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What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android?

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  What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-28 03:23 -0400
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-10-28 09:12 +0000
      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 23:56 -0400
        Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-31 15:16 +0100
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> - 2026-10-28 11:57 +0100
      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-28 17:20 +0000
        Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-28 15:32 -0400
          Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-10-28 19:51 +0000
            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-28 16:12 -0400
              Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-28 20:53 +0000
                Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-28 21:11 -0400
                  Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-29 12:13 +0100
                    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 14:31 -0400
                      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-10-29 18:34 +0000
                        Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 15:23 -0400
                      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-29 20:46 +0100
                        Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 20:56 -0400
                          Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-30 16:46 +0000
                            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-30 14:29 -0400
              Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-10-28 21:23 +0000
                Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-28 22:37 -0400
                  Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-10-29 09:23 +0000
                    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 21:13 -0400
                      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-10-30 07:09 +0000
          Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-28 20:53 +0100
            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-28 22:51 -0400
              Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-29 12:16 +0100
          Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-28 20:34 +0000
            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-28 22:51 -0400
              Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-29 16:28 +0000
                Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 14:54 -0400
                  Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-30 16:35 +0000
                    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-30 14:46 -0400
                      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-30 20:02 +0000
                Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-29 20:53 +0100
        Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> - 2026-10-29 09:10 +0100
          Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 15:43 -0400
            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 15:45 -0400
              Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-30 01:28 +0000
            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> - 2026-10-30 15:24 +0100
              Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Arno Welzel <usenet@arnowelzel.de> - 2026-10-30 15:28 +0100
                Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-30 14:58 -0400
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-28 11:28 +0000
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-28 12:26 +0100
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> - 2026-10-28 11:31 +0000
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? MCSM <despammed@mcsm.anonaddy.me> - 2026-10-28 13:32 +0100
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-28 13:21 +0000
      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-28 18:22 +0100
        Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-29 09:08 +0000
          Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-29 10:22 +0000
            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Jeff Layman <Jeff@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-30 18:32 +0000
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> - 2026-10-28 16:55 +0000
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-10-28 17:13 +0000
      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-29 21:40 -0400
        Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-30 00:07 -0400
          Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-10-30 07:27 +0000
            Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-30 14:58 -0400
    Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Richmond <dnomhcir@gmx.com> - 2026-10-30 07:10 +0000
      Re: What do you prefer for reading & saving PDFs on Android? Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> - 2026-10-30 15:11 -0400

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#156763

Arno Welzel, 2026-10-30 15:24:

> Maria Sophia, 2026-10-29 20:43:
> 
>> Arno Welzel wrote:
>>> Exactly - "share" *is* the "save" feature, since this allows you to use
>>> the data wherever you want. You can also "share" data it with a file
>>> manager which then saves it as file.
>>
>> Hi Arno,
>>
>> You bring up a good point, where, moments ago, I had responded to Andy 
>> after looking up the design intentions, and agree with you on this fact.
>>
>> Luckily, the solution I came up with uses the share feature to save.
>>  *PSA: I found a GREAT way to add 'save to device' to the Android share sheet (which works on apps like WA that don't want you to share to the device!)*
>>  <https://xdaforums.com/t/psa-i-found-a-great-way-to-add-save-to-device-to-the-android-share-sheet-which-works-on-apps-like-wa-that-dont-want-you-to-share-to-the-device.4806835/>
>>
>>>>   But as I mentioned in my earlier response, you can just just view the
>>>> PDF from WhatsApp and then save the file from the PDF viewer.
>>>
>>> Yes - *if* the PDF viewer has a "save" function. This was the original
>>> question in this thread - which PDF viewer provides a "save" function.
>>> And since you can just use a file manager to store data as file, I also
>>> suggested to "share" it this way:
>>
>> When I first saw you suggested "the PDF viewer" in WhatsApp, I didn't say 
>> anything because I don't see any PDF viewer inside of the WhatsApp GUI.
> 
> No, I didn't.
> 
> I assumed, that WhatsApp has a "save" feature (I never used WhatsApp).
> And if this is not the case, then use "share" and select a file manager
> like "Cx File Manager" as target where you then can save the file.

The correct name is "Cx File Explorer" not "Cx File Manager".


-- 
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de

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#156780

Arno Welzel wrote:
>> I assumed, that WhatsApp has a "save" feature (I never used WhatsApp).
>> And if this is not the case, then use "share" and select a file manager
>> like "Cx File Manager" as target where you then can save the file.
> 
> The correct name is "Cx File Explorer" not "Cx File Manager".

+1. I agree. 

