Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox won't allow me to attach a .pdf using AOL.com and Yahoo.com but it will let me upload .doc and other file types.

  • 3 replies
  • 4 have this problem
  • 8 views
  • Last reply by guigs

more options

I have been having a problem with Firefox and AOL.com when it comes to attaching .pdf files. It seems to only affect .pdf files when using AOL.com. I get the following error message: "The message was not sent because of an error." It also doesn't allow me to save that particular message as a draft.

I can upload other file types, granted I haven't tried to upload every single type of file type, but I was successfully able to attach the following file types: .doc; .docx; .xls; .jpg; .txt.

If I try attaching a .pdf file with any of the other file types that it usually sends, I get the same error message and am not able to send the e-mail. I can send .pdf files from AOL.com when I use Internet Explorer with no problems. Additionally, I have no problems attaching and sending .pdf files using gmail in Firefox. I also noticed that the same thing happens when I try to send a .pdf attachment using Yahoo.com, but like with AOL.com, I am able to send other file types using Yahoo.com.

I tried starting Firefox in "Safe Mode" with the Add-ons disabled, but the problem was still there. This has been going on for a few months, with the various update versions of Firefox. I have tried this on my home and work wifi networks with the same results. I use the AOL account for work, so I don't use it all that often, which is why I thought that it was a temporary glitch, but I think that it is more than just a temporary glitch.

Also, I tried various PDF files of different sizes and from different locations, with long and short file names, but all had the same result. Interestingly, if I remove the .pdf extension from a PDF file, or change the .pdf extension to a .doc extension, it lets me send the files.

I did try this on another computer that is running Windows XP with the same version of Firefox and I was able to attach and send a PDF file using AOL.com. I don't know if it is a problem isolated to my computer, or if it is something with Windows 7, but I wanted to mention that as well.

I would appreciate any help/guidance in this situation. I can still send the files using Internet Explorer, so it's not the end of the world, but if anyone has any solutions, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

Take Care, -David

I have been having a problem with Firefox and AOL.com when it comes to attaching .pdf files. It seems to only affect .pdf files when using AOL.com. I get the following error message: "The message was not sent because of an error." It also doesn't allow me to save that particular message as a draft. I can upload other file types, granted I haven't tried to upload every single type of file type, but I was successfully able to attach the following file types: .doc; .docx; .xls; .jpg; .txt. If I try attaching a .pdf file with any of the other file types that it usually sends, I get the same error message and am not able to send the e-mail. I can send .pdf files from AOL.com when I use Internet Explorer with no problems. Additionally, I have no problems attaching and sending .pdf files using gmail in Firefox. I also noticed that the same thing happens when I try to send a .pdf attachment using Yahoo.com, but like with AOL.com, I am able to send other file types using Yahoo.com. I tried starting Firefox in "Safe Mode" with the Add-ons disabled, but the problem was still there. This has been going on for a few months, with the various update versions of Firefox. I have tried this on my home and work wifi networks with the same results. I use the AOL account for work, so I don't use it all that often, which is why I thought that it was a temporary glitch, but I think that it is more than just a temporary glitch. Also, I tried various PDF files of different sizes and from different locations, with long and short file names, but all had the same result. Interestingly, if I remove the .pdf extension from a PDF file, or change the .pdf extension to a .doc extension, it lets me send the files. I did try this on another computer that is running Windows XP with the same version of Firefox and I was able to attach and send a PDF file using AOL.com. I don't know if it is a problem isolated to my computer, or if it is something with Windows 7, but I wanted to mention that as well. I would appreciate any help/guidance in this situation. I can still send the files using Internet Explorer, so it's not the end of the world, but if anyone has any solutions, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you very much. Take Care, -David

All Replies (3)

more options

Hi David, Thank you for your detailed question. It sounds like the real issue is pdf files. Are there any antivirus/firewalls that might be blocking this specific file type? or are there any preferences in your control panel that might be blocking this?

Do you have any stored preferences for PDF files in Firefox?

more options

I use Yahoo mail. I am having the same problem - I've tried I.E. and Chrome and I can attach PDF files just fine. Not with Firefox. This is a RECENT issue - I've attached the same dang files previously but can't now. Here's what I get (see attachment).

more options

@tallbarb it might be easier to take a look at the issue in a new thread, because troubleshooting information can he helpful here. However the error message in the screenshot has been cleared by others before by logging out of Yahoo mail and clearing the cache and cookies. How to clear the Firefox cache