This is the ultimate blog post for when Android isn’t opening PDF files, or when you can’t open any PDF files—whether in the browser, downloaded files, PDFs received from apps, or using the traditional file manager app. This is exactly what you need, with necessary screenshots and top fixes that are instant and safe. Let’s get started!
How I Instantly Fixed It
The first thing to do is clear the default PDF viewer application from the settings.
Then, download a new PDF viewer and open the PDF using this new app.
To do this, long-press to rename the file and change “.PDF” to “.pdf.”
The third fix to try is clearing the cached files of the current PDF viewer app.
If you want to follow the steps with screenshots, scroll below
How To Fix Android Not Opening Pdf Or You Cannot Open It
When I first encountered the frustrating “can’t open PDF” error on my Android device, it seemed like it came out of nowhere. One minute, everything was working fine, and the next, I couldn’t access any of my PDF files. I decided to dig deep, test several fixes, and even scoured Reddit and forums to find solutions that had worked for others. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how I solved the problem, along with feedback from other users.
Fix 1. Install or Reinstall a Reliable PDF Reader
In my case, the first thing I tried was installing a new PDF reader app. Often, the pre-installed apps, like Adobe Acrobat (not sponsored), either don’t have all the features or try to push you into their premium services, which can cause frustration. I switched to Foxit PDF and Google PDF Viewer, both lightweight, free options with excellent functionality.
Why This Works: Third-party apps like Foxit are optimized for reading PDFs without ads or forcing you to upgrade to premium.
User Comment: “Adobe Acrobat is one of the only PDF readers on the Android market that displays page contents in a sensible manner on a tablet,” mentioned Reddit user u/SinnPacked, but I found Foxit PDF simpler and faster to use.
Fix Steps:
Go to the Google Play Store.
Download Foxit or Google PDF Viewer.
Open your PDF with the newly installed app.
Fix 2. Clear the Default App for Opening PDFs
This was a big one for me. Android automatically uses a default app for certain file types, and sometimes, this default app can be outdated or glitchy. I cleared my default PDF app preferences, and it instantly prompted my phone to use a different app.
User Insight: Reddit user u/DStellati suggested, “Disable ‘use as default’… next time you open a PDF, you will be prompted to open it in a different app.”
Fix Steps:
Go to Settings > Apps.
Find the current default PDF app (e.g., Adobe Acrobat).
Scroll to Open by Default and select Clear Defaults.
Open your PDF again, and choose a different app like Google Drive or Foxit.
Fix 3. Use Built-In PDF Readers (Google Drive or Browser)
After trying a few third-party apps, I remembered that my Android device has built-in solutions like Google Drive and Chrome that can handle PDFs directly. These worked perfectly when my other apps failed. Why This Works: Google Drive and browsers like Chrome have native PDF viewers that are optimized and bug-free.
User Feedback: Redditor u/vkbra657n said, “Browsers on Android have built-in readers too,” while joelnodxd added, “Google Drive comes with a free, perfectly usable PDF reader.”
Upload your PDF to Google Drive and view it there.
Or, open the file using Chrome or Firefox.
Fix 4. Rename the PDF File
This was a surprising fix, but sometimes it’s not the app that’s the problem — it’s the file name. Files with special characters or uppercase extensions like “.PDF” may not open properly. Simply renaming the file can solve this issue. Why This Works: Some apps can’t handle certain file names or extensions, and renaming it forces the app to recognize the file.
User Tip: u/FLWVideosYT on Reddit shared, “Weirdly, if I rename the PDFs from ‘.PDF’ to ‘.pdf’, it works… so dumb.”
Long-press to Rename the file and change “.PDF” to “.pdf.”
Open the file again.
Fix 5. Clear Cache and Data of PDF Apps
When apps cache data, they do so to improve performance. However, if the cache gets corrupted, it can prevent the app from functioning correctly. This happened to me after using Adobe Acrobat for a while. Clearing the cache and app data fixed it instantly. Why This Works: Clearing cache removes temporary files that may be corrupt and causing the app to malfunction.
