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
    2018-06-18T19:14:53+00:00

    Hi Barry,  I ran the Get-owmailboxpolicy command to display the allowed filetypes and PDF is included among the allowed filetypes, along with the doc, xlsx and pptx filetypes.   I doubt adding the PDF file type will help at this point.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-06-17T15:36:05+00:00

    Hi Buckybear3819,

    Very thanks for your update.

    Yes, you can run PowerShell commands to add pdf as the allowed file types. Please invite an Office 365 admin and perform the below steps:

    1. Connect to Exchange Online PowerShell with an Office 365 admin account.
    2. Run this command to check the AllowedFileTypes in your organization

    Get-OwaMailboxPolicy OWAMailboxPolicy-Default | select -ExpandProperty AllowedFileTypes

    1. Run this command to add PDF to the AllowedFileTypes

    Set-OwaMailboxPolicy OwaMailboxPolicy-DefaultMailboxPlan -AllowedFileTypes @{Add = '.pdf' }

    Note: Please replace OwaMailboxPolicy to your Outlook Web App policy’s name.

    Regards,

    Barry

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-06-16T17:49:14+00:00

    Barry,

    I've found the cause of the problem.  It is a setting in O365 Outlook Admin Policy settings.  

    If you sign on to O365 as admin and go to Exchange Admin.  Click on Permissions and then on "Outlook Web App Policies" and you should have a policy.  Highlight it and edit it by clicking on the Pencil icon.  Then click on the "File Access" link to get the image below.  If you UNCheck the "Direct File Access" box and then click on the "offline Access" link and choose NEVER radio button.  Save your changes and then wait about an hour or 2 for the policy to take effect.  You will no longer be able to preview PDF docs in Outlook Web Access.    Our admins disabled direct file access to prevent people from down loading attachments to non-company PCs.    I can now tell people that this is a security feature but that won't make them any happier.    Is there another way to allow PDF files to be previewed in OWA without allowing attachment download?   Sincerely, buckybear3819

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  4. Anonymous
    2018-05-29T22:44:41+00:00

    Hi BuckyBear3819,

    Let us know any updates when you are free.

    Thanks,

    Barry

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  5. Anonymous
    2018-05-27T22:08:30+00:00

    Hi BuckyBear3819,

    Thanks for your information. Have you tried to reproduce the issue with the PDF file I provided? Your cooperation is highly appreciated.

    Regards,

    Barry

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