diff --git a/src/i18n/en-US.properties b/src/i18n/en-US.properties
index a703d81d0..57a54c9d7 100644
--- a/src/i18n/en-US.properties
+++ b/src/i18n/en-US.properties
@@ -48,12 +48,16 @@ error_rate_limit=We're sorry, the preview didn't load because your request was r
 error_reupload=We're sorry, the preview didn't load. Please re-upload the file or contact Box support.
 # Preview error message shown when the user's browser doesn't support previews of this file type
 error_browser_unsupported=We're sorry, your browser doesn't support preview for {1}.
-# Preview error message shown when the file has invalid formatting (most likely a 3D file)
-error_file_type_unsupported=We're sorry, this file format is not supported.
 # Preview error message shown when an iWork file is previewed
 error_iwork=We're sorry, iWork files are not currently supported.
 # Preview error message shown when document loading fails (most likely due to password or watermark)
 error_document=We're sorry, the preview didn't load. This document may be protected.
+# Preview error message shown when the document is password protected
+error_password_protected=We're sorry the preview didn't load. This document is protected.
+# Preview error message shown when conversion was unable to process the file at the given time.
+error_try_again_later=We're sorry the preview didn't load. Please try again later.
+# Preview error message shown when conversion failed due to file contents
+error_bad_file=We're sorry the preivew didn't load. This file may be corrupted.
 
 # Media Preview
 # Label for changing speed in media player
diff --git a/src/lib/Preview.js b/src/lib/Preview.js
index 08b5ffae2..8ba71a544 100644
--- a/src/lib/Preview.js
+++ b/src/lib/Preview.js
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ class Preview extends EventEmitter {
         // If no loader then throw an unsupported error
         // If file type specific error message, throw the generic one
         if (!loader) {
-            throw new Error(FILE_EXT_ERROR_MAP[this.file.extension] || __('error_file_type_unsupported'));
+            throw new Error(FILE_EXT_ERROR_MAP[this.file.extension] || __('error_default'));
         }
 
         // Determine the viewer to use
diff --git a/src/lib/RepStatus.js b/src/lib/RepStatus.js
index 15f221677..31fe03330 100644
--- a/src/lib/RepStatus.js
+++ b/src/lib/RepStatus.js
@@ -4,13 +4,17 @@ import { STATUS_SUCCESS, STATUS_VIEWABLE } from './constants';
 
 const STATUS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MS = 2000;
 
+const ERROR_PASSWORD_PROTECTED = 'error_password_protected';
+const ERROR_TRY_AGAIN_LATER = 'error_try_again_later';
+const ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FORMAT = 'error_unsupported_format';
+
 class RepStatus extends EventEmitter {
     /**
      * Gets the status out of represenation
      *
      * @public
      * @param {Object} representation - representation object
-     * @return {string} rep status instance
+     * @return {string} rep status state
      */
     static getStatus(representation) {
         let { status } = representation;
@@ -18,6 +22,19 @@ class RepStatus extends EventEmitter {
         return status;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Gets the error code out of the representation
+     *
+     * @public
+     * @param {Object} representation - representation object
+     * @return {string} rep error code
+     */
+    static getErrorCode(representation) {
+        const { status } = representation;
+        const code = typeof status === 'object' ? status.code : representation.temp_status.code;
+        return code;
+    }
+
     /**
      * [constructor]
      *
@@ -89,9 +106,26 @@ class RepStatus extends EventEmitter {
      */
     handleResponse() {
         const status = RepStatus.getStatus(this.representation);
+        let errorCode;
+
         switch (status) {
             case 'error':
-                this.reject();
+                switch (RepStatus.getErrorCode(this.representation)) {
+                    case ERROR_PASSWORD_PROTECTED:
+                        errorCode = __('error_password_protected');
+                        break;
+                    case ERROR_TRY_AGAIN_LATER:
+                        errorCode = __('error_try_again_later');
+                        break;
+                    case ERROR_UNSUPPORTED_FORMAT:
+                        errorCode = __('error_bad_file');
+                        break;
+                    default:
+                        errorCode = __('error_refresh');
+                        break;
+                }
+
+                this.reject(errorCode);
                 break;
 
             case STATUS_SUCCESS:
diff --git a/src/lib/__tests__/RepStatus-test.js b/src/lib/__tests__/RepStatus-test.js
index 4480d63cb..c6c9e987a 100644
--- a/src/lib/__tests__/RepStatus-test.js
+++ b/src/lib/__tests__/RepStatus-test.js
@@ -48,6 +48,18 @@ describe('lib/RepStatus', () => {
         });
     });
 
