Fix Acrobat 9 Attach to Email Failing with Outlook 2013
Question details
The user is unable to use the native 'Attach to Email' feature to send a PDF directly from the application.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro, Microsoft Outlook 2013
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Trying to email a PDF document directly from the PDF viewer using the built-in email attachment command.
- Observed behavior
- The 'Attach to Email' command fails to open an Outlook draft or trigger a response, preventing the user from sending the document.
Verify that your Windows operating system is fully updated and that you have administrative privileges to modify your system's default application settings.
Set Outlook 2013 as the Default Mail Client
Windows must recognize Outlook as the primary system-wide email application for the PDF software to communicate with it successfully.
Click the Start menu and select the 'Settings' gear icon, then navigate to 'Apps'.
In the left-hand menu, select 'Default apps' to view your current system default programs.
Click on the application listed under 'Email' and select 'Outlook 2013' from the list of available applications.
Close and reopen both Adobe Acrobat 9 Pro and Outlook 2013, then test the 'Attach to Email' feature again.
Install Updates and Repair Acrobat 9
Missing updates or corrupted installation files can break MAPI email integration between programs.
Use Manual Attachment as a Workaround
Since Acrobat 9 and Outlook 2013 are technically obsolete, native integration may remain broken. Manual attachment bypasses the compatibility limitation.
Seamlessly Email PDFs with WPS Office
Avoid the compatibility issues of obsolete software. WPS Office includes a fast, feature-rich PDF editor that seamlessly integrates with modern email clients natively, allowing you to share documents with just one click.
- 1. Open Your PDF: Launch WPS Office and open your desired PDF document.
- 2. Access the Share Menu: Navigate to the top toolbar and click on the 'Share' or 'Menu' button.
- 3. Select Email: Click the 'Email' option from the dropdown list.
- 4. Send Your Document: Your default email client will automatically open a new draft with the PDF already attached and ready to send.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Acrobat 9 say 'an error occurred while sending mail'?
This typically occurs because Acrobat 9 relies on outdated MAPI protocols to communicate with email clients. Newer or updated clients like Outlook 2013 may block or fail to recognize these older commands, resulting in an error.
Will repairing Adobe Acrobat delete my saved PDF files?
No. Using the built-in 'Repair Acrobat Installation' tool only replaces missing or corrupted application system files. It does not touch, modify, or delete your personal documents.
Can I set a webmail service like Gmail as the default for Acrobat 9?
Acrobat 9 was designed primarily for desktop email clients like Outlook. While Windows allows you to set web browsers to handle email links, native file attachment directly from Acrobat 9 to webmail generally requires third-party plugins or upgrading to a modern PDF editor.
