Ask Different (Apple)
Q&A for power users of Apple hardware and software
Latest Questions
2
votes
1
answers
684
views
How to remove the sidebar in iOS Preview?
I like to read PDFs on iPad (manuals, articles etc.). For some reason, unlike on macOS Preview, the thumbnail side is shown permanently. This seems to me a SERIOUS design flaw: it deprives the user of control over the presentation, wastes precious screen space, and, most importantly, RANDOMLY – whic...
I like to read PDFs on iPad (manuals, articles etc.). For some reason, unlike on macOS Preview, the thumbnail side is shown permanently. This seems to me a SERIOUS design flaw: it deprives the user of control over the presentation, wastes precious screen space, and, most importantly, RANDOMLY – which I think is the worst quality of a design – reduces focus without ANY gain (the thumbnails could show up by tipping the screen, just as all other additional controls are and/or show up when scrolling).
Did I do something wrong or is there really no way to hide it?
Majakovskij
(151 rep)
Oct 9, 2021, 10:52 AM
• Last activity: Aug 5, 2025, 11:03 AM
0
votes
1
answers
117
views
Block Quick Look During Downtime
According to System Preferences, the Downtime feature of Screen Time "[s]ets a schedule for time away from the screen. During downtime, only apps that you choose to allow and phone calls will be available." Downtime blocks most apps, but it does not block Finder. It blocks the Quick Look feature of...
According to System Preferences, the Downtime feature of Screen Time "[s]ets a schedule for time away from the screen. During downtime, only apps that you choose to allow and phone calls will be available." Downtime blocks most apps, but it does not block Finder. It blocks the Quick Look feature of Finder for video but not audio or PDF. How can I block Quick Look for all file types during downtime? Alternatively, can I force a log out during downtime? As I recall, the Restrictions feature that preceded Screen Time could force a log out. If Screen Time cannot do this, then what parental control apps can?
Brian Schack
(181 rep)
Nov 2, 2022, 04:13 PM
• Last activity: Jul 22, 2025, 01:07 PM
10
votes
3
answers
5992
views
Preview and PDF: Remove a password which I do know
I have a protected PDF file, in which I cannot highlight text using Preview and which I cannot print without a password. > [![enter image description here][1]][1] I do know a password, but I cannot understand how to remove it from the document. I can click **File** > **Enter Password** and then **Un...
I have a protected PDF file, in which I cannot highlight text using Preview and which I cannot print without a password.
> 
I do know a password, but I cannot understand how to remove it from the document. I can click **File** > **Enter Password** and then **Unlock as Owner**, but the next time I open the document, it will be required to type the password again. How to do this?
> 
Just in case, I know about options like using
I do know a password, but I cannot understand how to remove it from the document. I can click **File** > **Enter Password** and then **Unlock as Owner**, but the next time I open the document, it will be required to type the password again. How to do this?
>
Just in case, I know about options like using qpdf, but since I do know the password, I would prefer to not use third-party tools.
user480875
Aug 30, 2023, 11:21 AM
• Last activity: Jul 18, 2025, 09:36 AM
23
votes
4
answers
28884
views
What causes PDF file size to increase when saving in Preview?
It seems that making edits, annotations, or even just opening and saving a PDF file in Preview will cause a significant increase in file size. I've noticed that for some books I've scanned this also happens to improve page rendering time. Can anyone shed some light as to what is going on to cause th...
It seems that making edits, annotations, or even just opening and saving a PDF file in Preview will cause a significant increase in file size. I've noticed that for some books I've scanned this also happens to improve page rendering time.
Can anyone shed some light as to what is going on to cause these changes? I am interested in synching annotations of PDF ebooks between Preview and the iPad (maybe GoodReader) but this may be too impractical with large PDF files.
Alex B
(317 rep)
Jan 1, 2013, 05:48 PM
• Last activity: Jul 18, 2025, 12:51 AM
8
votes
4
answers
11677
views
Convert SVG to PDF using command line in Mac OSX
I want to convert a SVG file to PDF from the command line on Mac OSX. Is there any way to do this?
