Incorrect Display of PDF Files on iOS 18.2 (Color Inversion or Missing Images)

Problem Description:

On devices running iOS 18.2, certain PDF files are displayed incorrectly:


1. Images within the PDF appear with inverted colors.

2. In some cases, images are entirely missing, leaving blank spaces instead.


Interestingly, the same PDF files display correctly on laptops and other devices, which rules out file corruption as the root cause.


Steps to Reproduce:


1. Open a PDF file containing embedded images on a device running iOS 18.2 (e.g., using the built-in PDFKit renderer).

2. Observe the rendering of images within the file.


Expected Result:

The PDF file should display images correctly, as it does on other devices (e.g., laptops or older versions of iOS).


Actual Result:

Images appear with inverted colors or are entirely missing from the PDF display.


Additional Information:


• The issue is reproducible only on iOS 18.2.

• Accessibility settings (such as color inversion) were checked, and the issue is not caused by device-level settings.

• Opening the same PDF file in third-party apps like Adobe Acrobat Reader often results in correct image rendering.

Posted on Dec 24, 2024 01:37 AM

Reply
3 replies

Feb 7, 2025 11:32 PM in response to dmytro232

i have the same issue as well. Same pdfs that have worked before now don’t show images or nothing at all when opened in tertiary apps like goodnotes, viewing them in safari, or in the files app itself. however, importing them into word magically makes these unusable pdf go back to normal for the duration you look at it in word as a word file


using ios 18.3 on Ipad

Dec 24, 2024 02:47 AM in response to dmytro232

Please get in touch with the sender of PDF files. Tell them to ensure PDFs are created using standard methods and settings. Sometimes non-standard image formats or compression methods can cause rendering issues.


Some PDF files cannot be read by iOS directly. Alternative, save the attachment to the Files app and open it on the Adobe Acrobat Reader app.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Incorrect Display of PDF Files on iOS 18.2 (Color Inversion or Missing Images)

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.