To read a PDF on Android, find the file in your Files app or Downloads folder, tap it, and choose a PDF viewer if Android asks. To send it to someone, use Share and check both the file and recipient before sending.
Find your document
Open your phone’s file manager, often called Files or My Files. Check Downloads for files saved from a browser. If someone sent a document in email or a messaging app, open that message and download or save the attachment first.
Android screens and labels vary by phone. Search for the filename or look for files ending in .pdf. A cloud file may need an internet connection to download before a viewer can open it.
Open it in a viewer
- Tap the PDF you want to read.
- If Android asks which app to use, choose an installed PDF viewer such as PP PDF.
- If offered a choice between “Just once” and “Always”, use “Just once” while you decide which viewer you prefer.
- Check that the document opens and that its pages are readable.
In PP PDF, you can read PDFs and search supported documents. A scanned page may be an image rather than searchable text, so a search with no results does not always mean the words are absent.
Share the right file
- Finish any changes and save or export the resulting document.
- Open the saved result to confirm its pages and filename.
- Choose Share from the viewer or file manager, then select your email or messaging app.
- Check the recipient and attachment before sending.
Sharing a document gives the selected app access to that file. Avoid sending private documents to unfamiliar apps, and keep an original copy before editing important files.
If something goes wrong
The file is missing
Return to the original message or download source and check whether the download completed. Look in Downloads and search by filename. Do not clear an app’s storage as a first troubleshooting step.
The PDF will not open
Check that the file downloaded completely. If only one document fails, request another copy from its sender. A password-protected file may need its password or a viewer that supports that protection.
The attachment is too large
PP PDF includes compression for supported files. The result depends on the document: an already compressed file may not become much smaller. Check the output’s readability before sharing it.
Still need help?
Visit PP PDF support. Describe the problem and file type first; there is no need to email a confidential document to report an issue.