PDF viewer troubleshooting
Fix "Viewer refreshed" errors, PDF load failures, and sync blocks in the extension PDF viewer.
Most PDF viewer problems come from a lost viewer session, expired PDF bytes, or sync conflicts. This guide covers recovery steps.
Viewer refreshed
Message: Viewer refreshed. Go back to the original PDF tab and activate again.
Cause: PDF bytes are stored temporarily in the extension background process. Reloading the viewer tab or updating the extension clears that memory.
Fix:
- Close or ignore the broken viewer tab.
- Return to the original PDF tab in your browser.
- Reactivate ZetaMarker (
Ctrl+Shift+K/Cmd+Shift+K) or click the extension icon. - If the error persists, upload the PDF to the dashboard and open it from your library.
Other load errors
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| Missing rid. Go back to the PDF tab and activate again. | Reactivate from the source PDF tab — do not bookmark the viewer URL. |
| Couldn't load PDF. Upload to ZetaMarker. | Upload via /app?upload=pdf and highlight in the dashboard. |
| Couldn't load PDF bytes. Go back and activate again. | Same as viewer refreshed — reactivate from the PDF tab. |
| Viewer container missing. | Reload the extension viewer tab or reactivate from the PDF tab. |
| Viewer error | Reload the page; if it repeats, upload the PDF to the cloud. |
While loading, the viewer shows Loading...
Sync and trash issues
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sync is blocked. Refresh highlights or reload the viewer. | Use Refresh highlights in the Options menu or reload the viewer. |
| Highlights upgraded locally, but cloud sync failed. Try Refresh highlights. | Run Refresh highlights after checking your connection. |
| Page is in Trash — restore in the web app to edit. | Restore from Trash in the dashboard. |
| Page in Trash — restore in app to sync | Same — see Pages in Trash. |
For sync conflicts (409), see Sync conflicts.
Extension updated while viewing
If ZetaMarker was updated while a tab stayed open, you may see ZetaMarker was updated. Refresh this page and reactivate it to keep highlighting. — see Extension updated — refresh the page.
Related
Fix highlights after PDF migration
Use the Needs review section after PDF highlight migration to find, place, or fix highlights that could not be anchored automatically.
Dashboard overview
Your ZetaMarker home screen — metrics, extension connection status, subscription banner, and quick links to your library.