# Viewer does not preview pdfs

**URL:** <https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/viewer-does-not-preview-pdfs/49640>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [19 April 2026 10:31 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/viewer-does-not-preview-pdfs/49640 "2026-04-19T10:31:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vinschger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/vinschger/32/29128_2.png) [@vinschger](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/vinschger)\
**Post date:** [19 April 2026 10:31 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/viewer-does-not-preview-pdfs/49640/1 "2026-04-19T10:31:38Z")

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### Operating system

macOS

### Joplin version

3.6.2

### What issue do you have?

If I use the split view in Joplin, the right viewer window previews the pdf.  
However, if I open only the viewer window, the pdf is not previewed, but only a link to the pdf is shown. How to change this behavior?

### Screenshots

 ![CleanShot 2026-04-19 at 12.26.15.png](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/f/8/f8fde2dc8f6510e64739c2403e0ee6f2fd1acdae.png) ![CleanShot 2026-04-19 at 12.26.58.png](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/5/1/51c27fb23e3eba1675eaa6a2d6f72321b0463da2.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Harsh16gupta](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/harsh16gupta/32/29502_2.png) [@Harsh16gupta](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/Harsh16gupta)\
**Post date:** [19 April 2026 11:17 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/viewer-does-not-preview-pdfs/49640/2 "2026-04-19T11:17:10Z")

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The viewer you opened is the Rich Text Editor, and it currently does not support inline PDF preview. That’s why you only see a link instead of the pdf when using it.

If you want to view PDFs use **Toggle editor layout** to open the viewer-only mode (this disables editing but shows the PDF preview)  
Screen recording:

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vinschger](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/discourse.joplinapp.org/vinschger/32/29128_2.png) [@vinschger](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/vinschger)\
**Post date:** [19 April 2026 12:48 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/viewer-does-not-preview-pdfs/49640/3 "2026-04-19T12:48:05Z")

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thank you so much. this helped a lot. it wasn't obvious for me from the UI where to find this. thanks!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/uploads/cozic/original/3X/1/c/1c948e33314e232a0927789508474d8624f4270b.png) [@system](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2026 12:49 UTC](https://discourse.joplinapp.org/t/viewer-does-not-preview-pdfs/49640/4 "2026-05-19T12:49:03Z")

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Closed on 19 May 2026 12:49 UTC

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