How to Fix “AOL PDF not Opening” Error? – An Easy Solution

Summary: While checking emails on an AOL Mail account, the user tries to open a PDF attachment. Instead of viewing the file, the system displays either a blank screen or a continuous loading symbol. Now, the question is why AOL PDF not opening? Many reasons would be causing this problem. This blog talks about this issue. Although we have suggested several manual fixes, a dedicated AOL Backup Tool will easily fix this issue efficiently. Read the blog until the end to explore solutions and better understand the tool and its functionalities. 

This error typically arises when AOL Mail fails to access a PDF file attached to an email. This problem usually happens when using a web browser or an AOL app. When this issue happens, users may encounter:

• Non-responsive screen
• A loading icon that never stops
• No visible action

Why Is My PDF File Not Opening?

This error can be caused by several factors. It can be from both users’ sides and the AOL platform. The following are some of the reasons why the PDF file is not opening in AOL Mail:

• The AOL PDF Preview feature may not work if the web browser is outdated or incompatible.
• Temporary malfunctions or defects in AOL’s webmail system might prevent attachments from loading.
• Firewalls, antivirus applications, or email security measures may restrict the PDF from opening due to potential risks.
• Browser extensions like ad blockers, PDF redirectors, or download managers may affect the functionality of PDF Previews. 
• A corrupted or damaged browser cache could disrupt AOL Webmail features, such as attachment previews.

What to do if PDF is Not Opening in AOL Mail?

Try Downloading the PDF instead of Previewing It

To avoid issues previewing the PDF file, download the file and open it using a dedicated PDF Reader. This will also allow users to use advanced PDF features. 

Follow the given steps below:

1. Right-click on the attachment and choose Download or Save As.
2. It gets downloaded into your local storage. Now, open the PDF file in a PDF Reader such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, etc. 

Open the PDF File in a Different Web Browser

If your PDF won’t open in AOL within the current web browser, try opening it in a different web browser. The browser’s default PDF viewer may stop working correctly due to recent updates or missing components. Switching to a different browser can help confirm if the problem is with the browser or the PDF file. 

Temporarily Disable Antivirus/Firewalls

Sometimes, your firewall settings or antivirus programs may block email attachments, like PDFs or files with embedded content. 

• To disable antivirus software, open the antivirus software application, look for Disable Protection or Turn Off Shield. 
• To disable the Firewall, head to Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Security > Firewalls & Network Protection. Then, switch off the Microsoft Defender Firewall.

Disable Browser Extensions

Some extensions could block the necessary scripts, change the way the file loads, or change the browser’s default settings. This can result in problems such as blank screens, preview errors, or can’t open attachments in AOL Mail. 

Therefore, you can temporarily disable your browser extensions like ad-blockers, PDF-blocking extensions, or script-blocking tools.

• Open the three-dot menu in your browser to open the Extensions. Then, go to Manage Extensions and turn off the unnecessary extensions. Now, refresh AOL Mail and try opening the PDF File. 

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Web browsers store cache and cookies as temporary files to improve website performance and save user preferences. When this data becomes corrupted or outdated, it can cause problems in web-based email clients like the AOL Mail app. 

Given below are the steps to clear browser cache and cookies:

1. Go to Settings in your web browser.
2. Then, head to Privacy & Security > Clear browsing data or Clear data.
3. Now, close and reopen the browser, then reload AOL Mail. 

Trusted Solution to Fix “AOL PDF not Opening” Error

The AOL Backup Tool is an efficient tool that provides robust features to back up, convert, or protect your AOL emails. It converts your email messages into various file formats. The tool supports folder structure preservation, eliminates duplicate messages, and is fully compatible with Windows. Moreover, users can also transfer AOL emails to Gmail, Office 365, and other email clients.

Follow these instructions to fix the AOL Mail not Opening PDF error :

1. First, download and run the backup tool.
2. Select either Single Mode/Batch Mode.
3. From the left-side panel, choose AOL and then sign in with your AOL Mail credentials.
4. Select files/folders from the tree-structured hierarchy and click on Next to continue.
5. After that, select the desired file format in which you wish to backup your email data. Then, click on Next.
6. Opt for the additional filters if needed.
7. Finally, click on the Convert button to begin the backup process.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, this blog has addressed the issue with multiple techniques to fix the AOL PDF not opening. While the manual techniques are available and work well, they are inaccurate and might take a lot of time. For a more precise solution, we recommend using the AOL Backup Tool to securely back up the emails while ensuring effective email migration. 

Related Guide: Migrate Shared Mailbox to Office 365.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Related Post