It's on my system as "CX File Explorer" (as you correctly noted).
  <https://i.postimg.cc/YqnZzMvq/cxfileexplorer.jpg>

The main issue (that I didn't know, until moments ago when I tried to
document the list of apps/activities that show up in the sharesheet), is
that the sharesheet gives a DIFFERENT result on different invocations. 

That's nuts.

So, sometimes an app will show up. Sometimes it won't.
The only way I know, at this time, to get the full list, is using adb.

 C:\> adb shell cmd package query-activities -a android.intent.action.SEND -t application/pdf --user 0 | grep -E "(packageName|name=)"

That gave me 87 entries out of 54 distinct apps (64 individual activities)

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#156679

On 2026-10-28, Maria Sophia wrote:

> Needed to have two toilet wax rings replaced so I received a PDF in
> Whatsapp on Android of the $750 estimate (I ended up doing it for $15). 
>  <https://i.postimg.cc/g2kQdrwY/toilet.jpg>
>
> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF? 
> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android. 
>
> But this time, I had to read it, pronto, in order to make a decision.
> So I had to do whatever was needed to read the quote emailed to me.
>
> I tried a pre-installed Adobe Acrobat Reader but it immediately asked for a
> login, which is just nuts, so I deleted it. Next I chose QField out of the
> list, which read it, so I could see the quote, but I couldn't save the PDF.
>  <ch.opengis.qfield>

Heh. My go-to before I installed the reader I mention below was Google
Drive.

> That solved the emergency though, but it begs the question of a PDF reader.
[...]
> Anyway, I read it. I saved it. 
> But what do you prefer for reading and saving PDFs on Android?

No idea about the *saving* part, but just for reading:

I think it's relatively new, so you may not have heard of it yet:
Fossify now has a document reader: Fossify Documents.

It seems to have a "save a copy" option in the three-dots menu, if
that's what you're looking for? (Never tried it myself, though.) The
changelog for the most recent version (which I haven't installed yet)
does mention adding "share".

<https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.fossify.documents/>

Although one Fossify program (the file explorer) nagged me for donations
after a recent update, so I may end up reconsidering using their
software in general. (Mainly because this is a dark pattern, and also if
that weren't enough in itself, the cancel button was labeled "later"...)

As far as document reading is concerned, while I haven't tested it
extensively, I haven't noticed problems so far. (But there was really no
exhaustive or stress test, so take this with a massive grain of salt.)

-- 
Nuno Silva

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#156680

On 2026-10-28 08:23, Maria Sophia wrote:
> Needed to have two toilet wax rings replaced so I received a PDF in
> Whatsapp on Android of the $750 estimate (I ended up doing it for $15).
>   <https://i.postimg.cc/g2kQdrwY/toilet.jpg>
> 
> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF?
> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android.
> 
> But this time, I had to read it, pronto, in order to make a decision.
> So I had to do whatever was needed to read the quote emailed to me.
> 
> I tried a pre-installed Adobe Acrobat Reader but it immediately asked for a
> login, which is just nuts, so I deleted it. Next I chose QField out of the
> list, which read it, so I could see the quote, but I couldn't save the PDF.
>   <ch.opengis.qfield>

Why do you need to save the PDF? have you modified it? It will be in the 
same place where you got it from, ie, wasap.


> 
> That solved the emergency though, but it begs the question of a PDF reader.

In my phone I have EBookDroid, which is very good but is no longer 
available.

Firefox can read PDFs quite well, from wasap. It offers to "download" 
the file.

Collabora Office. Can export the file, which I take as "save". Can not 
resize, it displays my sample bigger than the screen.

Files by Google. Displays nicely. Offers to print. I do not see save.

Ghost Commander. No. Displays the code.



In my Tablet I have "PDF". Can "write" and "share" (for instance, with 
"Cx explorador de archivos", writes the file to downloads, possibly to 
other places.

Installed from F-droid.  I vote for this tool.


Librera FD. No menu. F-droid.

On open it asks "scroll mode", "book mode" or "musician mode".

Ah, tap in the middle of the page and several buttons appears, so that's 
the menu. Bottom right, a three dot menu includes "send file", which can 
send to "Cx file explorer" and thus save it.

It can read aloud the pdf. I tried it, it is monotone.

This is the tool I installed to read books instead of the unavailable 
EBookDroid, so it is powerful for reading.




PDF view. It is from Document reader (I installed it for reading word 
documents, possibly). Displays commercials. Installed by AppServices



> And, for the home-repair crowd, how does $750 sound for 2 toilet wax rings?

