This wikiHow teaches you how to open a PDF file on an Android smartphone. The easiest way to open it is to install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application, which allows you to open downloaded PDF files, as well as PDF files sent as email attachments. You can also use the free Google Drive app to open PDF files on your device.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Installing Adobe Acrobat Reader
Step 1. Open
Google Play Store.
This app icon looks like a colorful triangle on a white background and you can find it on the page/app drawer.
If the Google Play Store is split into more than one app, tap the option “ Google Play Store Games ”.
Step 2. Touch the search bar
This bar is at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Type in adobe acrobat reader
A drop-down menu with the appropriate search results will be displayed below the search bar.
Step 4. Touch Adobe Acrobat Reader
This Adobe logo is the top search result in the drop-down menu. Once touched, the Adobe Acrobat Reader page will open.
Step 5. Touch INSTALL
It's a green button on the right side of the screen. After that, the Adobe Acrobat Reader application will be downloaded.
You may need to touch the “ ACCEPT ” when prompted to start the download process immediately.
Step 6. Wait for Adobe Acrobat Reader to finish downloading
Once the app is finished downloading, you can open a previously downloaded PDF file or open a PDF file online.
Part 2 of 4: Opening a Downloaded PDF File
Step 1. Open Adobe Acrobat Reader
Touch the button “ OPEN ” in the Google Play Store window, or tap the red and white triangular Adobe Acrobat Reader app icon in the page/app drawer.
Step 2. Scroll through the tutorial pages
Swipe from right to left until you reach the end of the tutorial page.
Step 3. Touch Get Started
It's a blue button at the bottom of the page.
Step 4. Touch the LOCAL tab
This tab is at the top of the screen. After that, a list of files stored on your Android device will be displayed.
This method can only be followed if you have downloaded the PDF file to your device but cannot open it. If the file is not saved on your device, you will need to follow another method
Step 5. Touch the ALLOW button when prompted
Once touched, Adobe Acrobat can access Android storage space.
Step 6. Reload the page
Swipe down the center of the screen, then leave the tab “ LOCAL ” reloaded.
It may take a few minutes for Adobe Acrobat Reader to find the saved PDF files. Therefore, be patient
Step 7. Select the PDF file
Touch the PDF file that you want to open. After that, the file will be displayed immediately and you can see its contents.
Part 3 of 4: Opening PDF Files Online
Step 1. Access the online PDF file you want to view
Open the application or web page that contains the PDF file you want to view.
For example, if you want to open a PDF file that was sent as an email attachment, open the Gmail app and view the desired email
Step 2. Select the PDF file
Touch the attachment or link of the PDF file to open it.
-
If you touch a PDF file in Google Chrome, it will open immediately so you don't have to follow the other methods. However, you can still download files by touching the “ Download ”
buttons.
Step 3. Touch Adobe Acrobat Reader when prompted
This option is in a pop-up menu that asks you to select a program to open the link or attachment.
If Adobe Acrobat Reader is the only PDF reader on your device, you will not be prompted to select an application because Adobe Acrobat Reader will open immediately. In this situation, skip this step and the next
Step 4. Touch ALWAYS
Once the option is selected, Adobe Acrobat Reader will be set as the device's primary PDF viewer program and the PDF file will be opened in the program.
Step 5. Wait for the PDF file to open
This process can take a few minutes, especially if this is your first time using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Once the file is open, you are free to view it as you would any other PDF file.
Step 6. Download the PDF file that cannot be opened
If you can't open a PDF file that's in your browser or app, follow these steps according to the type of file you have:
-
Email attachments - Touch the button “ Download ”
in the PDF preview window, then confirm your selection and/or select a location to save the file if prompted.
- Web link - Touch the link, select the button “ ⋮ ” in the upper right corner of the screen, touch “ Download ”, then confirm your selection and/or select a file storage location if prompted.
Part 4 of 4: Using Google Drive
Step 1. Install Google Drive if you don't already have it on your device
Like Chrome, Google Drive can be used to view PDF documents, although they need to be uploaded to Google Drive first. To install Google Drive, go to
Google Play Store, then follow these steps:
- Touch the search bar.
- Type in google drive, then select " Google Drive ” from the drop-down menu.
- Touch " INSTALL, then select " ACCEPT ” if requested.
Step 2. Open Google Drive
Touch the Google Drive app icon that looks like a green, yellow, and blue triangle, or tap the “ OPEN ” in the Google Play Store window if you have the app installed. The Google Drive login page will appear after that.
Step 3. Log in to your account
Touch the account you want to use in Google Drive, then enter the account password if prompted.
- If you only have one Google account on your device, you may be automatically signed in to the account.
- If you already have Google Drive installed and signed in to your account on the device, skip this step and the next.
Step 4. Touch the SKIP button
It's in the lower-left corner of the screen. After that, the Google Drive tutorial will be skipped and you will be taken to the Google Drive folder.
Step 5. Add PDF files to Google Drive
This process will differ depending on the location of the PDF file (eg on your computer or Android device):
- Desktop computer - Go to https://drive.google.com/ and sign in to your account, then click the “ New ", choose " File upload ”, select the PDF file, and click the “button Open ” (Windows) or “ Choose (Mac).
- Android - Touch the button “ +", choose " Upload ”, select the PDF file, and touch the “button ALLOW ” if requested.
Step 6. Select the PDF file
Find the uploaded PDF file, then tap its icon. The PDF file will open in Google Drive and you can use it as needed.
