10 programs for viewing and editing PDF on Android

PDF ( .pdf ), along with DOC and DOCX , is the most popular text document format. Textbooks, fiction, student theses, Internet pages and other text files are often distributed in . pdf because they maintain display accuracy.

We will not compare different formats, but will talk about how you can open a PDF file on an Android . This can be difficult since this system doesn't have built-in programs to view or read them, but there are other options. In this article, we will look at two simple ways to open a PDF file on Android .

Applications for viewing PDF files

The easiest way is to select the desired application using the proposed rating.

Method 1: Using apps

The first thing you can do is install special applications that can open PDF files. Fortunately, there are a great many of them in the Play Store (and free ones), and there is nothing difficult to install and use.

As an example, let's look at the most popular program - Adobe Acrobat Reader . PDF editor is Adobe Systems , the company that created the format we are considering in 1993. Which, in fact, explains its popularity.

Step 1: Go to the Play Store and search for Adobe Acrobat Reader . Or just click on this link.

Step 2. On the application page, click on the “Install” button. Wait for the program to automatically download and install.

Step 3. Click on the “Open” button on the same page or on the program icon that appears on the screen.

Step 4. The system will prompt you to log in using your Google , Facebook or Adobe ID , but this is not necessary. To bypass this stage, click on the “Cross” in the upper right corner:

Step 5 . Ready! Now you can open any PDF files. The program will also offer you to read brief instructions for use.

And, actually, how to open it? On Android devices, opening a PDF file is quite easy.

Method 1. Directly in the application. To do this, click on the “Files” tab at the bottom and select the appropriate function. If the file was downloaded from the Internet to your phone, select “On this device.” If it is located in cloud storage, then select “Document Cloud”, “Google Drive” or “Dropbox” accordingly.

We will omit the moment with the cloud, since we have dedicated a separate section below for this. Let's try to open a PDF file on a smartphone. Select “On this device” and allow the application to access photos, media and files on the device.

The program will show all files of the required format that it was able to detect on the device. At the same time, they are sorted by categories, for example, “Download”, “WhatsApp Documents” (Those downloaded in the WhatsApp ) and so on. All you have to do is find the one you need and just click on it:

Ready! The file was successfully opened.

This application has additional functions for working with PDF (adding comments, highlighting text), but we will not consider them, since this is beyond the scope of the material.

Method 2. Through the device's file manager. To open a PDF file, you don't have to go into the application - you can find it on your phone. To do this, select “Files” and look for where the document was downloaded.

Then click on it and in the “Open with” window select Adobe Acrobat (or any other similar program). We indicate whether to use it by default (the “Always” button) or only for this case (the “Only Now” button). The result is similar:

Although Adobe Acrobat Reader is quite sufficient for our purposes, we have prepared a list of similar free programs that can be downloaded for free from the Play Store .

• WPS Office. This program is a replacement for the heavy mobile Word Microsoft products . Capable of opening not only PDF files, but also Excel Word text documents Power Point presentations and much more. The application also boasts a clear and user-friendly design.
• Simple PDF Reader. Nothing extra - this is a really simple PDF reader that does its job perfectly. Its main feature is its reduced system requirements (you can run it on Android 4.1, and Adobe Acrobat Reader on Android 5.0) and light weight (24 MB versus 222 MB for Adobe Acrobat Reader ). A great option for those who have little space on their device.
• Xodo PDF Reader & Editor. Another time-tested and user-tested program (as can be judged by 300,000 reviews on the Play Store ), which allows you not only to open PDF files , but also to edit them. A rich toolkit is provided for the work.
• EBookDroid. The author of this text has had this program probably since 2016. Another great “reader” in which documents can be sorted into shelves. Besides . pdf , EBookDroid is also designed to open another commonly used format - . djvu .

Pros:

• Comfortable.
• Lots of free apps.
• Rich tools for working with PDF documents.

Minuses:

• Some applications may display ads because they are free.

Questions and answers

Why can't I open PDF files on my Android phone?

