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Troubleshooting

Start troubleshooting by confirming that PDF Auditor is up to date, the PDF is accessible, and any required password is correct.

Common checks

  • Try opening a known-good PDF.
  • Confirm the file is not corrupted.
  • Check whether the behavior is limited to one tab or one document.
  • Confirm that the Mac is signed in to the correct App Store account when troubleshooting Pro access.

Password-protected files

If a protected PDF does not load as expected, confirm that the password is correct and that the file opens in another trusted viewer. Some inspectors depend on the document being successfully unlocked.

Pro does not appear active

Confirm that the Mac is signed in with the Apple ID used for purchase, then use Restore purchase from the Pro purchase dialog. If restore still fails, check App Store purchase history before contacting support.

Missing or unexpected results

PDFs can store data in multiple places. If a tab does not show what you expected, check related tabs such as Links, Annotations, Forms and XFA, JavaScript, Attachments, and Forensics.

If JavaScript, attachments, signatures, or form fields are not found, the PDF may not contain those structures, or they may be stored in a related structure that is easier to review from another tab.

Forensics takes a long time

Large PDFs, documents with many objects, and files with complex page content can take longer to scan. Let the scan continue when possible. If you need to stop it, use the Forensics tab controls and try again with a smaller or known-good file.

Exported files

CSV, JSON, saved attachments, extracted images, and Forensics HTML reports can contain sensitive document details. Store exported files with the same care as the original PDF.

Contact support

When reporting an issue, include the PDF Auditor version, macOS version, affected tab, and whether the issue happens with more than one PDF. See Contact Support for what to include.