Preview crashing when trying to open PDF's

Question

Preview crashing when trying to open PDF's

Hi,

For the last few weeks each time I open a PDF Preview is crashing immediately on my iMac. I am running Catalina on a late 2013 iMac.

Is there a solution to this please?

Thank you.

Posted on Feb 27, 2021 1:06 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jack-19

Level 8

46,272 points

Feb 27, 2021 2:27 PM in response to Alisonbonbalison

Try making a test user account on your Mac and see if the issue exists there.

Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups > Unlock (with the padlock) > "+" > make a new admin/standard test account.

Then, login to the new account, and somehow move a PDF to that account, and see if it works right.

Cheers,

Jack

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Answer 2

Jack-19

Level 8

46,272 points

Feb 27, 2021 1:08 AM in response to Alisonbonbalison

Hi Alisonbonbalison,

Is this the same PDF, or multiple PDFs?

Does the issue occur if you restart your Mac and try again? If the issue still occurs after a restart of the Mac, try opening the PDFs in Safe Mode: Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support.

Cheers,

Jack

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Answer 3

Feb 28, 2021 1:40 AM in response to Jack-19

Very strange, but,

I tested out some PDF's on my usual account this morning after your last response. Still crashing.

I went into my admin user account. PDF's opened fine.

Then tested on my usual account again, still crashing.

Made a tester user account, tested PDF's, they opened fine.

Went back to my usual account, still crashing.

I then tried opening Preview from Applications and opened a PDF via File>Open.

It opened fine, no crashing.

I then double clicked on a PDF it opened and didn't crash.

No idea what the heck is going on but for the moment it seems they are opening and staying open.

I am hoping you have sent healing vibes to my Preview app Jack :)

So thank you for all your help. I will carry on as normal for now in the hope that it has worked out its kinks and stays that way.

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Answer 4

Feb 27, 2021 1:11 AM in response to Jack-19

Hi,

Same happens with all PDF's, no matter whether I have created them or I have got them from another source, I have restarted and have the same problem. I will see what happens in safe mode.

Thanks.

Alison.

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Answer 5

Feb 27, 2021 1:28 AM in response to Jack-19

Hi, I started up in safe mode and PDF's are still crashing :(

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Preview crashing when trying to open PDF's

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