Sometimes opening a PDF file on Android can be difficult. In such a case, follow these steps:

Where are my PDF files?

Finding and opening a downloaded file on your Android phone can sometimes be a headache. By default, files downloaded from your Android phone's browser should be saved or can be located in the download folder of your Android device.

If the downloaded file you are looking for is not there, using a file manager app can help you find the downloaded files on your Android device.

My PDF file is on my PC, how do I transfer it to my Android phone?

The easiest way to transfer files from your computer to your Android phone is to connect both devices using the appropriate USB cable.

The PDFs I need are stored on another Android phone. How to transfer them to my Android phone?

The easiest way to transfer files from another Android phone is to use a Bluetooth connection. To do this, turn on Bluetooth on both Android devices and pair them. Once paired, you can long press the desired file and select Bluetooth sharing. Select the device you want to share the file with, in this case, your phone. Your Android phone should receive the files that were transferred to it.

How to Open PDF Files on Amazon Android Devices

If you have a Fire tablet or any Amazon device running Android optimized for Amazon, you can download the relevant apps from the Amazon app store or directly from amazon.com itself.

WPS office

WPS Office is another all-in-one office solution that Microsoft says is something of a competitor. It allows you to open and edit various documents including spreadsheets, text documents, PDF files, PPT file and many more. You can also convert other documents to PDF. This app is best for you if you want multiple features in one app. It is free to use, with a paid version available for $29.99 per year. The paid version has no ads and some premium features.

Introduction to PDF and its features

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a widely used format for printed materials. Capable of displaying both text and images.

• documents of this format, opened on different operating systems, have the same appearance;
• it is easy to use;
• since the format includes data archiving tools, its contents are compact;
• it is secure because it allows you to configure file access levels.

Note! Documents with this extension may be difficult to edit due to the password they have set or the text they contain in the form of pictures.

This format is widely used by printing houses and equipment manufacturers due to its prevalence and the difficulty of changing documents (of course, changes can be made to them using special programs, but, as a rule, they are not significant).

Google Play Books

Download: for Android

This application is an e-book version developed by Google. Here you can purchase new files or upload your own collection to the cloud. Using this application, the user will be able to read books in day or night mode (colors and brightness are adjustable), set its scale, search by words and entire text fragments, add notes and highlight quotes. In addition to pdf, several other popular formats for e-books on mobile devices are available for use.

Advantages and disadvantages

Work off-line

You can not only read, but also listen to your favorite books

Collaborate with PDF in Google Drive

Reading part of a work before purchasing

It is possible to continue reading from the same place on another device

Paid content

Reviews

Moon+ Reader

Moon+ Reader is a convenient application with a wide range of options. There is support for annotations, highlighting, a built-in dictionary with support for different languages. Moon+ Reader supports the most popular formats such as PDF, EPUB, MOBI, CBR, CBZ. There are 5 scrolling modes, several viewing options, various flipping options, text alignment. You can even create an actual bookshelf with tags, categories, and author names.

If you're looking for a flexible, customizable tool, Moon+ Reader could be a great choice. Upgrading to the paid version removes ads, adds text-to-speech functionality, additional themes, Bluetooth control, advanced annotations, and text sharing with other users.

How to open DOC on Android

Microsoft Word and the DOC text document format are widely used. The de facto DOC format is the standard for text documents. Almost all text documents are stored in this format. Given the situation, it is not surprising that many mobile device users are interested in how to open DOC on Android.

Fortunately, there are many programs that allow you to open DOC and DOCX files on Android smartphones and tablets. We will talk about the most popular of them in this article.

Extensions for existing readers to help open PDFs

Smartphones often have pre-installed readers that are already familiar to the user, but are unable to open the PDF format.

These include, for example:

• installed by FBReader manufacturers;
• popular among Moon Reader users.

They can be adapted to read this format by downloading special plugins from the Play Market application. To do this, in its search bar you need to enter: “PDF plugin + reader name”.

After downloading and installing the plugin, this type of file will be opened by the e-reader in the same way as those originally stored in it (those that the user read in the e-reader earlier).

