Preview does not respond.

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264 points

Preview does not respond.

For several days this week I have had problems with Preview. This application opens one PDF. But then it refuses to open any other PDFs.

In a Finder window, I double-click on the icon of a PDF. The icon blinks to show that I have instructed it to open. The PDF does not open.

At other times a PDF opens, but it does allow me to scroll it up and down. After maybe a minute, I do a force-quit. The dialog box states that Preview is not responding.

Today one such PDF in our server reports that it is damaged and cannot open. I dragged it to the Desktop. When I tried to drag it back into the folder on the server, I get a dialog box reporting that the original file is in use and cannot be replaced. Then I go to a force-quit.

This is Preview 11.0. The Mac is currently in OS 13.0.1. I had this problem in OS 13.0.

Is there some preference somewhere that I should delete?

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Nov 11, 2022 9:56 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ColleenD1

Community Specialist

Nov 13, 2022 1:49 PM in response to R_55a

Hi R_55a,

Welcome to Apple Support Communities. We understand that you're having an issue with with opening and navigating PDF files on your Mac mini. We'd like to help.

You mentioned that this issue started on macOS 13.0 and now continues on macOS 13.1. Since it was not resolved after an update, it may be helpful to use safe mode to work on identifying if this issue is related to a login item or error with your system. Check out these steps to boot into safe mode and try to work with your PDF files there.

How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support

How to use safe mode

Intel processor

1. Turn on or restart your Mac, then immediately press and hold the Shift key as your Mac starts up.

2. Release the key when you see the login window, then log in to your Mac.

3. You might be asked to log in again. On either the first or second login window, you should see ”Safe Boot” in the upper-right corner of the window.

If the issue continues in safe mode

If the issue continues while in safe mode, or your Mac restarts several times and then shuts down while starting up in safe mode, you should reinstall macOS and make sure that your Apple software and third-party apps are up to date.

If the issue doesn't continue in safe mode

If the issue doesn't continue while in safe mode, leave safe mode by restarting your Mac normally. Then test for the issue again. The issue might be resolved.

If the issue returns after leaving safe mode, startup items are probably at fault. Apps can install such items in numerous places, and they aren't always easy to find or recognize. For that reason, you should first make sure that you've installed any available updates for your Apple software and third-party apps.

If updating your software doesn't help, try any of these solutions:

* Test your login items.

* To learn whether software in your user account is causing the issue, set up a new user account, then log in to it and try to reproduce the issue in that account.

* Unplug all accessories from your Mac, including printers, drives, USB hubs, and other nonessential devices. You could have an issue with one or more of those devices or their cables.

* Reinstall macOS.

If you still need help, please contact Apple Support.

Let us know if that helps.

Take care!

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