Fixed: Outlook Attachment Preview Not Working Issue

Sometimes Outlook takes too long to preview a file, and there are times when Outlook returns an error, like “The file cannot be previewed because there is no previewer installed for it” or “Outlook Attachment Preview not Working” issue. It is a big problem, but it can be fixed with an effective stepwise process. In this article, we will discuss the methods that effectively fix the issue of Outlook preview not working, along with the reasons for its occurrence.

What Does Outlook Attachment Preview Not Working Error Mean?

If you see an error message stating ‘This file cannot be previewed’ when using Outlook, the issue might be with your device’s email previewer. This error can also come up if you’re having issues with a specific file type previewer that’s used to preview different types of email attachments. For example, there’s a different previewer available for a Word file, a PDF file, a JPEG file, and so on.

Reasons to Occur Outlook Attachment Preview Not Working Issue

• Outdated version of Outlook.
• Add-ins are conflicting with Outlook.
• Bad network connectivity.
• Conflicting antivirus software or firewall settings.
• Disabled Attachment Preview options.
• Outlook profile corruption.
• Outlook data file (PST) corruption.

However, there are many, but these ones occur often. Now, let's move towards methods to fix Outlook Preview not working effectively.

How to Fix Outlook Attachment Preview Not Working in New Outlook?

The steps to resolve Outlook attachment preview not working in New Outlook are different than that of Classic Outlook. New Outlook works on a web-based rendering system and relies on local cache settings. If offline caching is disabled or the preview handlers are missing, then your email client might display this error. Go through the methods below to fix this issue in New Outlook.

Method 1. Check if Offline Access is Enabled

Offline Access in New Outlook works by saving a local copy of your mailbox data locally on your system. If you’re unable to view attachments in the New Outlook, check if your email client’s offline access is enabled or not. If it’s disabled, follow the steps below to enable it:

• Click on Settings (the gear icon) at the top-right corner of Outlook.
• Select General > Offline.
• Turn on Enable offline email, calendar, and people.
• Save the changes and restart Outlook to see if it helped.

Method 2. Try Opening the Attachment on Outlook on Web

Trying to open the attachment file on Outlook on the Web can help you understand if this issue is with the New Outlook email client or with the attachment file itself. Follow the steps below to do this:

• Sign into your Outlook on the Web account and open the email that contains the attachment.
• Right-click the attachment file and click on Preview to view the attachment file.
• If you’re unable to preview the file, try downloading opening the file on your system. If you’re unable to download/open the file, it might be damaged or corrupted.

Methods to Fix Outlook Attachment Preview Not Working in Classic Outlook

Some efficient methods to fix Outlook attachment preview not working problem are explained below.

Method 1. Update Outlook Application

If your Outlook application is outdated, it may cause different type of issues like the attachment preview not working error. Follow the steps below to update your email client:

Step 1. Open Outlook, tap on the File tab, and go to Office Account.

Step 2. Click Update Options and choose Update Now.

Note: You can also use other Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, etc., if Outlook doesn’t open.

After updating Outlook, try to open the attachment and check whether the issue got resolved or not.

Method 2. Disable Outlook Add-ins

If updating Outlook doesn’t fix the Outlook Preview not working issue, then there may be faulty add-ins as the root cause. Disabling Outlook add-ins might fix it. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Open Outlook, tap on File, and go to Options.

Step 2. Tap Add-ins and click on Go. All Outlook add-ins will be listed.

Step 3. Disable them all and click OK.

Restart Outlook and check for issues. If it resolves, you can enable add-ins one by one. By doing this, you will get the faulty one. Remove that.

Method 3. Enable Attachment Preview Option

Many times, users disable the Attachment Preview option mistakenly, which may lead to such issues. So, follow the steps below to check and enable the attachment preview option.

Step 1. Open Outlook, go to File, and click on Options.

Step 2. Select the Trust Center tab and tap on Trust Center settings.

Step 3. Go to Attachment Handling and uncheck the Turn off Attachment Preview option.

Step 4. After that, click on the Attachment and Document reviewers to see if the file previews are active.

Step 5. If they are active, click OK and restart Outlook.

Method 4. Check for Specific File Type Viewer

There’s a chance Outlook may be having a problem previewing a specific type of attachment. For example, if you can preview JPEG attachments easily but not PDF attachments, then it may be an issue with the PDF previewer. Follow the steps below to check if the file type previewer is working well or not:

Step 1. Open Outlook and click on File > Options.

Step 2. In the new window, go to Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.

Step 3. Go to the Attachment Handling tab and click Attachment and Document Previewers.

Step 4. Verify that all the previewers for the required file type are enabled.

Step 5. Save the changes and restart Outlook to see if the error is fixed.

Method 5. Create a New Outlook Profile

Profile corruption in Outlook can also lead to the ‘Attachment preview not working’ problem. You can fix this issue by deleting the corrupted profile and creating a new Outlook profile. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Open your Outlook application, click on File, then go to Account Settings.

Step 2. Tap on Manage Profile, and then choose Show Profiles.

Note: You can open Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.

Step 3. Tap on Add, input the new profile name, and click OK.

Step 4. In the Auto Account setup, enter your email account credentials accordingly. Click Next.

Step 5. Follow further steps to configure the email account. Once your email account is configured successfully, choose Always use this profile.

Method 6. Check Reading Pane Settings

Reading pane settings determine how and where exactly you see the email previews in Outlook. Incorrect Reading Pane settings can also be the reason for Outlook Preview not working issue. Check the settings by following the steps below:

Step 1. In Outlook, go to the View tab and click on Reading Pane.

Step 2. Choose either Right or Bottom from the given options.

Step 3. Open any email with an attachment and check if the attachment preview is working or not.

Method 7. Clear Accumulated Cache and Cookies

Outlook performance gets improved and becomes error-free when you clear cache files. If you find any cache data or accumulated in your system, remove it immediately. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1. Press the Windows + R keys together on the keyboard.

Step 2. In the Run wizard, enter the command below and click OK.

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache

Step 3. You will be directed to the Outlook RoamCache folder. Now select all the data there and delete it permanently.

Restart your Outlook and check for the error. If it is still showing up, you need to fix the Outlook PST file.

Method 8. Fix Outlook PST File Corruption

If the PST file corruption is the root cause, then the above methods won’t help you. To fix PST file corruption, you use Microsoft's native solution: Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe). Go through the steps below:

Step 1. Open File Explorer, go to the path below, and search for ScanPST.exe location.

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

Step 2. Click on Browse and choose your corrupted PST file. Tap on Repair.

Step 3. Once the repair is complete, the tool will display errors and issues with the File. Click Repair.

Wait for a while, and the tool will repair your PST file quickly.

Note: This will repair minor issues in the PST file.

What Happens When ScanPST.exe is Unable to Repair the Corrupt PST File?

The Inbox Repair Tool might fail to repair your damaged PST file if it’s heavily corrupted or damaged beyond repair. In that case, you can opt for a PST repair tool to see if it repairs your PST files. Kernel for Outlook PST Repair can repair corrupted or damaged PST files and recover data like emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, tasks, etc.

Wrap Up

The Outlook attachment preview not working issue is common, but it can interrupt your preview experience. Check if the preview option is enabled or not, and verify if a specific previewer is causing this issue. If that’s not the case, check if any add-ins are causing the issue. If none of the methods work for you, check for corruption either in your Outlook profile or data file. Understand the exact reason for this error and then apply the right fix to resolve this Outlook preview not working error.

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Aaruni AroraTechnical Writer

This article is written by Aaruni Arora, a technical content writer at Kernel Data Recovery. This content has been reviewed in accordance with our editorial guidelines.