Fix SharePoint 'This Folder Is Empty' Error When Opening PDFs
Question details
Users encounter a misleading 'This folder is empty' error message when attempting to view or open a PDF file in SharePoint.
- Product
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to view or open PDF documents stored in a SharePoint document library.
- Observed behavior
- SharePoint incorrectly displays a 'This folder is empty' message instead of loading the selected PDF document.
Ensure your web browser is up to date and try clearing your browser cache, as corrupted temporary data can sometimes cause rendering conflicts in SharePoint.
Use Alternative Methods to View the PDF
Since the built-in SharePoint PDF previewer may be experiencing backend issues, use alternative viewing methods as an immediate workaround to access your document.
This error often occurs due to a glitch in how SharePoint attempts to preview PDF files directly within the browser interface. Bypassing the default previewer is the fastest way to access your file.
Locate the affected PDF file in your SharePoint library and click the three-dot menu (ellipsis) next to the file name.
Select 'Open' from the dropdown menu, and then choose 'Open in browser' to force the file to load outside the standard SharePoint preview frame.
Alternatively, click 'Download' from the three-dot menu to save the PDF to your local device, allowing you to open it with a desktop PDF reader.
Check Service Health and Submit a Support Ticket
Because this issue can affect different browsers and operating systems simultaneously, it is likely a SharePoint backend problem requiring Microsoft's intervention.
Read and Edit PDFs Effortlessly with WPS Office
While waiting for SharePoint backend issues to be resolved, downloading your PDFs and managing them with WPS Office provides a reliable, fast, and error-free experience. WPS Office is a lightweight, fully compatible suite that easily handles Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files without relying on prone-to-error browser previewers.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer.
- 2. Locate your PDF: Find the PDF file you downloaded from SharePoint to bypass the 'Folder is empty' error.
- 3. Open and edit: Right-click the PDF file, select 'Open with', and choose WPS Office to view, annotate, or edit your document without interruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint say 'This folder is empty' for a PDF document?
This is usually caused by a backend glitch or rendering error in SharePoint's built-in document previewer. The system incorrectly processes the PDF document request as a folder query, resulting in the 'empty folder' message.
Can clearing my browser cache fix the SharePoint PDF error?
While it is not a guaranteed fix for backend service issues, clearing your browser cache and cookies can sometimes resolve local data conflicts that prevent the SharePoint document viewer from loading properly.
How do I know if the SharePoint PDF issue is a global Microsoft outage?
Your organization's Microsoft 365 Administrator can check the 'Service health' dashboard in the Microsoft 365 admin center. This dashboard will indicate if Microsoft has reported a widespread, known issue with SharePoint document rendering.
