PDFs sometimes show blank in Windows preview

Report · Dec 20, 2018

We have two Windows 10 computers and one Windows 7 pc all with Adobe Acrobat Pro DC. When using the preview pane in Windows Explorer after a short period of time PDF’s stop displaying even though all Microsoft applications continue to display in the preview pane. Sometimes a message pops up that Preview Handler Surrogate Host has stopped working and other times there is no message the preview is just blank. The only thing I have found that resolves this is to either stop all the adobe processes or restart the computer. When we end the processes it occurs again within a few minutes and after a restart it usually takes about an hour or two before the problem reoccurs. Do you know how to resolve this? We work on PDF’s all day and this is really slowing us down.

Thanks,

Rusty

Report · Dec 21, 2018

Hi Rusty,

As you have mentioned above, the PDF's stop displaying on the windows preview after a short period of time.

Could you please confirm if this issue occurs on previewing some particular documents or with all PDFs?

You may try once to repair the application or check if the application is updated to the latest version.

In application, go to Help >Check of updates or Repair Installation.

Also, reboot the device once and check if it helps.

Please let us know the exact version of the application you are using.

Do you experience the same behavior on both the Windows machine?

Check if the PDFs with which the issue occurs are not the PDF forms.

Let us know your findings.

We will be waiting for your response.

Regards,

Meenakshi

Report · Dec 21, 2018

This occurs in all PDF documents. Most of what is used are just scanned images.

All 3 devices are up to date.

We have to restart the device in order to resolve the problem but it reoccurs after a couple hours of use. Restarting that frequently is just not an option.

We are using version Adobe Acrobat DC (19.010.20064)

This same thing occurs on all 3 devices

This occurs on everything. Not just forms

I have tried uninstalling Adobe but it continues to occur.

Thanks,
Rusty

Report · Jan 02, 2019

Do you have any other suggestions to help us resolve this?

Thanks,

Rusty

Report · Mar 01, 2019

Hi Socialismistheft,

Sorry for the delay in response.

Generally, the secured PDFs appear as blank in the Windows Explorer.

As you have mentioned above, all the PDFs are appearing as blank.

We have tried to replicate the issue on our end. The files open on Windows explorer without any issues.

Please try once to update the application to the latest version. Refer to this link to check the latest version available for the application.

Once you update the application, please reboot the machine. Check if the issue still persists.

Try once to reset the application preferences. Use the steps provided here How to reset Acrobat Preference settings to default.

If that does not resolve the issue, run the cleaner tool on the machine.

Reboot the machine and install the application from here Download and install Acrobat DC subscription.

Let us know if you still experience the issue.

Regards,

Meenakshi

Report · Sep 20, 2022

I am having the exact same issue but it started yesterday, after many attempts and restarts and following so many forums on ho to repair this issue - Your post is the only one that fixed this for me - So than kyou very Much

In application, go to Help >Check of updates or Repair Installation. I did the check updates but that did not work and then I did the Repair Installation and it worked, didnt even have to restart my PC again!! Thank you for you post it was a great help (even all these years later)

Report · Jan 17, 2023

"Repair the application" worked for me. The preview pane was working for all the other files except for PDF. Now it is working as expected. Thank you.

Report · Jan 29, 2019

Hi team,

I'm also experiencing the exact same issue as Rusty and it is very frustrating. Note we have had the computer for 2 years now and never experienced this issue. From nowhere, all PDF files are no longer being previewed on Windows Explorer. This is slowing us down a lot.

Please advise. I have tried all sorts of troubleshooting options and we are using the latest version