+    describe('getErrorCode()', () => {
+        it('should return the code from the representation state object', () => {
+            expect(
+                RepStatus.getErrorCode({
+                    status: {
+                        code: 'conversion_failed'
+                    }
+                })
+            ).to.equal('conversion_failed');
+        });
+    });
+
     describe('constructor()', () => {
         const infoUrl = 'someUrl';
 
@@ -131,9 +143,33 @@ describe('lib/RepStatus', () => {
             repStatus.updateStatus = () => {};
         });
 
-        it('should reject if the rep status is error', () => {
-            sandbox.mock(repStatus).expects('reject');
+        it('should reject with the refresh message if the rep status is error', () => {
+            sandbox.mock(repStatus).expects('reject').withArgs(__('error_refresh'));
+            repStatus.representation.status.state = 'error';
+
+            repStatus.handleResponse();
+        });
+
+        it('should reject with the protected message if the rep status is error due to a password protected PDF', () => {
+            sandbox.mock(repStatus).expects('reject').withArgs(__('error_password_protected'));
+            repStatus.representation.status.state = 'error';
+            repStatus.representation.status.code = 'error_password_protected';
+
+            repStatus.handleResponse();
+        });
+
+        it('should reject with the try again message if the rep status is error due to unavailability', () => {
+            sandbox.mock(repStatus).expects('reject').withArgs(__('error_try_again_later'));
+            repStatus.representation.status.state = 'error';
+            repStatus.representation.status.code = 'error_try_again_later';
+
+            repStatus.handleResponse();
+        });
+
+        it('should reject with the unsupported format message if the rep status is error due a bad file', () => {
+            sandbox.mock(repStatus).expects('reject').withArgs(__('error_bad_file'));
             repStatus.representation.status.state = 'error';
+            repStatus.representation.status.code = 'error_unsupported_format';
 
             repStatus.handleResponse();
         });
diff --git a/src/lib/viewers/BaseViewer.js b/src/lib/viewers/BaseViewer.js
index 4f14c21db..fe045a195 100644
--- a/src/lib/viewers/BaseViewer.js
+++ b/src/lib/viewers/BaseViewer.js
@@ -227,13 +227,13 @@ class BaseViewer extends EventEmitter {
     };
 
     /**
-     * Emits an error when an asset (static or representation) fails to load.
+     * Triggers an error when an asset (static or representation) fails to load.
      *
-     * @emits error
+     * @param {string} [err] - Optional error message
      * @return {void}
      */
-    handleAssetError = () => {
-        this.triggerError();
+    handleAssetError = (err) => {
+        this.triggerError(err);
         this.destroyed = true;
     };
 
@@ -242,11 +242,11 @@ class BaseViewer extends EventEmitter {
      *
      * @protected
      * @emits error
-     * @param {Error} [err] - Optional error with message
+     * @param {Error|string} [err] - Optional error or string with message
      * @return {void}
      */
     triggerError(err) {
-        this.emit('error', err instanceof Error ? err : new Error(__('error_refresh')));
+        this.emit('error', err instanceof Error ? err : new Error(err || __('error_refresh')));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/lib/viewers/__tests__/BaseViewer-test.js b/src/lib/viewers/__tests__/BaseViewer-test.js
index cebeb674a..2908f51f5 100644
--- a/src/lib/viewers/__tests__/BaseViewer-test.js
+++ b/src/lib/viewers/__tests__/BaseViewer-test.js
@@ -157,6 +157,12 @@ describe('lib/viewers/BaseViewer', () => {
             expect(base.triggerError).to.be.called;
             expect(base.destroyed).to.be.true;
         });
+
+        it('should pass along the error if provided', () => {
+            sandbox.stub(base, 'triggerError');
+            base.handleAssetError('error');
+            expect(base.triggerError).to.be.calledWith('error');
+        });
     });
 
     describe('triggerError()', () => {
diff --git a/src/lib/viewers/box3d/model3d/Model3DRenderer.js b/src/lib/viewers/box3d/model3d/Model3DRenderer.js
index 77f2e613c..b15ed4ad8 100644
--- a/src/lib/viewers/box3d/model3d/Model3DRenderer.js
+++ b/src/lib/viewers/box3d/model3d/Model3DRenderer.js
@@ -346,7 +346,7 @@ class Model3DRenderer extends Box3DRenderer {
      * @return {void}
      */
     onUnsupportedRepresentation() {
-        this.emit('error', new Error(__('error_file_type_unsupported')));
+        this.emit('error', new Error(__('error_default')));
     }
 
     /**