PDF downloads on Sequoia 15.2

I'm having the same problem with some of the pdf files with Sequoia 15.2.

Some of them are totally blank, some are displaying only half of the total pages, and the only app able to open them (in Sequoia os) is Acrobat.

The issue is only present in Sequoia 15.2; using Sonoma the files are perfectly visible with any app able to open them: Safari, Prewiev, PDF Expert and so on.

The same opening these files with a Linux system (I use Arch): no problem at all.

I also contacted and notified Apple support (5 times) about this issue, but nobody is taking actions.

My actions were, as suggested by Apple:

• try Safe Mode;
• try with different account: I did with admin and a guest and newly created accounts;
• try booting with extensions disabled;
• try a reinstallation of Sequoia;
• try a macBook Pro revive procedure: booting from USB drive. wipe internal nvme, reinstall from internet;

and none of these fixed the issue.

The actual solution (for whose wants to apply) is downgrade to Sonoma.

My solution is switch to Linux.

Have you installed and run any "cleaning", "optimizing", "speed-up", anti-virus or VPN apps on your Mac?

Give this a try: boot into Safe Mode according to How to use safe mode on your Mac and test to see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and test again.

NOTE 1: Safe Mode boot can take up to 3 - 5 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

NOTE 2: if you have a wireless keyboard with rechargeable batteries connect it with its charging cable before booting into Safe Mode. This makes it act as a wired keyboard as will insure a successful boot into Safe Mode.

Have you tried the File ➙ Export as PDF… menu option?

Cbree6 wrote:

After updating Macbook Pro Nov 2023 to Sequoia 15.2, I am mostly unable to download PDFs normally like I use to. Now when I download a file or a page from internet to PDF, most of the time it shows on desktop as blank and when I click on it, it opens as code or gobbley-gook.

Before updated I could download anything by clicking File, Print, Save as PDF, Save

hmmm.... never heard this issue before.

Do you have a hot link of a PDF that you can share — I can test for the same here.

A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test.

Yes I am having the exact same issue. I tried filing a document with the Court back in December and the document was fine. I saved a Microsoft Word document to pdf and was able to file. Since getting 15.2 the pdf document will not file. When I save the document from Microsoft Word to pdf and open the pdf it is blank. The court system says there is an error because a different app needs to be installed to open the pdf.