Can't open PDF files with new beta on my mac

BJN · ‎10-23-2022

Issue is that the file info says open with Dropbox, not Adobe. If I change back to Adobe then it opens. (Or if I open it from inside Adobe.) But I have hundreds of PDFs that now have the wrong app to open them. Wouldn't be a problem if they opened using Dropbox, but they don't. I can change open with info on each file, but that would be a huge pain. I checked the box to say change open with info for similar files, but it didn't have any impact.

Emmet · ‎01-11-2023

Hi everyone,

Thanks for reporting this, and sorry for the inconvenience. We think we have a good idea of what is causing the issue, and we're looking into a fix.

In the meantime, the following workaround might help:

Open a Terminal window.
Run the following command:

xattr -drv com.apple.LaunchServices.OpenWith ~/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox

This command will remove the custom "Open With" settings for all files in your Dropbox folder, including the incorrect/broken setting that is forcing some files to open with Dropbox.

It's possible that Finder won't notice the change right away, so you might need to relaunch it for that to take effect:

Hold Control + Option and click on the Finder icon in the Dock.
Select "Relaunch".

View solution in original post

CarissaESLT · ‎09-02-2022

Does anyone have an issue when opening a PDF from the desktop APP, or Finder and the Dropbox Icon not showing up on PDF's?

Walter · ‎09-04-2022

Hey @CarissaESLT, sorry to hear you're having issues with this.

Could you send us a screenshot of what you see on your end so that we can have a look too?

Also, is the desktop app up to date in your menu bar or is it still syncing?

Have you rebooted your computer since you first noticed this?

Keep us posted!

Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support

Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
Need help with something else? Ask me a question!
Find Tips & Tricks Discover more ways to use Dropbox here!
Interested in Community Groups? Click here to join

Megan · ‎10-24-2022

Hi @BJN, how are you today?

Does this happen with all of your PDF files, or some of them? Also, which version of the app are you currently on?

Let me know more, and we'll take it from there!

Megan
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support

Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
Need help with something else? Ask me a question!
Find Tips & Tricks Discover more ways to use Dropbox here!
Interested in Community Groups? Click here to join!

BJN · ‎10-25-2022

I'm using the beta version of Dropbox. "Upgraded" on Monday. Some files work just fine. The fules that don't work fine were downloaded from a zip file. They were working on old version of Dropbox.

Walter · ‎10-25-2022

Hey @BJN, sorry to jump in, but can you clarify, when you say they don't work, are they giving you any particular errors perhaps?

Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support

Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
Need help with something else? Ask me a question!
Find Tips & Tricks Discover more ways to use Dropbox here!
Interested in Community Groups? Click here to join

BJN · ‎10-25-2022

Sorry. That was part of my initial post. The PDF files are listed under the "Get information" as open with Dropbox. I have to manually change them to be open with Adobe and then they open. There is a box that says make this change will all similar files. Even though I check this box, it has no effect. So I can open them, but not with a simple double click.

Walter · ‎10-28-2022

Have you tried changing this from your computer's settings instead of from right clicking on the file first @BJN?

Walter
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support

Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
Need help with something else? Ask me a question!
Find Tips & Tricks Discover more ways to use Dropbox here!
Interested in Community Groups? Click here to join

BJN · ‎10-28-2022

I can change files on a file-by-file basis. This wasn't a problem until I ungraded to beta version of Dropbox. Not sure what you mean by changing computer's (mac) settings.

Hannah · ‎10-28-2022

Hey @BJN, can you please check the steps in this article, to see if they help?

Hannah
Community Moderator @ Dropbox
dropbox.com/support

Did this post help you? If so, give it a Like below to let us know.
Need help with something else? Ask me a question!
Find Tips & Tricks Discover more ways to use Dropbox here!
Interested in Community Groups? Click here to join!

Can't open PDF files with new beta on my mac

Can't open PDF files with new beta on my mac

Top contributors to this post