PowerToys and PDF preview in Outlook

[ErikJan]

The latest PowerToys is said to provide PDF preview in Outlook. I seem to be unable to get this working. Anyone who has this working??

Notes:
* the Outlook PDF preview that always worked when one had Adobe Reader installed is failing for a while now
* also -for curious reasons- MS allows PDF opening / preview in Office and Edge but not in Outlook...

[HansV]

I use Foxit Reader. I can preview PDF files in Outlook (2021) without problem.

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[StuartR]

I use Foxit PDF Editor and I can also preview PDF files in Outlook 365

[HansV]

By the way, are you sure that 'Turn off Attachment Preview' has NOT been ticked in File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings... > Attachment Handling?

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And that a PDF viewer has been selected in the Attachment and Document Previewers dialog?

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[ErikJan]

I know there are other previewers and "Turn off" is off (sic).

I also tried with the PDF viewer on and off (the latter as maybe PowerToys would hook into it).

Anyway, my question is: does this work with anyone (without an external other viewer of course)?

[JoeP]

I believe the PDF preview in Power Toys is for File Explorer not Outlook. See File Explorer add-ons for more detail.

[ErikJan]

So this is incorrect?

https://office-watch.com/2021/pdf-and-s ... ource=ofmm

[JoeP]

There is no mention in the Microsoft documentation. That does not mean it is incorrect. I have no problem with PDF previews in Outlook. Outlook says I'm using PDF Preview Handler. I do have Acrobat Reader installed but it is not the default PDF handler. Based on that I guess I'm using the Power Toys preview handler. I am running Outlook 365 in the Current Channel. What version of Outlook are you running?

[ErikJan]

Using latest MS365 Outlook as well. I have Acrobat DC installed too but PDFs don't open in Outlook (I have the handler enabler and PowerToys loaded with the extensions enabled). Fails on two systems

[JoeP]

Is Acrobat DC your default PDF handler?

Can you enable the preview pane in FIle Explorer and preview a PDF file?

[ErikJan]

Yes and yes

[JoeP]

Since you can preview in FIle Explorer the preview in Outlook should work.
Have you tried to repair your Office installation?

[ErikJan]

Yes, I did. Didn't help. I have this one two different systems

[JoeP]

Can you temporarily uninstall Acrobat, reboot, make sure the PowerToys setting is enabled, and test the preview again?

[DaveA]

ErikJan,
Where did you get this Powertoy?

[ErikJan]

On one system I don't have Adobe Reader, on the other I do. Both are Win10 / 64 with MS365. Powertoys is the latest MS version

[JoeP]

You can get PowerToys from PowerToys releases. This is currently the preferred method.

You may also install from the NEW Microsoft Store available in Windows 11 and soon in Windows 10. PowerToys Store link.

You may also use the winget package installer - winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget

[JoeP]

@ErikJan,
I'm out of ideas barring a reset/reinstall of Windows (which seems a bit extreme for this).

[ErikJan]

Thank JoeP... I do use the latest PowerToys. No idea what's wrong. There's other ways obviously... the previews don't work but opening the files does work of course. It's just inconvenient. Thanks again!

[DaveA]

You can get PowerToys from PowerToys releases. This is currently the preferred method.

You may also install from the NEW Microsoft Store available in Windows 11 and soon in Windows 10. PowerToys Store link.

You may also use the winget package installer - winget install Microsoft.PowerToys -s winget

BUT, I do NOT see PDF reader there