Unable to open saved pdf documents after install of Catalina 10.15.1 install. I am able to view the thumbnail image.

Hey there dalago,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. I understand you’re having issues opening PDF documents after updating to macOS Catalina. I’ll be happy to help.

Check the permissions of the file that you can’t open and make sure you have permission to Read & Write. This link has more info:

If you don’t have permission to open a file or folder on Mac

If that doesn’t help, see if this occurs in safe boot or a new user account to isolate and possibly resolve this issue:

Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac

How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac

Also, where did you get this PDF from? If you download a PDF from a different site, can you open it? You can download this PDF from Apple’s website and see if it work for you:

iPod touch User Guide for iOS 8.4 - PDF

Let me know if any of these steps help.

The issue affects all files when trying to open from finder. Interestingly I can edit or delete the same files from terminal. Restart helps - but then after some time the issue is back. I have reinstalled all OS - no change. It started with 10.15.1 update.

For example I take screenshot (saved to Desktop) - new screenshot xxxx.jpg is placed on desktop. but now when I double click at it to see it I've got ""The file xxxxxx.jpg couldn't be opened". When I try to drag it to thrash nothing happens - no error but file is not deleted. I can open terminal and rm ~/Desktop/xxxx.jpg. it works. I restart laptop. All is back to normal but only for few hours.

and if it helps... I looked at console and these are two error messages captured when trying to QuickLook at png file on the desktop:

error 13:07:50.108963+0000 diagnostics_agent Invalid receipt [0 bytes] -- [<private>]

error 13:07:50.108963+0000 diagnostics_agent Invalid receipt [0 bytes] -- [<private>]error 13:07:53.305099+0000 runningboardd RBSStateCapture remove item called for untracked item 466-221-1553 (target:daemon<com.apple.quicklook.ui.helper(501)>)

and one more clue: when I right click and open with some other program it works e.g. I can open png file with Safari or with image editor I use (gimp) I can then also save it.

Only when QickView is used it does not work. Seems like some issue with finder - like finder has no right to do anything with a file.

Same issue with the call out that I also can't open files from application's "recently opened menus" or attach files to email in Mail (Error message that reads something like "Files are uploading" and then the procedure freezes) when this behavior kicks in.

Thanks!

I see all the same behavior as powergenuk. Thank you, powergenuk, for the clear explanations!

not solved yet right? In the same boat...

Same issue here.

for 24h now on macOS 10.15.2 and so far seems like issue is gone. Anybody else can share if 10.15.2 fixed the problem?