I don't know what that is.

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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#156681

In comp.mobile.android Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> wrote:
> Needed to have two toilet wax rings replaced so I received a PDF in
> Whatsapp on Android of the $750 estimate (I ended up doing it for $15). 
>  <https://i.postimg.cc/g2kQdrwY/toilet.jpg>
> 
> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF? 
> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android. 

Librera Reader:
https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.foobnix.pro.pdf.reader/

PdfViewer:
https://github.com/GrapheneOS/PdfViewer
 
> And, for the home-repair crowd, how does $750 sound for 2 toilet wax rings?

We don't have wax rings in the UK.  Seems expensive, although this thread
suggests it's in the ballpark of US pricing.  People say you should just DIY:
https://www.reddit.com/r/askaplumber/comments/175d22h/wax_ring_replacement_toilet_reinstall_cost/

Theo

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#156682

On 28/10/2026 , *Maria Sophia* wrote:
.....
> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF? 
> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android. 
.....

*Mj PDF*
https://gitlab.com/mudlej_android/mj_pdf_reader

- Open source with total privacy.
- No data collection, no ads, no tracking.
- Incognito mode that saves nothing about what you read.
- Shared files can be kept as private copies so they reopen reliably: 
always, or ask each time.

-- 
          .:. MCSM .:.
-> posting from PC with MesNews <-

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#156684

On 28/10/2026 07:23, Maria Sophia wrote:

> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF?
> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android.

> Anyway, I read it. I saved it.
> But what do you prefer for reading and saving PDFs on Android?

I have MJ PDF and Falcon PDF. The problem with these PDF readers is the 
unnecessary addition of "features" to keep up with what alternative apps 
are offering.

For example MJ PDF has on its opening screen:
"Allow file access to build your library from the PDF's on this device". 
Er, why?

I want to read a single PDF - what is it doing trying to build a 
library? It explains if I touch "Allow access" that MJ PDF needs 
permission to access all files to find and open PDF files on the phone. 
That just seems the usual weasel-wording for almost any app. Why does it 
need access to /all/ files? Why not just PDFs? Is it just the way that 
Android operates of the access requirement is worded?

Falcon PDF seemed better, at least for a while. Now I see with the 
latest update offered:
New AI Chat and Read Aloud - bring your own AI at no extra cost or use 
hosted Falcon AI.

I don't want any AI on my phone, so it won't get updated (it's a pity 
that apps don't have a "never update" option). Or at least an option to 
only update security measures and avoid new feechas.

-- 
Jeff

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#156690

On 2026-10-28 14:21, Jeff Layman wrote:
> On 28/10/2026 07:23, Maria Sophia wrote:
> 
>> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF?
>> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android.
> 
>> Anyway, I read it. I saved it.
>> But what do you prefer for reading and saving PDFs on Android?
> 
> I have MJ PDF and Falcon PDF. The problem with these PDF readers is the 
> unnecessary addition of "features" to keep up with what alternative apps 
> are offering.
> 
> For example MJ PDF has on its opening screen:
> "Allow file access to build your library from the PDF's on this device". 
> Er, why?
> 
> I want to read a single PDF - what is it doing trying to build a 
> library? It explains if I touch "Allow access" that MJ PDF needs 
> permission to access all files to find and open PDF files on the phone. 
> That just seems the usual weasel-wording for almost any app. Why does it 
> need access to /all/ files? Why not just PDFs? Is it just the way that 
> Android operates of the access requirement is worded?

It is the way Android operates. The tool filters out non pdf files (or 
the other way round). Several PDF readers do this, then present a list 
of pdfs found for you to choose.

Some tools can read a number of book formats, and create a "library view 
of your books". It is convenient.

...

-- 
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;

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#156714

On 28/10/2026 17:22, Carlos E.R. wrote:
> On 2026-10-28 14:21, Jeff Layman wrote:
>> On 28/10/2026 07:23, Maria Sophia wrote:
>>
>>> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF?
>>> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android.
>>
>>> Anyway, I read it. I saved it.
>>> But what do you prefer for reading and saving PDFs on Android?
>>
>> I have MJ PDF and Falcon PDF. The problem with these PDF readers is the
>> unnecessary addition of "features" to keep up with what alternative apps
>> are offering.
>>
>> For example MJ PDF has on its opening screen:
>> "Allow file access to build your library from the PDF's on this device".
>> Er, why?
>>
>> I want to read a single PDF - what is it doing trying to build a
>> library? It explains if I touch "Allow access" that MJ PDF needs
>> permission to access all files to find and open PDF files on the phone.
>> That just seems the usual weasel-wording for almost any app. Why does it
>> need access to /all/ files? Why not just PDFs? Is it just the way that
>> Android operates of the access requirement is worded?
> 
> It is the way Android operates. The tool filters out non pdf files (or
> the other way round). Several PDF readers do this, then present a list
> of pdfs found for you to choose.
> 
> Some tools can read a number of book formats, and create a "library view
> of your books". It is convenient.

