Download of outlook attachments in Safari stopped working.

Downloads of attachments from outlook mail when used in safari suddenly stopped working. Problem affects all Outlook accounts but not other mail accounts running under safari such as muu-muu mail. Can download attachments ok from the same outlook accounts on my i-phone. Affects attachments on new messages and those on messages where I had downloaded the attachments with no problems in the past. Affects attachments of all types such as word, pdf, excel, etc. Downloads list says:


GetFileAttachment

Zero KB of ? - The requested URL was not found on this...

Am running Safari 11.1 on macbook pro under El Capitan 10.11.6


When using same message cc'd to muumuu mail, safari correctly downloads the attachment to the download folder and auto-opens things such as PDF file as normal.


Outlook has no other issues. Can send, receive, read and add attachments no problem.


Help!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Apr 4, 2018 4:40 AM

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Posted on Apr 6, 2018 9:55 AM

Hi Eric and Brian. I have managed to solve my problem but the solution is a bit strange to say the least.


Within Outlook accounts there is an option at the top of the inbox to "Try Beta". So I decided to see if that helped and when I switched to the beta all downloads work properly. Here is the strange bit though. As I did not have time to mess around setting the beta up the way I want I switched back to the classic version (turn beta off) and surprise surprise downloads still work. Go Figure! I can understand if the beta works better with the latest version of Safari but why it should stay working when I went back to classic is beyond me. So if anyone else has this issue with downloads from outlook accounts in Safari try switching to the beta and see if that helps.


Hi Brian, I cannot comment on your Apple mail issue as I only use that on my phone not my Mac. Plus I would not exactly describe myself as a "Techie". Hope you get it resolved soon, Mizutora

9 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 6, 2018 9:55 AM in response to BP1T

Hi Eric and Brian. I have managed to solve my problem but the solution is a bit strange to say the least.


Within Outlook accounts there is an option at the top of the inbox to "Try Beta". So I decided to see if that helped and when I switched to the beta all downloads work properly. Here is the strange bit though. As I did not have time to mess around setting the beta up the way I want I switched back to the classic version (turn beta off) and surprise surprise downloads still work. Go Figure! I can understand if the beta works better with the latest version of Safari but why it should stay working when I went back to classic is beyond me. So if anyone else has this issue with downloads from outlook accounts in Safari try switching to the beta and see if that helps.


Hi Brian, I cannot comment on your Apple mail issue as I only use that on my phone not my Mac. Plus I would not exactly describe myself as a "Techie". Hope you get it resolved soon, Mizutora

Apr 4, 2018 10:57 AM in response to mizutora

Try setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. Also try the Safe Mode.


Isolating an issue by using another user account


Safe Mode - About El Capitan
also Sierra


Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan. also Sierra


If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown.

Etrecheck – System Information

Apr 6, 2018 6:08 AM in response to mizutora

I have had a similar problem ever since the El Capitan upgrade, but not limited to Outlook. I have found that attachments to any messages that get routed to various mail folders via my "Rules" (filters), are left with any attachments (PDF, JPEG, you name it) in a suspended format with a message saying, "downloading".


I tried shutting down various rules and, when mail with attachments arrive and stay in my inbox, there is no problem. Turn the rule back on and the problem returns. I use a lot of rules to keep my mail tidy. This problem has been reported for months now and I'm not sure why Apple hasn't fixed such a glaring and obvious issue.


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[Edited by Host]

Apr 5, 2018 5:14 AM in response to Eric Root

Hi Eric, using safe mode made no difference. Also I created a brand new user account and used that but again it made no difference. I have also discovered that if I select "Preview" from the pulldown menu next to the attachment in the email then a PDF attachment is opened correctly in the Outlook preview pane or if it is a Word attachment the document opens in the same pane as a Word Online file. So Safari can access and display the attachment from within Outlook it just can't download it. In both cases though if the download link in the preview pane is selected I get the same error message in the downloads list. So what do you think I should try next? I am happy to upgrade my computer to the latest OS High Sierra if you think that might help.

Apr 5, 2018 2:05 AM in response to BP1T

Hi BP1T, I am not using any rules so messages are just sitting in the inbox. For now I am just forwarding the messages to G-mail or mum-muu mail and Safari downloads the attachments from those mail programs no problem. If the suggestions from Eric don't provide an answer I may try upgrading my OS to High Sierra as I have been meaning to do that for a while. Thanks for responding.

Apr 5, 2018 2:11 AM in response to Eric Root

Hi Eric, I will work through your suggestions over the weekend and see what happens. For now I am just forwarding the messages to G-mail or mum-muu mail and Safari downloads the attachments from those mail programs no problems. If safe mode and the Etrasoft program don't show up any obvious issues do you think it would be worth upgrading my OS to High Sierra as I have been meaning to do that for a while? Thanks for responding.

Apr 6, 2018 9:14 AM in response to mizutora

Hi Mizutora and Eric,


So would the Apple mail program also be affected by a problem in Safari or do they possibly both have a similar problem? Mine is a gmail account that I access through Apple mail. If I log directly into my Gmail account (using Safari) I am able to access attachments. They only get jammed up when being processed by Apple mail Rules (those remaining in my main inbox are fine).


I'm High Sierra 10.13.4 and as far as I can see, everything up to date. I am additionally puzzled because if I am up to date and obviously not alone in experiencing this, I would think entire business operations that use Apple mail would be brought to their knees by this and it would be front-page news.


Since that is apparently not the case, what are the selective conditions that are showing up for those of us having the problem?


Thanks for any suggestions,

Brian

Apr 6, 2018 6:14 AM in response to Eric Root

Hi Eric, I checked through my update history and yes I updated Safari to 11.1 among a batch of updates on March 30th which coincides with when the problem started. I have also now tested my Outlook accounts on a friends Windows PC running IE and they all work fine. So looks like it may be an issue cause by the latest Safari upgrade.

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Download of outlook attachments in Safari stopped working.

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