Can’t Open PDF On PC. In this article, you will read why I can’t open a PDF in Windows 10 and how to fix PDFs not opening on a PC. PDF is one of the most important file formats for sharing electronic documents. It offers a printable and accurate layout. The best advantage is that the PDF document cannot be edited, which eventually provides safety to the important documents.
If you want to open a PDF, there is a need for a PDF reader that should be installed on your computer. Many users have reported that they can’t open PDFs in Windows 10, in spite of having the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed. Read the article to fix the PDF not opening issue.
Why Can’t I Open A PDF In Windows 10?
The causes of PDF won’t open on your computer can be:
-Sandbox protection is ON.
-Corrupted PDF file.
-PDF reader is corrupted.
-Outdated PDF reader.
What To Do When You Can’t Open PDF On PC?
Method 1 – Disable Sandbox Protection:
The issue can be caused by the enabled Sandbox Protection, if you are using the Adobe Acrobat Reader. It will consider the file as a threat to the computer. So, disabling it can solve the problem. To disable the Sandbox protection:
1.Open Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2.Click on the Edit tab on the upper left side of your screen.
3..Select the Preferences option from the pop-up menu.
4.Then, locate the Security (Enhanced) option on the left side of the Preferences dialogue and select it.
5.Uncheck the Enable Protected Mode box at the startup option in the Sandbox Protection section.
6.Check if you still can’t open PDF.
Method 2 – Update The PDF Reader:
Outdated PDF reader can also cause PDF can’t open issue. Updating the PDF reader can fix the issue. To update the Adobe Acrobat Reader:
1.Open Acrobat Reader.
2.Click on the Help tab on the upper left side of your screen.
3.Click on the Check for Updates option from the pop-up menu. Adobe Acrobat reader will now check if any new updates are available.
4.An Update is available dialogue box will appear on your screen if a newer update is available.
5.Follow the instructions given on your screen to finish the update.
6.Now, the PDF won’t open error should be resolved.
Method 3 – Reinstall The PDF Reader:
PDF reader can get corrupted which is why PDF is not opening. Reinstall it to fix the issue. If you are using Adobe Acrobat Reader, then it has a built-in feature that will repair the Adobe Reader. You can do this without uninstalling it.
To repair Adobe Acrobat Reader:
1.Open Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2.Click on the Help tab.
3.Click on the Repair Installation option from the pop-up menu.
4.Next, click on the Yes option.
5.Follow the instructions on the Wizard and Adobe Acrobat reader will be repaired successfully.
If you have some other PDF reader, then you to first uninstall it. The, reinstall from its official website. To uninstall the PDF reader:
1.Open the Run utility by pressing the Windows + R keys on your computer.
2.Type appwiz.cpl
3.Press Enter.
4.Now, locate the PDF reader.
5.Right-click on it.
6.Select the Uninstall option from the pop-up menu.
7.Follow the instructions.
8.The PDF reader will be uninstalled from your computer.
9.Download and install the PDF reader from the official website.
10.Then check if the problem is solved or not.
Method 4 – Use another PDF Reader:
After trying all the above methods, if none of them works then try to use another PDF reader. Adobe Acrobat Reader is the best PDF reader out of all. We recommend you to use this reader.
Method 5 – Check If The PDF Is Corrupted Or Not:
If using a different PDF reader also doesn’t work then most likely the PDF is corrupted. Open some other PDF file on your computer. If it gets open, then your previous PDF, which was not opening is corrupted.