent you from accessing it.

Unsupported file type: There’s a chance that the PDF document you’re trying to open isn’t a PDF at all. Your reader may not recognize its format, or the file may have the wrong extension. This error can occur if the file was incorrectly renamed or saved using software or settings not typically used for PDFs. The error message may resemble one shown for a corrupted file.
Incomplete file download: If something interrupts a PDF file download (like your internet disconnecting), said file won’t fully transfer to your device. When you try to open it, your reader will detect its missing parts, and the PDF will fail to load. This can result in the file appearing unusually small or not opening at all.

How to Fix PDF Files Not Opening on Different Platforms

Now, let’s see how to fix PDF files not opening on different platforms, including Windows, Mac, and mobile devices:

Opening PDFs on Windows

The default PDF viewer in Windows is Microsoft Edge. However, it may fail to load a file if there’s a problem with your system. In that case, you’ll need to change a few Windows settings to fix PDF opening issues.

Here’s how you can do that:

Open the Microsoft Store and search for a PDF reader.
Choose the PDF reader you want to install from the drop-down menu.
Click on the Get button and install the program.
When the installation process is done, the word on the button will turn from Get to Installed.
Open the Start Menu and navigate to Settings.
Click on Apps and then choose the Default Apps option from the side menu.
Tap on Choose default apps by file type.
Locate .pdf on the list and set your chosen reader as the default app.

If you run into a similar problem in the future and your PDF doesn’t open when you double-click on it, one of the following fixes might do the trick:

Update your reader. Launch the program you use to open PDF files and check for updates. If a newer version of the reader is available, you can get it by tapping on Update.
Ensure that the file is properly downloaded and has the right extension. Try opening a different PDF from the one that’s been causing you problems. If you’re successful, the issue is with the file, not your reader. In this case, try re-downloading the file or manually changing its extension to .pdf.
Check if the file has a virus. PDFs can have viruses that corrupt them, so you should run a malware check to rule this out as a possibility. To do this, open the Windows Security app and choose the Custom scan option to check a specific file.

Opening PDFs on Mac

If your PDF won’t open on Mac, the issue may lie within the system or the file itself. Either way, here are some helpful tips on how to resolve it:

In case your PDF won’t open in Preview, which is the default Mac app for opening PDF documents, another program may have been set as default. To fix this issue, right-click on the file, select Open With, and choose Preview from the list that opens up.
If you still can’t open your PDF, the file may not have been downloaded properly. To rule this out, try deleting it from your device and transferring or downloading it again.
As previously mentioned, if the issue isn’t with the system settings or the download process, it’s likely with the file itself. First, check its extension—it should be .pdf. If it’s not, select the file, tap on the enter/return key, and rename the extension.
Alternatively, the document you’re trying to open may carry a virus. You can check if it does by opening the CleanMyMac app, choosing the Protection option from the sidebar, and selecting Scan.

Opening PDFs on Mobile Devices

If your PDF won’t open on an iPhone or Android, here’s what may be the problem and how to fix it:

Check if your device has an app that can open PDF files. While some phones come with built-in readers, others require you to download one from the Google Play or Apple Store manually.
You may have lost a Wi-Fi connection, and your mobile data may be off. In this scenario, the file you’re trying to open likely hasn’t been fully downloaded. Make sure you have a secure connection and try downloading it again.
If your phone has a basic built-in reader, you’ll probably have trouble opening files with advanced features. If this is the case, you’ll need to download a feature-rich app even if you have a preinstalled PDF reader.
The app you use for opening PDFs may be outdated and thus unable to load newer files. To fix this, update it manually to the latest version.

How to Open a PDF File in a Browser

Let’s see how to open a PDF file in a browser, be it Chrome, Firefox, or Safari:

Chrome:

Open the Chrome browser.
Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Settings.
Choose the Privacy and security option from the side menu and select Site settings.
Click on Additional content settings and select PDF documents.
Check the Open PDFs in Chrome option.

Firefox:

Open the Firefox browser.
Tap on the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner and choose Settings from the drop-down menu.
Scroll down to the Files and Applications section.
Select Portable Document Format (PDF) and choose the Open in Firefox option.

Safari:

Open the Safari browser.
Drag the PDF file you want to open into the Safari window.
Alternatively, choose the Open File option under File and select the desired document.
If the PDF file isn’t saved on your device, enter its URL or click on the link, and Safari will open it in the browser window.

Why Won't a Browser Open My PDF?

There can be many reasons why your PDF won’t open in Chrome or another browser, from a slow internet connection to a disabled PDF viewer.

Let’s explore them in more detail and see how to repair a PDF not opening in a browser:

Slow Internet connection: If you’re trying to open a large PDF file, a slow Internet connection can make it seem like the browser can’t load it. In this scenario, you can either wait for the file to load or download it directly.
File name or location issue: The browser may fail to open a file with special characters in its name or a complex path. To fix this, try renaming the document to something simpler and moving it to a folder with a basic path.
Outdated browser: If you have an older version of a browser, it may not open PDFs properly (or support the format at all). In this case, you can update your browser or download an extension for PDF support.
Security settings: Your browser may block PDFs due to security settings. To solve this problem, you can change these settings to allow PDF access or temporarily disable pop-up blockers.
Disabled PDF viewer: Your browser may have been set to only download PDFs instead of opening them. You can change this in settings by enabling the built-in PDF viewer.

How to Fix a Corrupt PDF

Let’s see how to fix a corrupt PDF since this is one of the main causes of a PDF not opening:

The problem behind a corrupt PDF may be an outdated reader. In this case, all you need to do is update the program to the latest available version. Check for updates, and if there are any available, install them.
Another problem with your reader may be in its files—these might be corrupted. You can fix this by selecting the Repair installation option.
If the file worked up to a certain point, then it may be its current version that’s corrupted. To solve this problem, right-click on the file and choose the Restore previous versions option. Select one of the backed-up versions from the list to restore it.
If there’s no older version, you can convert the corrupted PDF file to Word or another format. This way, you’ll ensure no important information is lost, and you can easily convert the Word document back to PDF using a trusted online editor such as PDF.net.

If You’re Having Trouble Opening PDFs, Try PDF.net

You can open a PDF file online instead of wasting time trying to figure out why it won’t load otherwise. All you need is a trusted PDF editor, and PDF.net is the ideal choice. This reliable, user-friendly tool is the perfect way to eliminate the hassle of troubleshooting and get you straight to your file.

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons you should make PDF.net your go-to PDF viewer:

Instant access to your files: PDF.net will save you time and energy by opening your files directly online—there’s no need to download programs or change browser settings.
Compatibility with different devices: As long as you have an internet connection, you can open your files in PDF.net on any device, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iPhone.
Speed and reliability: However large or complex your PDF file may be, PDF.net can handle it—you don’t have to worry about your system crashing or screen freezing.

Why Won’t My PDF Open? FAQ

#1. How do I recover a PDF that won’t open?

To recover a PDF that won’t open, try changing its extension or re-downloading it. If that doesn’t work, the problem may be with your reader. In that case, the fastest way to open the file is to use a reliable online PDF tool such as PDF.net.

#2. Why can’t I open a PDF on my phone?

If you can’t open a PDF on your phone, you may not have a PDF reader, or the one you have may be outdated. Depending on the reason, update the app or download one from Google Play or Apple Store.

#3. Why is my browser not opening PDF files?

If your browser isn’t opening PDF files, it may be outdated. Other reasons include a slow internet connection, file name or location issues, security settings, and a disabled PDF reader.