I want to convert a SVG file to PDF from the command line on Mac OSX. Is there any way to do this?
melqkiades
(339 rep)
Mar 10, 2022, 02:24 PM
• Last activity: Jul 17, 2025, 04:00 AM
2
votes
1
answers
1195
views
How to reorder highlights in Preview according to page numbers?
I read a book, while reading it, I highlighted some parts of the text. Now, in the side bar, when I choose the highlights and notes option, I see the highlights shown in random order, i.e the highlights are not in the same order as the pages. I would like all highlights in page x to come before page...
I read a book, while reading it, I highlighted some parts of the text. Now, in the side bar, when I choose the highlights and notes option, I see the highlights shown in random order, i.e the highlights are not in the same order as the pages. I would like all highlights in page x to come before page y, if x < y. How to do this?
user3760100
(121 rep)
Feb 2, 2020, 06:08 PM
• Last activity: Jul 16, 2025, 02:07 AM
0
votes
2
answers
91
views
Preview App Zoom to Fit {⌘9} Then Page right {⌘→} to Scroll to Next Page in PDF
When reading PDF documents in Preview, I frequently find it convenient to resize the PDF to the width of the Preview window using {⌘9}, and then move to the next page using the right arrow key. However, on more recent OS X versions, the default document width when using Fit to Page {⌘9} is slightly...
When reading PDF documents in Preview, I frequently find it convenient to resize the PDF to the width of the Preview window using {⌘9}, and then move to the next page using the right arrow key. However, on more recent OS X versions, the default document width when using Fit to Page {⌘9} is slightly wider than the width of the Preview window, and thus the right arrow key subsequently functions as a horizontal scroll command rather than a next page command.
The workaround I use now is to first zoom to fit {⌘9} and then zoom out once {⌘-}. I can then move to the next page using {⌘→}.
Has anyone else noticed this issue and/or found a solution?
David Olcean
(1 rep)
Feb 16, 2025, 05:49 PM
• Last activity: Jul 9, 2025, 03:48 PM
64
votes
12
answers
55330
views
Preview automatically password protects PDF when saving
I experienced a behaviour I've never seen before when opening, editing and saving a PDF today. As soon as save the PDF with Preview the file will be password protected, and I cannot open it again. I've tested this on multiple files, but it seems to only affect files that have an "administrator passw...
I experienced a behaviour I've never seen before when opening, editing and saving a PDF today. As soon as save the PDF with Preview the file will be password protected, and I cannot open it again.
I've tested this on multiple files, but it seems to only affect files that have an "administrator password" set.
Test files from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency:
https://www.forsakringskassan.se/wps/wcm/connect/b581c10a-8782-4c84-8448-4a469b85422b/fk7457-004-f-002.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=&CACHE=NONE&CONTENTCACHE=NONE
https://www.forsakringskassan.se/wps/wcm/connect/def06bb9-268f-47bd-a99d-2aa3dd75f855/fk7804-004-f-001.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=
Is this behaviour somehow by design? I've never seen it before, and at first I suspected that some kind of malware caused this. But now I'm not so sure anymore.
I'm using macOS Monterey 12.2.
c3p0
(741 rep)
Feb 7, 2022, 05:29 PM
• Last activity: Jul 3, 2025, 07:53 PM
0
votes
0
answers
12
views
Preview.app: have it read file again when filesystem mtime changes?
Is there a way to force `Preview.app` to automatically update the window when the mtime on the file changes? Maybe some AppleScript? I'm finding I need to click focus Preview.app window in order for an update to the file to appear. I found a similar, yet different [question][1] on this. The use case...
Is there a way to force
Preview.app to automatically update the window when the mtime on the file changes? Maybe some AppleScript?
I'm finding I need to click focus Preview.app window in order for an update to the file to appear.
I found a similar, yet different question on this.
The use case is editing Tex/Latex files where a PDF is generated. I was to automatically view the changes in Preview.app. Right now, I see the only alternatives are the Skim app or using X-Windows, Mac Ports with the gv --watch file.ps app to monitor a postscript document.
