When you open any file on your Android phone for the first time, it asks you to choose a default app to view that file type. You will see two options — Always and Only Once. Tapping the latter will only open the file in the selected app once and then Android OS will ask you to make the selection again.
If you go with Always, you won’t be asked again. Once you’re familiar with the app and you want it to be your default, tap Always Useful. But sometimes, we accidentally touch Always lead to opening the file in the wrong application. What if the app no longer supports those files or keeps crashing?
Same thing happened to a friend of mine a few days ago with PDF files. Instead of launching in her favorite PDF viewer app, PDFs are now opened in another app. Worst of all, some files fail to open.
What do people do in such situations? The solution is very easy. You just need to change the default PDF viewer on your phone. Here’s how to go about it.
View PDF files in different PDF viewer application
To change the default PDF viewer, you first need to identify the application that has hijacked your PDF file. Then you have to remove it as your default PDF viewer application. When you do, you will be asked to choose a default app again.
Here are the detailed steps.
1. Find the culprit app
For that, open any PDF file. When it launches in the new PDF viewer, tap the Recent apps key on your phone to see all open apps. Note the name of the application that is opening your PDF file.
2. Clear defaults
Now that you know the app is guilty, it’s time to cut down on its permissions to open PDF files. There are two ways to do that.
Remove defaults from recent apps
Step 1: Open the Recent Apps screen. Then touch and hold the app icon that is launching your PDFs. Tap the App Info option.
Step 2: You will be taken to the App Info screen. Tap Advanced followed by Open by default.
Step 3: Click on Clear defaults.
Note:
Remove Defaults from Settings
If you don’t see the Application Info button, here is another way to change the PDF application.
Step 1: Go to your phone’s Settings and tap on Apps & notifications/Installed apps/Application manager depending on the option available on your phone.
Step 2: Tap the app that is opening your PDF file.
Step 3: Tap Remove defaults, if available on your phone. But if the option is missing, tap Open by Default, then Clear Defaults.
3. Set New PDF Viewer as Default
When you clear the defaults for the new PDF reader, you will be asked to set the default application when opening any PDF file. Select the app and tap Always.
How to Change Default PDF Viewer in WhatsApp
WhatsApp uses your phone’s default PDF reader to open PDF files. So follow the above methods to change the default PDF viewer on your phone and then it will also be changed for WhatsApp.
Problem 1: Can’t locate app
Some phones only show the app icon and not the name in the recent apps screen. To find the name, touch and hold the app icon in the recent apps screen. Name will be revealed. In case the name is still not displayed, you need to identify the application from its icon and then follow the steps outlined above.
If you still can’t identify the app from its icon, don’t worry. It’s possible that one of the recently downloaded apps could be causing the problem. Usually, browsers like UC Browser are accidentally downloaded by clicking on ads. These browsers come with built-in PDF viewing and applications. Such applications are responsible for taking over the default PDF viewer application.
So check your phone if you have recently downloaded any such app. Then clear its default values as mentioned in the above method.
Problem 2: Clear defaults doesn’t work
Sometimes, clearing the defaults doesn’t reset the default PDF options either. It usually happens with Google Drive PDF viewer. If that happens, you will have to disable or uninstall your PDF reader application. Then open any PDF file and you will be asked to choose a PDF reader. Select the application of your choice from the available list. Then activate or reinstall the app.
To disable or uninstall an app, go to Settings > Apps & notifications/Installed apps. Tap the app you want to disable/uninstall. Then press the Disable or Uninstall button.
Note
Best PDF Viewer for Android
Now that we are talking about PDF viewer, the post would be incomplete if we did not recommend some good viewers.
Here are three that I like:
1. Adobe Acrobat Reader
You must be familiar with Adobe Reader on your PC. This is the most popular PDF app that provides extra features like annotating, collaborating, filling out PDF forms, printing documents from the app, etc. The app is free without any ads.
2. Xodo PDF Reader & Editor
Another ad-free app is the Xodo PDF reader. It offers the same features as Adobe Reader along with a night mode. You can also create PDF files from your images using this app.
3. Moon+ . Readers
With Moon+ Reader, you can also read other types of documents, especially books in EPUB, MOBI format, etc. This application provides several themes, dual page mode and tones of auto scroll mode. among dozens of other features.
Change other default apps
So that’s how to turn PDF reader on your Android phone. You can use the same methods to change other default apps. For browser, launcher, phone and SMS, Android phones come with dedicated settings to change default apps. Navigate to Settings > Applications > Default apps. I hope Google also adds a setting specifically for PDFs.
Next up: You may have heard about resetting app preferences to fix problems on Android. What is it and how is it useful? Find the next answer.
Categories: How to
Source: thpttranhungdao.edu.vn/en/
