# Preview Does not **URL:** \ **Category:** Elements\ **Created:** [May 29, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814 "2025-05-29T03:27:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gudnuz](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/gudnuz/32/29127_2.png) [@gudnuz](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/gudnuz)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/1 "2025-05-29T03:27:46Z")
I think I broke preview. I am not sure what I did differently. Will not open in Safari or Chrome anymore. elementsapp://downloadDocument/VnZazBdOupd3 ---
**Author:** ![maxken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@maxken](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/maxken)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/2 "2025-05-29T03:38:24Z")
> [@gudnuz](#): > > elementsapp://downloadDocument/VnZazBdOupd3 It looks like none of your pages are selected as the Home Page. Right click the page you want to be the home page and select “Set as Home Page”. ---
**Author:** ![gudnuz](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/gudnuz/32/29127_2.png) [@gudnuz](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/gudnuz)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/3 "2025-05-29T03:52:09Z")
You guys are so fast! Thank you. I knew it had to be something stupid I did. ---
**Author:** ![maxken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@maxken](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/maxken)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 6:33am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/4 "2025-05-29T06:33:12Z")
No, not stupid at all. Hopefully RM have this on their list to fix. Maybe add a warning/advisory message about not having a nominated home page when previewing - similar to what happens when publishing without a home page … ![Screenshot 2025-05-29 at 16.29.27](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/7/b/7b322de1addf1afef8dfcc87c5b0b6fce4b0a83a.png) ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2025, 8:19am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/5 "2025-05-29T08:19:37Z")
Yes, this is indeed a bug, it’s scheduled to be fixed soon! ---
**Author:** ![Lafin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lafin](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Lafin)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2025, 11:08pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/6 "2025-08-21T23:08:09Z")
I’m new to Elements and my home page is no longer previewing. I get this message: **Notice** : fread(): Read of 8192 bytes failed with errno=21 Is a directory in **/Ap** The other two pages are successfully previewing. Thanks for any help. Edit: When I duplicate the page I now get this message in Safari when trying to preview: **Notice** : fread(): Read of 8192 bytes failed with errno=21 Is a directory in **/Applications/Elements.app/Contents/Resources/RWWebServerLaunch.php** ---
**Author:** ![PMUK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7993a0/32.png) [@PMUK](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/PMUK)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 8:58am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/7 "2025-08-22T08:58:56Z")
Welcome and dont forget to ask @elementsbot for help while waiting. Can you assist with the above ---
**Author:** ![elementsbot](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/elementsbot/32/33134_2.png) [@elementsbot](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/elementsbot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 8:59am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/8 "2025-08-22T08:59:15Z")
Absolutely, Lafin! 🛠 Let’s get this home page preview sorted so you can get back to building your Elements masterpiece (and not staring at PHP error gobbledygook). ### What’s _probably_ happening? That **fread() error** usually means Elements is trying to read something that isn’t actually a web page file—often because a page got corrupted, renamed oddly, or is pointing at a directory instead of a file. Since your other pages preview okay, the good news is: it’s not a general Elements or web server problem. Phew! * * * ### Troubleshooting Steps #### 1. **Check Your Home Page** - Make sure only one page is set as “Home” (little house icon). - Right-click your actual Home page in the Pages sidebar and select **“Set as Home Page”** —even if it already looks set. This will reset the “home” status. #### 2. **Duplicate ≠ Fix** - Duplicating sometimes just copies over the problem. Instead: - Try creating a **fresh new page** (not a duplicate), add a simple heading, and set _that_ as the Home page. - Now try Preview—does it work? - If yes: The old home page is corrupted somehow. Try rebuilding it piece by piece. - If no: There’s a deeper gremlin—keep going! #### 3. **Check for Weird Files or Folders** - If you’ve imported files, renamed things strangely, or dragged folders into the Pages area, Elements might get confused. - Try removing any non-page items or odd folders from your project, then try Preview again. #### 4. **Restart & Re-Preview** - Save your work, quit Elements, reopen, and Preview again. - Still broken? Try restarting your Mac, just to be safe (I know, classic IT advice). #### 5. **Reset Preferences (if desperate)** - Optionally, hold down Option and go to **Help \> Clear Application Preferences** in Elements. _(You’ll need to set up your preferences again after.)_ * * * ### Still stuck? You might have found an especially spicy bug! If so: 1. Zip your project (or a cut-down demo version that shows the problem). 2. Email it to [support@realmacsoftware.com](mailto:support@realmacsoftware.com) 3. Or [post a link here (if you’re comfortable)](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/c/rapidweaver-elements/beta-feedback/57) and tag the devs: @dan, @tpbradley You can also check the [Elements Troubleshooting docs here (Preview section)](https://docs.realmacsoftware.com/elements-docs/troubleshooting/). * * * Let me know what happens at each step and I’ll help you debug! (And thanks PMUK for summoning me. I live for this stuff… and for making Dan nervous about bug reports. 😅) _Tip: Set a home page early to avoid future drama. The software, tragically, isn’t psychic. Yet._ ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/9 "2025-08-22T12:23:38Z")
> [@Lafin](#): > > I’m new to Elements and my home page is no longer previewing. I get this message: > > **Notice** : fread(): Read of 8192 bytes failed with errno=21 Is a directory in **/Ap** I know it’s a hassle, but can you try restarting your Mac to resolve this issue? Let me know how you get on. ---
**Author:** ![Lafin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lafin](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Lafin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/10 "2025-08-22T14:40:37Z")
Hi Dan, Thanks for the help. Restarting did not fix the issue. Fortunately I hadn’t gotten very far in the build and started over with a fresh file. Now, when I randomly experiment- I do it on a fresh file so I have my backup. I’m not sure what I did to corrupt the file- maybe dragging files in. I’ll pay more systematic attention to my experiments for now on. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/11 "2025-08-22T19:12:10Z")
If you have a file that always displays this error, please share it with us via Elements Cloud so we can look into what the issue might be 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lafin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lafin](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Lafin)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2025, 11:01pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/12 "2025-08-22T23:01:38Z")
Upload done. ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 11:00am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/13 "2025-08-23T11:00:57Z")
Can you share the Elements Cloud URL with us via email, [forumsupport@realmacsoftware.com](mailto:forumsupport@realmacsoftware.com) and please include a link to this thread so we know what it’s about 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2025, 10:24pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/14 "2025-08-23T22:24:25Z")
Hi @Lafin There’s a bit of a bug there we need to fix, but to work around this enter a website address in the Project Settings. Your page will then render in Safari when previewing it 🙂 ![CleanShot 2025-08-23 at 11 .22.58@2x](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/uploads/realmacsoftware1/original/3X/7/0/70da3c7c4fad03c6f39b3f7dd86d0c168ed329c0.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Lafin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lafin](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/Lafin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/15 "2025-08-24T01:58:12Z")
You’ve fixed it! I’m impressed with your attention and customer service. Thank you so much. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![dan](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex005/user_avatar/forums.realmacsoftware.com/dan/32/28516_2.png) [@dan](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/u/dan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2025, 1:58pm UTC](https://forums.realmacsoftware.com/t/preview-does-not/47814/16 "2025-08-24T13:58:44Z")
Thanks, and I’m glad it’s sorted for you 🙂