Attachment Issues

Fix Microsoft Publisher Sending Duplicate PDF Newsletters

Natalie Taylor Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience an issue where Microsoft Publisher attaches or sends duplicate copies of a PDF newsletter when using the built-in email sharing feature.

Product: Microsoft Publisher
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Sharing a newsletter via email by using the 'Send as PDF' function directly within Microsoft Publisher.
Observed behavior: The recipient receives two identical copies of the PDF attachment in a single email instead of one, often caused by incorrect default email configurations or corrupted Office settings.

Before you start

Before modifying the Windows Registry to reset Office application settings, verify that your email client is up to date and create a system restore point to prevent accidental data loss.

Solution 1

Set Outlook Classic as the Default Email Application

Ensure Windows is specifically using Outlook classic as the default mail handler to prevent conflicts when Publisher tries to attach the PDF.

Windows 10 and 11 often default to the built-in Mail app or the 'New Outlook', which can sometimes fail to correctly parse the MAPI request from Publisher, resulting in duplicate file attachments.

Open Default Apps settings

Press the Windows key, type 'Default apps', and press Enter to open the Windows settings menu.

Locate Email settings

Under the 'Email' section, click on the current default application to reveal a list of installed email clients.

Select Outlook classic

Choose 'Outlook' (the classic desktop version) from the list. If prompted, confirm the change.

Test the Publisher workflow

Restart Microsoft Publisher, open your newsletter, and navigate to File > Share > Send as PDF to see if the issue is resolved.

Solution 2Recommended

Reset Office Application Settings via Registry

If default app settings are correct but duplicates still occur, renaming the Office registry key will force the applications to rebuild clean default settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Publisher send two copies of my PDF?

This glitch typically happens due to a miscommunication between Publisher's MAPI integration and the Windows default mail handler. It is often triggered when a non-Outlook client intercepts the request or if Office registry keys have become corrupted.

Will resetting the Office registry delete my Outlook emails?

No. Renaming the Office registry key only resets application preferences and user interface configurations. Your actual emails, contacts, and calendar data are stored safely in external PST or OST data files.

Is there a workaround if I don't want to edit the registry?

Yes. As a temporary workaround, you can save the Publisher file manually as a PDF to your local drive by navigating to File > Save As and choosing PDF. Then, open your email client, create a new message, and manually attach the saved PDF file.

Outlook & Email Problems