Cannot Preview PDF attachments in Outlook Web Access

Anonymous
2018-04-18T14:37:52+00:00

We have Exchange on O365 and User desktops of Outlook 2016.  Some users have Outlook on their mobile phones also.

We can preview PDF files in Outlook emails on the Desktop Outlook and on mobile phone with outlook.

We cannot preview PDF files in Outlook on the web browser.  We can preview office files but PDF files display a blank grey page.  

We can download PDF files to onedrive and open and view them from onedrive.   

  1. Should we be able to preview PDF files in Outlook on the Web Browser?
  2. Can this be enabled to work?

Thank you!

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-08-21T08:53:05+00:00

    This is also the solution for outlook online. many thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-08-10T16:31:54+00:00

    Hi BuckyBear3819,

    We have been aware of the issue now, and our engineer are working on the issue. Currently, there is no update at this time. We will keep you updated once we get further information. Thanks.

    Regards,

    Johnny

    If you look closely, OWA changes the file code.

    The header of the file changes from pdf to html.

    If I download the file it says that it is damaged but if I forward the mail, the attachment can be opened ok in another mail client.

    This does not happen with all PDFs, only with those of a sender.

    Only happens in OWA, in desktop outlook works perfect

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-07-31T11:03:40+00:00

    Hi, I had a similar problem where I would try to "preview" a pdf in my Outlook web app (not the desktop version) and the PDF would not show in the preview, I had to download it and open it separately. I finally found a solution, it was to do with my browser settings. I am using Firefox for my browser, so these are the steps for that browser, but if you're using a different browser try something similar.

    1 - go to your browser and click on the Menu settings button

    2 - go to Options

    3 - in the General tab, scroll down till you see Applications

    4 - when you see your PDF tool there (either Adobe or Nuance or similar), click on the drop-down arrow on the right-hand side of it, and select "Preview in Firefox"

    5 - then close the browser down, and re-open it

    6 - then try previewing a pdf in your Outlook web app and see if it works. For me, this fixed my problem. 

    7 - if it still doesn't work, try going in to your Outlook and looking through your settings there as well.

    Good luck!

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-07-24T18:04:54+00:00

    As a workaround, we recommend that you enable Direct File Access, block all the file types and only allow PDF file type in your organization. For more details, see this article: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/exchange/client-access/Set-OwaMailboxPolicy?view=exchange-ps

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-07-20T10:46:23+00:00

    Hi  - Is there any update on this one please? Johnny's comment suggests that this is an issue at Microsoft's end, is that right?

    We're seeing EXACTLY the same issue with our tenant as BuckyBear3819 has reported.

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