Another alternative is to use a third party application that causes focus when mouse hovers the window, however this requires moving the mouse as well, so not a great solution.
atod
(77 rep)
Jun 27, 2025, 11:10 PM
1
votes
2
answers
742
views
Mac Automator: combine images in PDF and resize
I not too familiar with Automator for Mac. I am trying to create a quick action to combine several images in a single PDF file and reduce its size with a quartz filter. The actions does indeed create the pdf but it does not reduce its file size. This is what I did: [![enter image description here][1...
I not too familiar with Automator for Mac. I am trying to create a quick action to combine several images in a single PDF file and reduce its size with a quartz filter. The actions does indeed create the pdf but it does not reduce its file size. This is what I did:
If I create two separate quick actions (one to create the pdf from images and another one to reduce the size of a pdf file) and apply them sequentially they work correctly. But not combined into a single action. What am I doing wrong?
If I create two separate quick actions (one to create the pdf from images and another one to reduce the size of a pdf file) and apply them sequentially they work correctly. But not combined into a single action. What am I doing wrong?
kalka
(21 rep)
Feb 12, 2021, 12:17 PM
• Last activity: Jun 23, 2025, 08:08 AM
3
votes
1
answers
682
views
Freehand Preview Pen Missing
Freehand Preview Pen Missing **Context:** Essentially preview has two pens - the shape pen , if you will, one which has automatic shape detection and will smooth out your shapes and lines after you draw them, and the freehand pen, one which is freehand, and can vary in thickness depending on the pre...
Freehand Preview Pen Missing
**Context:**
Essentially preview has two pens - the shape pen, if you will, one which has automatic shape detection and will smooth out your shapes and lines after you draw them, and the freehandpen, one which is freehand, and can vary in thickness depending on the pressure applied to a (force) trackpad.
Why do we use the freehand pen? Well, put simply, personally I find that often the shape detection on the shape pen can get in the way of drawing what you intended, and at some point the frustration of having to switch back to the original drawing in the tab that appears on the top right can be annoying and makes you use the freehand.
**Question:**
A few hours ago the freehand tool disappeared. Yesterday I was using it fine, now it is gone.
I've also noticed (though I'm not sure if its always been there) that there is now an ability to make a note on the doc. You can see the disappearance of the pen below (on a PDF doc):
_____
Is this indicative of some preview update which has removed the freehand pen?
How can I get the freehand pen back?
Is this indicative of some preview update which has removed the freehand pen?
How can I get the freehand pen back?
global05
(183 rep)
Sep 30, 2020, 09:45 AM
• Last activity: Jun 15, 2025, 08:02 PM
4
votes
1
answers
3170
views
Why is the Bookmark button disabled in Apple Books?
I'm reading a PDF manual downloaded from the internet in Apple Books. The Bookmark icon is disabled. How can I fix this? Can I fix it directly from my iPad?
I'm reading a PDF manual downloaded from the internet in Apple Books. The Bookmark icon is disabled. How can I fix this? Can I fix it directly from my iPad?
Matt M.
(93 rep)
Jul 24, 2021, 10:27 PM
• Last activity: Jun 14, 2025, 02:57 PM
0
votes
1
answers
382
views
"Preview" cannot add bookmarks to specific pages
I prefer to read books in PDF format (and not in ePUB). For this, I use Preview, and of course I use bookmarks (menu bar > Tools > Add Bookmark, or Command-D). The problem is that some books doesn't allow to add bookmarks to their beginning or end. For example, the book I'm reading currently is "How...
I prefer to read books in PDF format (and not in ePUB). For this, I use Preview, and of course I use bookmarks (menu bar > Tools > Add Bookmark, or Command-D). The problem is that some books doesn't allow to add bookmarks to their beginning or end.
For example, the book I'm reading currently is "How to Read a Book" by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren, 1972 edition, digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation: . (Can be downloaded, for testing purposes, here: .)
