Preview won't open a PDF document.

This issue just started. I have a new MacBook Air 2020, running iOs BigSur and have never had this issue until this week. Can someone help?

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Posted on Jan 16, 2021 5:09 PM

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User level: Level 10 194,822 points

jmsbeau Said:

"Preview won't open a PDF document.: This issue just started. I have a new MacBook Air 2020, running iOs BigSur and have never had this issue until this week. Can someone help?"

Provide a Screenshot:

What happens when you try? Any error messages? Please provide a screenshot of the window that pops up.

  1. Go Here:Take a screenshot on your Mac - Apple Support
  2. Scroll to:How to capture a window or menu
  3. Proceed from there with the screenshot.
Show more Less User level: Level 10 194,822 points

jmsbeau Said:

"I can open them on my iPhone X."

Where to Go From Here:

A. Please Verify PDF:

Does printing this page as a PDF document work, when you open the file on this Mac?

B. Reinstall the macOS:

If a built in application cannot be operated 100%, then you may need to reinstall the macOS. An install may not have been 100% successful.

1. First, Back up your Mac:

Create a Time Machine backup of your Mac, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the reinstall.

2. Then, Reinstall the macOS:

Nothing would be deleted. It's just that items that have become corrupted or deleted, would be replaced or reinstalled back to where they should be. Go Here: How to reinstall macOS from macOS Recovery - Apple Support

Important:

Take this as a learning experience, knowing to always create a Time Machine backup of your Mac prior to installing and upgrade, so that you can have something to restore your Mac from, should anything go wrong with the transfer.