Fix Steps:
Go to Settings > Apps.
Select your PDF app (e.g., Adobe Acrobat).
Tap Storage, then select Clear Cache and Clear Data.
Fix 6. Disable MiniApp PDF Viewer (for Microsoft Edge)
If you’re using Microsoft Edge, the MiniApp PDF viewer can cause issues when opening PDFs. Disabling this option within the app settings cleared up the problem for me.
User Comment: Reddit user u/bibskin noted, “Disable the MiniApp PDF viewer by navigating to edge://flags/#edge-miniapp-pdf-viewer.”
Fix Steps:
Open Edge.
In the URL bar, type edge://flags/#edge-miniapp-pdf-viewer.
Find the setting and disable it.
Fix 7. Uninstall the Problematic PDF App
If all else fails, sometimes the easiest solution is to simply uninstall the problematic app and let Android default to something else. Why This Works: By removing the faulty app, you force your device to use an alternative, built-in PDF reader like Google Drive.
User Tip: u/joelnodxd suggested, “Delete Adobe” and switch to a built-in app like Google Drive.
Fix Steps:
Go to Settings > Apps.
Select the app you’re having trouble with (e.g., Adobe Acrobat).
Tap Uninstall.
Fix 8. Update Android OS or the PDF Reader App
If none of the above solutions work, the issue might be that your Android OS or PDF reader app is outdated. Keeping everything up to date ensures compatibility with new files and formats.
Fix Steps:
Go to Settings > Software Update and make sure your system is up to date.
Check for updates on the Google Play Store for your PDF reader app.
Fix 9. Use a Different File Manager
In some cases, the default File Manager might not be fully compatible with advanced file formats like PDFs. I switched to Solid Explorer to help with file handling.
Fix Steps:
Download Solid Explorer from the Google Play Store.
Navigate to your Downloads folder and try opening the file from there.
Fix 10. Factory Reset or Device Restart (Last Resort)
As a last resort, restarting or resetting your device can fix deep-rooted system issues. Just remember that factory resetting will wipe your device, so only do this if all else fails.
Fix Steps:
Hold down the Power button and select Restart.
If that doesn’t work, try a factory reset: Settings > System > Reset Options > Factory Reset.
If Gmail on your Android isn’t previewing PDFs, there could be deeper issues beyond basic glitches. I’ve found a few advanced fixes that work well. First, try clearing the cache and data for Google Play Services (Settings > Apps > Google Play Services > Storage > Clear Cache/Clear Data). Restart your phone, as this often resolves background conflicts.
If that doesn’t help, misconfigured file associations might be the issue. Download a different PDF viewer like Adobe Acrobat from the Play Store, open a PDF, and set it as the default. Another fix is to adjust battery optimization settings; go to Settings > Battery > Battery Optimization, find Gmail, and set it to Don’t optimize. This keeps Gmail’s processes running smoothly.
Alternatively, you can open PDFs through Google Drive by selecting Open with Google Drive from the attachment in Gmail. If all else fails, try a different PDF reader like Foxit or Xodo to bypass any compatibility problems with Gmail’s native viewer. These methods tackle the more technical issues that might disrupt Gmail’s ability to preview PDFs on Android.
Conclusion
In my experience, the “can’t open PDF” issue came down to trying different apps and resetting some default settings. Based on advice from Reddit and Android forums, I found that simply clearing defaults, using alternatives like Foxit, or resetting the cache solved the issue. I hope these solutions work for you too! Let me know which fix helped, and feel free to share your experience.
That’s it for today’s blog post! Today, I tried showing you all the proven ways to fix Android not opening PDF files. Last time, I shared how to change the default PDF viewer application, but some people still find it difficult to view or open these file types. I hope this helps you, and if it does, let me know in the comment section or contact us. Have a nice day!
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.
