How can I manage PDFs in Chrome on Android?

You can open and manage PDF files directly in Google Chrome on your Android device using its built-in viewer and basic tools.

To open a PDF, tap a PDF link in Chrome. The file will open automatically in Chrome’s PDF viewer or a supported app on your device.

While viewing the PDF, you can scroll through pages, zoom in or out, and navigate easily using touch gestures.

If you want to save the PDF, tap the download icon. The file will be stored in your device’s Downloads folder. You can access it later using a file manager or the Downloads section in Chrome.

To view downloaded PDFs, tap the three-dot menu in Chrome and select Downloads. From there, you can open, share, or delete files.

If you need more advanced features like editing or annotating, Chrome itself offers limited options. In that case, you can open the PDF with another app such as a dedicated PDF reader or editor installed on your device.

Important: To use these PDF features, your device must run Android 12 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Open a PDF

You can open a PDF from a website in the Chrome browser. You don't need to download the PDF or use a PDF reader.

1. On your Android device, open Chrome .
2. Go to a website with a PDF.
3. To open, tap the PDF link.

Tips:

• You can also scan a QR code to open a PDF in Chrome.
• You can't open a PDF with Chrome while in Incognito mode. You'll get a prompt to download the file when in Incognito mode.
• Your dark mode and dynamic colour preferences in Chrome carry over to your PDF. Learn how to browse in dark mode or Dark theme.
• To open a PDF in an alternative PDF viewer:
  1. At the top right, tap More   Open with… .
  2. Select your preferred PDF viewer.
     • If prompted, select Just once or Always open.

Navigate a PDF

You can navigate a PDF similar to a web page.

You can:

• Scroll through the file: When you scroll, the 'Edit' button disappears and the scroll handle shows on the right-hand side.
• Zoom in and out:
  • To zoom in, on the screen, pinch open.
  • To zoom out, on the screen, pinch closed.
• Select text:
  1. Touch and hold the text.
  2. To adjust your selection, drag the handles.

Find text in a PDF

1. In an open PDF in Chrome, at the top right, tap More .
2. Select Find in page.
3. Enter the text.
4. To find the next or previous instance of the text, select the up or down arrow.

Edit a PDF

1. In an open PDF in Chrome, at the bottom right, tap Edit .
   • The PDF opens in Google Drive.
2. From the menu, at the bottom of the screen, you can edit with:

   • Pen 

   • Highlighter 

   • Eraser 

   • Undo  or Redo 

   • Hide  or Show annotations 

Tip: If you use an Android tablet, at the left of the screen, you can find the menu.

Download a PDF

1. In an open PDF in Chrome, at the top right, tap More .
2. Tap Download .

Tip: To find all of your downloaded files, at the top right, tap More   Downloads .

Related resources

• Download a file
• Print from Chrome
• Read pages later and offline

To share a PDF, open it in Chrome, tap the menu, and choose Share. You can send the file through messaging apps, email, or cloud services.

In summary, Chrome on Android allows you to open, view, download, and share PDFs easily, while advanced editing may require additional apps.