If I add a bookmark to a "regular" page, e.g., page 100, the bookmark is added successfully:
But if I try to add a bookmark to a "not so regular" page, e.g., page V, with the table of contents, the bookmark is added to the cover instead:
Is it possible to prevent this from happening? What I have already tried is "Menu bar" > "File" > "Export" > "Format": "PDF" > "Create PDF/A" and/or "Embed Text".
But if I try to add a bookmark to a "not so regular" page, e.g., page V, with the table of contents, the bookmark is added to the cover instead:
Is it possible to prevent this from happening? What I have already tried is "Menu bar" > "File" > "Export" > "Format": "PDF" > "Create PDF/A" and/or "Embed Text".
[x] Create PDF/A
[ ] Create Linerized PDF
[ ] Embed Text[x] Create PDF/A
[ ] Create Linerized PDF
[x] Embed Text[ ] Create PDF/A
[ ] Create Linerized PDF
[x] Embed Text
user480875
Apr 23, 2024, 02:55 PM
• Last activity: Jun 11, 2025, 05:05 PM
0
votes
1
answers
239
views
How can I create an option in the print PDF pop up menu with Automator?
I tried to create a print plug-in for pdf pop-up menu, where I'd like to open the PDF in messages so I can send as a text or iMessage. After a few trials it did launch the messages app but it didn't show the pdf within it, nothing to send. Wanted to try the same plug in with iBooks to see if it work...
I tried to create a print plug-in for pdf pop-up menu, where I'd like to open the PDF in messages so I can send as a text or iMessage. After a few trials it did launch the messages app but it didn't show the pdf within it, nothing to send. Wanted to try the same plug in with iBooks to see if it works and it did beautifully; saved the pdf to iBooks. I’m using the “open finder items” command. Is there something different I should do to make this work with messages app? My OS is BigSur 11.1.
Thanks!
Thanks!
keskeane
(21 rep)
Jan 11, 2021, 07:24 AM
• Last activity: Jun 10, 2025, 08:04 PM
2
votes
1
answers
3803
views
Preview.app print dialog missing Quality and Color vs Black & White?
I just upgraded to macOS Ventura and now the Preview.app doesn't seem to have a Print Quality option or a Color vs Black & White option when I'm printing from Preview. The only weird thing I notice in the Print dialog (shown below) is that it says my HP OfficeJet is using a Laser Printer driver. I'v...
I just upgraded to macOS Ventura and now the Preview.app doesn't seem to have a Print Quality option or a Color vs Black & White option when I'm printing from Preview.
The only weird thing I notice in the Print dialog (shown below) is that it says my HP OfficeJet is using a Laser Printer driver.
I've tried removing and reinstalling the printer a couple of times and it ends up the same way each time.
Mac Studio 2022, Ventura 13.0.1
HP OfficeJet Pro 9020 Series
The file I'm trying to print is inherently black and white, so I thought that might be part of the problem. So I opened a color image in Preview.app and tried to print it. It turns it into black and white in the print preview and doesn't offer me the Quality or Color vs Black/White either:
Any idea where it is or why the Print Quality and Color/Black&White might be missing?
The file I'm trying to print is inherently black and white, so I thought that might be part of the problem. So I opened a color image in Preview.app and tried to print it. It turns it into black and white in the print preview and doesn't offer me the Quality or Color vs Black/White either:
Any idea where it is or why the Print Quality and Color/Black&White might be missing?
Kenny Wyland
(547 rep)
Nov 18, 2022, 04:50 PM
• Last activity: Jun 9, 2025, 04:04 PM
2
votes
1
answers
1236
views
iOS default PDF viewer - go to specific page number
Is this actually possible? I’ve tried long pressing on the page counter, looking in all the menus and typing page numbers into the search box… On an iPhone using iOS 17, if the iPhone and iPad apps aren’t the same. **UPDATE:** Is possible in *Books* app (using search icon), suspect impossible in sta...
Is this actually possible?
I’ve tried long pressing on the page counter, looking in all the menus and typing page numbers into the search box…
On an iPhone using iOS 17, if the iPhone and iPad apps aren’t the same.
