fix outlook is corrupting pdf files

Hi @Haren Doshi

Regarding your issue, the PDF attachment itself may not be damaged. The corruption can occur when Outlook downloads the attachment through the Gmail POP connection. If the download is interrupted or Outlook does not process the file completely, the saved PDF may be incomplete and therefore fail to open. Outlook’s attachment cache or PDF preview feature may also cause a valid PDF to appear corrupted. 

Here are a few steps you can try: 

1. Verify the POP settings and increase the server timeout 

• In Outlook, go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings. 
• Select the Gmail POP account, and then select Change. 
• Select More Settings > Advanced. 
• Verify the following settings: 
  • Incoming server: pop.gmail.com 
  • Port: 995 
  • Encrypted connection: SSL/TLS 
• Increase Server Timeouts to at least 5 minutes. 
• Select OK > Next > Finish, and then restart Outlook. 

Google recommends using port 995 with SSL for Gmail POP connections and setting the server timeout to longer than one minute, with five minutes recommended. Read Gmail messages on other email clients using POP - Gmail Help 

This link is shared by community members for your convenience. It points to a third-party site that is not managed or verified by Microsoft. I can’t guarantee the quality, safety, or suitability of any content or software found there. Please review carefully and make sure you understand any potential risks before using it.

• Save the attachment before opening it 
• Right-click the PDF attachment. 
• Select Save As. 
• Save the file to your desktop using a different file name. 
• Open the saved PDF using Microsoft Edge. 

3. Turn off attachment preview for testing 

• In Outlook, go to File > Options > Trust Center. 
• 
• Select Trust Center Settings > Attachment Handling. 
• Select Turn off Attachment Preview. 
• 
• Select OK and then restart Outlook. 
• Save a newly received PDF to the computer and test whether it opens correctly. 

4. Repair Office 

If the issue continues, please try running a Quick Repair first. If the issue remains, run Online Repair, restart the computer, and test again with a newly received PDF. 

For more details, please refer to: Repair an Office application

I hope this information helps. If you have any other questions, please feel free to reply, and I’ll be happy to assist where I can.  

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