Note! To open this type of document in WhatsApp, you also need to have the appropriate extension. It can be found by searching: “PDF + whatsapp” and downloading the corresponding apk file.

ezPDF Reader

ezPDF Reader is one of the oldest apps on the Play Store. Although many competitors have appeared since its release, the program still remains one of the best in its field. Among its key advantages is support for additional formats, such as EPUB.

You have the ability to play audio and video, as well as view GIF animations. It supports creating annotations, highlighting, commenting, filling out forms, adding signatures, and editing images. There are several page views to suit different reading habits.

CamScanner

CamScanner is another very popular app for reading and creating PDF files. It comes with many useful features including importing and reading PDFs, scanning documents, annotating PDS, and sharing with anyone. The app is free to use, but for premium features you'll have to buy a subscription, which starts at $4.99 per month. However, for basic features like PDF reading, you don't have to spend a penny.

eBook Droid

Download: for Android

This program is very similar to the classic iBooks for Apple devices, but it is implemented for Android. It has a nice interface that is easy to figure out on your own. This application is best suited for comfortable reading of e-books, as it has a sufficient range of functions:

• support for various document formats (not just the most common ones);
• continuous scrolling of the document with convenient controls;
• automatic and manual placement of bookmarks;
• displaying a book in one or two columns;
• ability to change the scale of the book.

eBook will help make the process of reading from electronic media more enjoyable. In addition, the program works well even without an Internet connection (unlike iBooks after the latest updates).

Advantages and disadvantages

Support PDF, DjVu and many other formats

Working with font libraries

Connectable dictionaries

Handwriting

Reviews

Foxit Mobile PDF

Foxit Mobile combines two tools: a reader and an editor. It is also one of the most popular alternatives to Adobe Acrobat Reader. Developers from Foxit Dev have come up with a way to provide shared access to materials. Users can create, edit, comment on, and share documents together.

The program is distributed free of charge, supports cloud storage, conversion to other formats, filling out forms, adding annotations. There is even an audio and video playback function. A paid subscription gives you access to advanced document conversion, editing, and collaboration capabilities.

Solution

Before you go ahead and "tweak" your mobile phone, it's best to try opening the PDF file through an online PDF viewer or editor to check if the file is actually accessible. You can try many PDF editors that populate the web by attaching a document directly from your phone's memory. If it does not open, then the document is damaged. If it opens, the problem is indeed with the mobile phone.

Normal launch PDFs open directly from your phone's download manager, but there are alternatives for viewing them like Google Drive or One Drive, one of the Google apps compatible with this file type. To do this, you just need to find the downloaded file from the file manager, select it and, in the application options, select which application you want to open it with.

However, the solution to all your problems is the Adobe Acrobat Reader application, a program par excellence for viewing PDF files on any computer. If you have the app installed on your mobile phone and you are still unable to open the PDF file, the first step is to update the app to the latest version and, if the glitch persists, download the file again because it got corrupted along the way.

Source

Method 2: PDF Reader

Librera PDF Reader.
Like the Adobe Reader app, the PDF Reader app is also one of the best PDF reader apps for Android that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store (optional is Librera PDF Reader). This PDF reader application is easy to use and comes with a number of settings. It has night and full screen modes. PDF Reader also allows you to translate text using online dictionaries.

1. Download and install the PDF Reader app on your Android smartphone or tablet. A free version of the application without ads is also available. The Pro version has a function for filtering search results.
2. Make sure the PDF you want to open is saved on your Android device.
3. Using the file manager:

• go to the folder where the PDF files are saved on your Android device;
• click on the file;
• PDF Reader will open the PDF file.

You can also open a PDF file after launching PDF Reader manually. For this:

• On the Scan , find the PDF files stored on your Android device;
• click on the PDF file you want to open;
• you can also find and open the file manually by going to the Browse and navigating to the folder where the PDF file is stored on your Android device.

Screenshot of PDF Reader.

What should I do if my phone opens PDF files as photos?

To stop your smartphone from opening texts as photos, you need to install the appropriate program. If the problem persists after installation, restart your smartphone. There may have been a technical glitch. The error should disappear.