**UPDATE:** Is possible in *Books* app (using search icon), suspect impossible in standard PDF view.
William Turrell
(855 rep)
May 8, 2024, 07:36 PM
• Last activity: Jun 6, 2025, 05:07 PM
5
votes
4
answers
4992
views
Cannot print PDF but can open it in Preview
I was trying to print [this document][1]. It opens great in Preview but I cannot print it: ERROR: undefined OFFENDING COMMAND: firMf STACK: 1185863205 -dictionary- /CharStrings ... Trying to print starting from another page leads to a similar error. Any idea? My printer works great on other similar...
I was trying to print this document . It opens great in Preview but I cannot print it:
ERROR: undefined
OFFENDING COMMAND: firMf
STACK:
1185863205
-dictionary-
/CharStrings
...
Trying to print starting from another page leads to a similar error. Any idea? My printer works great on other similar material.
Note that this document is **just week 1 of 10** of a class and if I could screenshot and print the jpg page by page I would (I just care about printing) but there are 200 pages total so Im looking for another solution.
Thomas
(543 rep)
Jan 15, 2018, 06:51 PM
• Last activity: Jun 2, 2025, 03:33 PM
1
votes
1
answers
280
views
In presentation mode, Keynote renders vector graphics badly (imported as PDF)
I want to have my logo as vector graphic in Keynote. Although Keynote offers nice basic functionality to create vector graphics, it doesn't seem to import SVG or any other vector file format. I read that at least it allows im import PDF files that have vectors in them. So I tried - and it works grea...
I want to have my logo as vector graphic in Keynote.
Although Keynote offers nice basic functionality to create vector graphics, it doesn't seem to import SVG or any other vector file format.
I read that at least it allows im import PDF files that have vectors in them. So I tried - and it works great, at least in edit mode:
But in presentation mode, it looks really awful:
Is there something I can do? Or should I simply import the logo as a rasterized image?
But in presentation mode, it looks really awful:
Is there something I can do? Or should I simply import the logo as a rasterized image?
Joshua Muheim
(311 rep)
Apr 3, 2023, 10:56 AM
• Last activity: May 28, 2025, 01:05 AM
115
votes
10
answers
109061
views
How to decrease .pdf size without losing quality
## Background I want to decrease size of the .pdf filled with images. In `Preview` in can be dome through `Export` and set `Quartz Filter-> Reduce File Size` before saving. [![Preview-Export][1]][1] ## Problem The file indeed decreased from ~30MB to 0.37MB. But the result has such poor quality that...
## Background
I want to decrease size of the .pdf filled with images.
In 
## Problem
The file indeed decreased from ~30MB to 0.37MB.
But the result has such poor quality that images are barely readable.
## Question
I saw an examples of using
Preview in can be dome through Export and set Quartz Filter-> Reduce File Size before saving.
## Problem
The file indeed decreased from ~30MB to 0.37MB.
But the result has such poor quality that images are barely readable.
## Question
I saw an examples of using Image Magic to achieve that - but can it be done by **Preview** without any external software?
michalczukm
(3677 rep)
Sep 4, 2017, 10:21 PM
• Last activity: May 26, 2025, 08:53 AM
0
votes
1
answers
385
views
Change font (family/size/color) when filling out a PDF in Preview
This _should_ be a duplicate of https://apple.stackexchange.com/q/183306/2326, but the answers there do not apply. Under Sequoia, with Preview v11.0, I am filling out a PDF. I have added a text box. I cannot find any way to change the font used in that text box. The screenshot below includes the Tip...
This _should_ be a duplicate of https://apple.stackexchange.com/q/183306/2326 , but the answers there do not apply. Under Sequoia, with Preview v11.0, I am filling out a PDF. I have added a text box. I cannot find any way to change the font used in that text box. The screenshot below includes the Tips app showing where there SHOULD be controls for adjusting the font, abut as shown at the top no controls are visible.
How can I adjust the font for text I'm adding as an annotation?
Phrogz
(529 rep)
Dec 23, 2024, 06:10 PM
• Last activity: May 22, 2025, 09:08 PM
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