Preview hangs when searching in large PDFs

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Level 1

4 points

Preview hangs when searching in large PDFs

Currently running macOS Ventura 13.6.1 (22G313).

When viewing a large PDF and typing a search term, it seems to begin searching after a single character. This means it must find thousands of results if not more. Meanwhile it just hangs and beachballs.

Why doesn't it wait until return is pressed before starting to search?

Seems that this bug has been around some time (nearly 10 years) Preview freezing when viewing large PDF - Apple Community. Either that or it's maybe a regression bug??? I've had this issue in previous versions of macOS too.

Please don't tell me to update to Sonoma as this is a production machine and Sonoma isn't yet supported by the tools I use. As soon as they are, I'll update.

My current workaround is to type the search term into a text editor and then paste it into the search box. This falls down when I forget the bug and edit the search term and Preview locks up again.

Posted on Jan 1, 2024 8:38 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

128,246 points

Jan 1, 2024 9:41 AM in response to JasonW250

When you want to find something in Preview, and do not want it automatically updating the results as you type characters, then do not use the Spotlight 🔍 tool from the application toolbar, but rather press ⌘F to open a Find panel, enter your complete search term, and then press enter (OK).

This should also eliminate resource conflicts and the inherent beach balling on large PDFs — depending on what you consider large…

Tested: Ventura 13.6.3

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Answer 2

VikingOSX

Level 10

128,246 points

Jan 21, 2024 9:58 AM in response to JasonW250

Have a PDF open in Preview with keyboard focus and then press ⌘F. If your focus is in the Finder, then understandably a Finder Spotlight search panel will appear.

In both Ventura 13.6.3 and Sonoma 14.2.1, when I press ⌘F in an opened PDF document, this is what I see as a result which is a big difference to clicking the 🔍 on Preview's toolbar and having an expanding in place Spotlight search field.

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Answer 3

JasonW250 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 21, 2024 8:40 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for your response.

Pressing ⌘F just jumps to the spotlight tool and doesn't open a panel for me.

I'll try installing the latest updates and get to 13.6.3 in the week and report back.

I regularly need to refer to microcontroller datasheet PDFs that can be anything form 50 to 1000 pages.

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Preview hangs when searching in large PDFs

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