Test different applications to choose the best one for your personal use. The work of each of them can manifest itself differently, depending on the technical capabilities of the gadget used. To avoid problems when downloading a file on the Internet, select the appropriate format in advance.

View files using office suites on Android

Some office suites can open files with the PDF extension and also provide the ability to edit them.

The most common ones include:

• OfficeSuite + PDF Editor;
• WPS Office.

Both programs open a document using approximately the same algorithm:

1. You need to tap on the program shortcut.
2. In it, click on the “Open” menu item.
3. Find the file of the required format in the built-in explorer.
4. Select it. It will open for viewing and reading.

These programs can open files with other extensions (doc, rtf).

Note! Some users complain about a large number of advertisements in them. They can also take a long time to load even on smartphones with sufficient RAM.

Rating of the best programs

Which reader will be the best for you, decide for yourself. The choice of software for Android is not limited to these top 10. But from the standpoint of quality and ease of reading PDF, users consider the presented developments to be the best.

Acrobat Reader

The undisputed leader in the segment in terms of the number of downloads. Developed by Adobe. The software is available for various platforms, including Android. For many, this is the best PDF reader, suitable for Android devices and more.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the creator of the format is considered the best developer of applications and computer software designed to work with PDF.

With Acrobat Reader you can quickly import files via:

An important advantage is rightly called the absence of advertising in the mobile application. The software is available free of charge, but there is also a paid version.

Foxit Mobile

Another interesting software that allows you to easily open a file that is in PDF format. Popular among fans of Android devices.

This is a 2 in 1 program, since there is a reader and an editor at the same time.

If you purchase a paid subscription, you'll get more editing, conversion, and sharing options.

In terms of interface and functionality, this is an intermediate option between the two previous programs. Xodo has a minimalistic menu design, but at the same time offers extensive functionality. More PDF editing options are available here.

There is also a paid extended version.

eBook

Outwardly, it is in many ways reminiscent of an e-reader with a similar name, but developed for iOS. It is referred to as iBook.

There is support for an impressive list of reading formats. Namely:

Files cannot be edited.

Google Viewer

If you actively use the Drive cloud service from Google, then it definitely makes sense to install the reader in question. It works in conjunction with Drive.

But the software will function only if a document saved in the cloud storage is opened. You won't be able to use local storage, that is, the phone's internal memory. Because of this, the possibilities are somewhat limited, but this cannot be called a serious disadvantage.

Play Books

Another product from Google. In many ways, it was created in order to impose competition on Kindle electronic readers from Amazon.

Using this software, you can buy an e-book and download it to your storage, adding it to your collection. The program allows you to read PDF files, take notes, highlight text, search by fragments, quote, and use night reading mode.

An interesting and multifunctional electronic reader. Supports annotations and highlighting, and offers a built-in dictionary in a large number of languages.

Supports the most current reading file formats, including PDF. Several modes are offered for scrolling, viewing, flipping and aligning texts.

The free version contains advertising. The paid subscription does not have it.

PDF Reader

Multi-functional tool that is suitable for:

There is a function for creating annotations, as well as converting PDF format into text documents. There is gesture control functionality.

Intrusive advertising spoils the overall picture. By purchasing a subscription, you will get rid of it. In addition to PDF, it does not support other formats.

ezPDF

Almost the oldest program still available in the Android market. Despite this, he does not give up his positions. In addition to PDF, it supports several other formats.

The software allows you to watch videos, listen to audio, and view GIF animations. Here annotations are created, highlights and comments are made, forms and signatures are filled out, and images are edited.

muPDF

The software was created as a modular application. That is, the program is open source. Based on it, you can add the necessary functionality yourself. Because of this, many functions were missing in the basic version.

If you are looking for an extremely simple application to view and read PDF files, download this program. There are no advertisements, and you do not need to enter personal data during installation.

As you can see, there are more than enough PDF reading programs. There is an unconditional leader. But that doesn't mean he's the best at everything. There are worthy alternatives.

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