Zotero 8 on macOS: PDF tab appears but PDFs won’t open

Shiting_wutong0521 · 2026-01-31T13:54:28+00:00

I’m using Zotero 8 on iOS, and I’ve encountered a recurring issue since installation.
Whenever I try to open a reference from my library, Zotero does not switch to the PDF view. I can see that a PDF tab appears, but clicking on it has no response at all.
The only temporary workaround is to quit Zotero completely and reopen it, after which PDFs can be opened normally for a while. However, after running Zotero for some time, the problem reappears and PDFs become unresponsive again.
Has anyone experienced a similar issue?
What might be causing this problem, and how can I fix it?

dstillman · 2026-01-31T13:56:45+00:00

(You mean macOS, not iOS. I've edited the thread title.)

Restart in Troubleshooting Mode (Help → "Restart in Troubleshooting Mode…”), which temporarily disables all plugins. If that fixes it, you'll need to identify the plugin that's causing it and then report the problem to the plugin's developer. If not, we'd want to see a Report ID after it occurs, to start.

pasnicar · 2026-02-01T23:34:06+00:00

I am having the same problem.

dstillman · 2026-02-01T23:36:36+00:00

Same answer.

dstillman · 2026-02-01T23:39:57+00:00

If it still happens in Troubleshooting Mode, try the Zotero beta and let us know if you're still seeing it with that. If so, provide a Debug ID for Zotero startup through reproducing the problem, using the Help → Debug Output Logging → "Restart with Logging Enabled…" option.

dstillman · 2026-02-03T21:23:01+00:00

A possible fix is now available in Zotero 8.0.2. Let us know if you're still seeing it with that.

Shiting_wutong0521 · 2026-02-04T09:23:03+00:00

Thank you very much for your help. I just haven’t been using Zotero much recently. If I run into this issue again the next time I use it, I’ll follow your suggestions step by step and will get back to you promptly with feedback. Thanks again!