Yes, including you and me! Finding it difficult to change the default PDF viewer app? But I’ve got you covered! This is the ultimate blog post about switching the PDF opener or viewer app easily, with screenshots and videos, all within 59 seconds.
How to Instantly Do This
Now, the steps I discovered are quite different from what you’d typically find on the Internet. Most guides will tell you to head into the default apps section and look for an option that says Open by default for PDFs, but there’s no such option—at least not on my Samsung M33, Motorola G34, or any Android phone I’ve come across.
So, what’s the alternative? Instead of default apps, there’s an option called Opening Links. When you tap on this, you’ll see a list of apps, all the apps installed on your device. What you need to do is find the PDF application that was previously set as the default. For example, if every time you open a PDF, it opens in Google Drive, you’ll need to find Google Drive in this list.
Once you’ve tapped on Google Drive, scroll down to find the Open by default section. Here, you’ll see the option to Clear defaults—tap on it and hit Clear.
This same process applies to other devices as well. Alternatively, you can go to the All Apps list, find the current default PDF viewer, and, on the App Info page, select Set as default. You’ll see the same Clear option here as well, just like in the default apps settings.
How I Changed the Default PDF Viewer App on Android 14 for Various Smartphone Brands:
When I wanted to switch my default PDF viewer on Android 14, it was surprisingly easy, though the steps slightly varied depending on the phone brand. Here’s how I did it, and the steps you can follow to change the default PDF viewer on devices from Xiaomi, Samsung, Realme, Honor, Motorola, and others. There are three primary methods to change the default PDF viewer on your Android device:
1. General Steps for Android 14 Devices:
Open Settings: I started by going into the Settings app, which is the hub for all changes on Android devices.
Navigate to Apps: Next, I scrolled down and found the Apps or App Management section where all app-related settings are stored.
Tap on ‘Opening Links’: Instead of selecting Default Apps, which I initially thought I had to do, I tapped on Opening Links—this manages how apps open certain file types.
Find the Current Default PDF Viewer App: Here, I scrolled through the list to find the app currently opening my PDF files (like Google Drive, Mi Browser, or Samsung Notes).
Clear Defaults: I tapped on the app, scrolled down to the Open by default section, and cleared the defaults. This ensured my phone would ask me which app to use next time I opened a PDF.
Choose a New PDF Viewer: After clearing the defaults, I opened a PDF. The phone prompted me to select a new app, and I picked Adobe Acrobat as my new default. I tapped Always to make it stick.
BONUS: Why Default?
Setting a default PDF viewer on Android ensures that your preferred app automatically opens all PDF files, avoiding the need to choose each time. Android selects a default app based on your preferences and settings, making it easier to manage and read documents. If multiple PDF apps are installed, setting one as default simplifies the process by ensuring consistency when opening PDF files.
2. Device-Specific Steps for Popular Brands
Xiaomi (MIUI 14)
For my Xiaomi phone, I followed the same general steps but had to navigate slightly differently:
Go to Settings > Apps > Opening Links.
Find Mi Browser or your current PDF viewer, then tap it.
Tap Clear defaults.
Open a PDF, and select Adobe Acrobat or Google PDF Viewer as the new default.
Honor (MagicOS 7.0)
On my Honour device:
I went to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Opening Links.
Found Google Drive or another PDF viewer and tapped it.
I cleared the defaults and chose my new preferred app, tapping Always when prompted.
Realme (Realme UI 5.0)
For Realme, I did the following:
Navigate to Settings > App Management > Opening Links.
Tapped the current PDF viewer (e.g., Google Drive or WPS Office).
Cleared the defaults and set Foxit as the new PDF viewer.
Samsung (One UI 6.0)
Samsung users can follow these steps:
Head to Settings > Apps > Opening Links.
Find the current default app (e.g., Samsung Notes or Google Drive).
Clear the defaults and pick a new PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat or Google Drive.
Motorola (My UX)
On my Motorola phone:
I went into Settings > Apps & Notifications > Opening Links.
Found Google Drive or another app handling PDFs.
Cleared the defaults and selected a new app, like Foxit or Google PDF Viewer, setting it as the new default.
Check App Permissions: Ensure that your chosen PDF viewer app has the necessary permissions to access and open PDF files.
Uninstall Unwanted Viewers: If you have multiple PDF viewers installed, consider uninstalling the ones you don’t use to avoid conflicts.
Use a Third-Party App Manager: Some third-party app managers can help you manage default apps and other settings.
Best PDF Viewers?
a table highlighting some of the best free and easy-to-use PDF viewer apps for Android, based on data from forums and user comments.
App Name
Play Store Rating
Key Features
User Comments
Google PDF Viewer
4.2/5
Lightweight, integrates with Google Drive, no ads, built-in for most Android devices.
u/joelnodxd: “Google Drive comes built in with a free, perfectly usable PDF reader.”
Foxit PDF Reader
4.6/5
Fast, supports annotations, cloud integration (Google Drive, Dropbox), no premium model for basic features.
u/SinnPacked: “Foxit is a good alternative to Adobe, lightweight and reliable without pushing for premium subscriptions.”
Adobe Acrobat Reader
4.6/5
Industry standard, supports annotations, cloud sync, but some advanced features behind a paywall.
u/SaintShogun: “Adobe Acrobat fits pages properly on the screen and works great for most needs, but the startup screen is a little annoying.”
WPS Office
4.3/5
All-in-one office suite with PDF viewing and editing, can convert PDFs to other formats, lightweight and fast.
u/Debater111: “WPS Office is not just for PDFs but also covers all types of documents. Great for general use if you want to view different files in one app.”
Xodo PDF Reader
4.7/5
Powerful annotation tools, syncs with cloud storage, supports multiple file types, completely free with no ads.
u/SolidReads123: “Xodo is my go-to PDF app for highlighting and annotating research papers. It’s fast, intuitive, and doesn’t push ads like some other apps.”
PDF Viewer Pro
4.3/5
Simple interface, supports form-filling, night mode, no ads in free version.
u/Lynkr1995: “PDF Viewer Pro is simple but does the job without overwhelming you with features or ads. Great for basic reading needs.”
MuPDF
4.4/5
Lightweight, no bloatware, focuses purely on PDF reading, supports encryption.
u/LightPDFUser: “If you need a barebones app just to read PDFs without any extra bells and whistles, MuPDF is perfect. It’s extremely lightweight and fast.”
u/DocReader: “ReadEra is the best for both PDFs and ebooks. It doesn’t have ads, supports offline reading, and is super fast.”
Conclusion
Changing the default PDF viewer on Android 14 is easy across various brands. Whether you’re using Xiaomi, Honor, Samsung, Motorola, or Realme or any other brand, following these steps will help you switch to the PDF app you prefer, improving how you handle documents on your phone. By clearing defaults and selecting a new viewer, I was able to enhance my document handling experience, and you can too!
That wraps up today’s blog post! I’ve walked you through all the essential steps and techniques needed to switch or change the default PDF viewing app on your Android device. Whether you’re receiving PDF files on WhatsApp or any other app, having a default PDF viewer in place makes everything more convenient and hassle-free.
I hope you found this guide helpful! If it worked for you or if you have any questions, feel free to let me know in the comments below. Have a great day ahead!
Kunal Kashyap, the tech guru behind FixItKunal.com, simplifies complex tech issues with clear and user-friendly guides. With expertise in Android, iOS, and more, his tutorials empower users to tackle tech problems confidently. Kunal's engaging style makes technology accessible to both beginners and experts. Beyond tech, he explores psychology and keeps up with tech and business trends awarded by the Government and Namita Thapar.