Coincidentally, a new update has just appeared for Falcon PDF. See "All 
your docs in one place" at 
<https://play.google.com/store/search?q=falcon+pdf+app&c=apps&hl=en> 
(it's the "screenshot" of a cellphone. Just touch/click on the > and it 
will move to that photo. It says it supports PDF, Word, ePub, and 10+ 
formats).

There is a paid version of Falcon, but the free version has no ads. I 
find it hard to believe that the paid-for version covers the cost of the 
free version, and without ads how is it financed?

-- 
Jeff

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#156717

On 2026-10-29, Jeff Layman wrote:

> Coincidentally, a new update has just appeared for Falcon PDF. See
> "All your docs in one place" at
> <https://play.google.com/store/search?q=falcon+pdf+app&c=apps&hl=en>
> (it's the "screenshot" of a cellphone. Just touch/click on the > and
> it will move to that photo. It says it supports PDF, Word, ePub, and
> 10+ formats).
>
> There is a paid version of Falcon, but the free version has no ads. I
> find it hard to believe that the paid-for version covers the cost of
> the free version, and without ads how is it financed?

I can't fathom why is this surprising or hard to believe in a world full
of software developed without payment being required.

Sure, there's talk about some companies - especially among those
developing commercial software - enjoying such programs, libraries,
projects without trying to support their maintenance and/or
development. But still, the world is full of such cases of free tools,
and more notably free and open source software.

So, how is this hard to believe?

-- 
Nuno Silva

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#156775

On 29/10/2026 10:22, Nuno Silva wrote:
> On 2026-10-29, Jeff Layman wrote:
> 
>> Coincidentally, a new update has just appeared for Falcon PDF. See
>> "All your docs in one place" at
>> <https://play.google.com/store/search?q=falcon+pdf+app&c=apps&hl=en>
>> (it's the "screenshot" of a cellphone. Just touch/click on the > and
>> it will move to that photo. It says it supports PDF, Word, ePub, and
>> 10+ formats).
>>
>> There is a paid version of Falcon, but the free version has no ads. I
>> find it hard to believe that the paid-for version covers the cost of
>> the free version, and without ads how is it financed?
> 
> I can't fathom why is this surprising or hard to believe in a world full
> of software developed without payment being required.
> 
> Sure, there's talk about some companies - especially among those
> developing commercial software - enjoying such programs, libraries,
> projects without trying to support their maintenance and/or
> development. But still, the world is full of such cases of free tools,
> and more notably free and open source software.
> 
> So, how is this hard to believe?

I see that there are limits on how much the free app can be used:
<https://falconpdf.com/docs/app/pdf-tools/usage-limits>. I guess that's 
how their economics work.

Not sure how good the latest updates are, but the May '26 one evidently 
messed up a pretty good product.
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.avrapps.pdfviewer&hl=en>

-- 
Jeff

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#156687

Maria Sophia wrote:
>
> Needed to have two toilet wax rings replaced so I received a PDF in
> Whatsapp on Android of the $750 estimate (I ended up doing it for $15). 
>  <https://i.postimg.cc/g2kQdrwY/toilet.jpg>
>
> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF? 
> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android. 
>
> But this time, I had to read it, pronto, in order to make a decision.
> So I had to do whatever was needed to read the quote emailed to me.

  WhatsApp can just invoke ('Open with') the bundled PDF viewers. For
your Samsung phone, you have a choice of four: OneDrive, (Google) Drive,
Microsoft 365 and Samsung's PDF reader. Given your concerns, the latter
is probably best for you. Samsung's PDF reader also has 'Save as' in its
three dots menu.

  So no need to install anything else.

[...]

> But what do you prefer for reading and saving PDFs on Android?

  I mostly use the (Google) Drive PDF viewer (no it doesn't upload,
unless you want to), but it doesn't have a 'Save as' (which can mostly
be worked around).

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#156688

Maria Sophia wrote:

> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF?
> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android.
On Windows, I prefer sumatraPDF as a viewer (It does have annotation, 
but not form-filling or document editing) and I wish it had an android 
version, but no.

