Skip to main content
New Participant
October 13, 2020
Answered

There was an error opening this document. The file cannot be accessed by the system.

  • October 13, 2020
  • 9 replies
  • 41766 views

I'm unable to open some PDF files that I previously worked. The ones I'm having an issue with have an "X" on the lower left corner of the PDF icon. When I try to click on them, I get the following error: There was an error opening this document. The file cannot be accessed by the system. 

I've also tried accessing the files thru the Adobe Cloud but it gives me the following error message: The file cannot be accessed by the system.
Again, these are files that were uploaded correctly and which we've worked on several times, without a problem until a few days ago. Now, thousands of files cannot be accessed and its causing me to have a  slight panic attack.

How do you fix this and why is this happening in the first place?

    Correct answer Whimsical_adventurer5632

    I was able to fix it. My problem was with Dropbox, not Adobe. Long story short, I had to click on the teeny tiny icon in the bottom right toolbar and let it sync. It seems I hadn't let it sync since getting my new computer a month ago. Crisis averted. I just wish it would have updated on its own. 

    9 replies

    New Participant
    July 9, 2025

    I was able to fix it. My problem was with Dropbox, not Adobe. Long story short, I had to click on the teeny tiny icon in the bottom right toolbar and let it sync. It seems I hadn't let it sync since getting my new computer a month ago. Crisis averted. I just wish it would have updated on its own. 

    New Participant
    February 5, 2025

    I helped someone with this issue recently that had trouble opening files on a network drive- and in our case it was a problem with the total pathname length (folders + filename) exceeding a limit of 256 total characters.  In this case she had a lot of folders categorizing her work and had a very lengthy filename.  When I reduced the filename under this limit the file opened normally.

    New Participant
    August 2, 2024

    This is a late response I know, but I just want to help whoever can be helped because I had the same issue and it drove me crazy so I know if it drove me crazy and I'm looking at all the responses. It drove others crazy too, but my resolution actually ended up being not to go through the creative cloud, Adobe acrobat app at all, I was able to open up my file through Adobe acrobat online and just sign into my creative cloud online then I was able to open up my document that I couldn't open up. I kept getting the error that I couldn't open it up. The file was nowhere to be found , but thank God, I was able to open it up online through the desktop I hope this helps somebody because I was certainly looking for help.

    New Participant
    May 3, 2023

    I have solved the issue. Hopefully this can help someone else with the same issue. 

    When you are in the folder containing the documents you need (it can even be the first folder you click into) click file, then options, and then click the button at the bottom "restore defaults". I was then able to open my files. 

    New Participant
    March 3, 2023

    Solved! I had the same issue with a pdf on dropbox. It was the security settings. File>Preferences>Security (enhanced), and then I added my entire dropbox folder to the trusted file path. There may be a more precise, secure way to achieve the same result, but this way worked. Hope it helps someone else!

    New Participant
    March 7, 2023

    None of these suggestions has solved my problem.  Since most of my personal files are stored in PDF format, I feel I'm F@#$&d if I cant solve this  Help Please!!

    try67
    Adobe Expert
    March 7, 2023

    You need to provide more information if you want any help with this issue...

    New Participant
    January 15, 2022

    I ended up searching for this issue resolution outside the Adobe Support Community and found a correction.  I meant to come back here and tell everyone what it was but I forgot until I just got an email that someone else is having the same issue and added to the string.  I didn't see the exact link I came across but Essentially, the correction (and there are tons of step by step replies if you just go to Google and type in the error and not focus on Adobe forums) was as simple as resetting the default file settings.  Thereare more involved step by step instructions to correct the issue--the problem stems from a protected mode being enabled on startup.  

    New Participant
    February 3, 2022

    It would be great if you could post the link that was helpful for you, Jackie. I have Googled the issue extensively.

    Participating Frequently
    May 25, 2022

    Same here.  Has anyone found the way to resolve this issue?

    New Participant
    January 15, 2022

    Same issue for me, and I'm seeing that these posts are all very recent. Misery loves company, and contemporaneous company is even better. Yesterday, I spoke with an Adobe support person. The Acrobat product I was using (quite successfuly for years) was Acrobat X Pro, but they no longer support that version. The support person offered me a discounted version of the online product, Creative Cloud Desktop. I agreed because it was affordable but I was skeptical that it would resolve the problem, which it didn't. Knowing that was a possibility, the support person assured me that because I bought the newer product, they would support me in further trying to resolve the issue. I have a call scheduled with a tech tomorrow morning, so hopefully they can fix this. I will post here again with the outcome.

    try67
    Adobe Expert
    October 13, 2020

    Are these files saved locally, or on a network drive, or on the cloud? If they are not saved locally, try dragging them to the desktop and then opening them.

    MartyGoGoAuthor
    New Participant
    October 13, 2020

    The files are saved on a network drive but I've also tried opening them on the Adobe Cloud. I can open some files thru the Cloud and/or Network Drive without a problem but most have an "x" on the PDF icon and I can't open them.

    When I try dragging or coping one of the files to my desktop, I get this error message:

    Error 0x80070780: The file cannot be accessed by the system.

    [Private info removed. -Mod.]

    try67
    Adobe Expert
    October 13, 2020

    First of all, don't reply by email if it includes your full contact details in the signature. I removed it from your previous reply.

     

    This indicates there's a problem accessing the files in general. It's not related to Acrobat, or even to them being PDF files (most likely). Contact your IT department or network admin for help with this issue. On the bright side, it's very likely the files are file, just that you can't access them at the moment.

    MartyGoGoAuthor
    New Participant
    October 13, 2020

    I've also tried signing into OneDrive...I'm still getting the same error.