I've got something against javascript PDF viewers built-in to browsers, 
they used to be slow, I know that's no longer true, but I prefer an 
external program.

So MuPDF seems to have a similar approach, be quick and lightweight, 
which is all I'm likely to want to do on a phone/tablet.

I only use Acrobat when I have to ... I see it trip customer machines up 
too often, with its hooks into Explorer/Word/Outlook.

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#156750

Andy Burns wrote:
>> My question is what free no registration Android app reads and saves PDF?
>> I rarely (actually almost never) deal with PDFs on Android.
> On Windows, I prefer sumatraPDF as a viewer (It does have annotation, 
> but not form-filling or document editing) and I wish it had an android 
> version, but no.
> 
> I've got something against javascript PDF viewers built-in to browsers, 
> they used to be slow, I know that's no longer true, but I prefer an 
> external program.
> 
> So MuPDF seems to have a similar approach, be quick and lightweight, 
> which is all I'm likely to want to do on a phone/tablet.
> 
> I only use Acrobat when I have to ... I see it trip customer machines up 
> too often, with its hooks into Explorer/Word/Outlook.

As I noted in the OP, I first tried the Adobe Acrobat Reader, but I was
appalled that it asked me to create an account just to read a PDF file.

Then I used the next on the list of very many PDF readers on my system.
And that worked. <https://i.postimg.cc/tRmWnpFP/whatsappshare.jpg>

It was just next on the list of the very many readers of PDF files.

But it sucked as a PDF reader 'cuz it was designed to add geolocation to
map PDFs, but it was "good enough" for me to create the JPEG of the PDF.
 <https://i.postimg.cc/g2kQdrwY/toilet.jpg>

Then, I tried a few of the PDF readers on my long list of PDF readers.
And they all sucked, in my humble opinion.

Plus, some of them wouldn't SAVE the PDF into the file storage so that I
could copy the saved PDF over to Android so that I could convert it to JPG.
(Which I only needed so that I could post the results as a JPG on this ng.)

Luckily, the UNIVERSAL solution I came up with was to add a "Save as" to
the "Share to", which I thank you (and others) for pointing out that
Android prefers "Open with" or "Share to" in order to process PDF
attachments.

That is, we can:
 1. Longpress the PDF attachment and "Open with" a PDF reader, or, 
 2. Longpress the PDF attachment and "Share to" a file saver.

If we wish to SAVE the PDF to open file storage, that PDF reader in the
"Open with" selection must have the ability to save, but most have that.

It's this new ability to "Share to" a "Save as" that is universally useful!
 <https://i.postimg.cc/B6ryMZpn/saveasfile.jpg>

That's a quantum leap in our capabilities becasue it allows us to do things
that OEMs don't want us to do (like save APKs from the Google Play Store).
-- 
Usenet is where kind-hearted well-educated people gather to share ideas.

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#156754

Maria Sophia wrote:
>  1. Longpress the PDF attachment and "Open with" a PDF reader, or, 
>  2. Longpress the PDF attachment and "Share to" a file saver.

Hey Andy,

I trust you. Can you test a PDF attachment to WhatsApp for the team?

When I try to OpenWith a PDF attachment from WhatsApp, 0 browsers show up.
 <https://i.postimg.cc/tRmWnpFP/whatsappshare.jpg>

But I have a billion web browsers installed on Android.
So do you most likely.

Can you (or someone else reliable) test the solution that multiple people
proposed, which is open the PDF in a web browser from the WA OpenWith menu?

Do _you_ see any web browsers showing up in the WA PDF OpenWith menu?
I don't.

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#156759

Maria Sophia wrote:

> Can you test a PDF attachment to WhatsApp for the team?

I don't use WhatsApp.

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#156779

Andy Burns wrote:
>> Can you test a PDF attachment to WhatsApp for the team?
> 
> I don't use WhatsApp.

Isn't the Android sharesheet common across all apps (not just WhatsApp)?

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#156758

Maria Sophia <mariasophia@comprehension.com> writes:


> But what do you prefer for reading and saving PDFs on Android?

You don't want to know.

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#156782

Richmond wrote:
>> But what do you prefer for reading and saving PDFs on Android?
> 
> You don't want to know.

That's not a bad observation when some people suggest to use a web browser
while others suggest a file explorer while others suggest a dedicated PDF
reader and when I test each suggestion, I find that I can't even see any
web browsers in the ShareTo sharesheet when I longpress a PDF in WhatsApp.

So it was doomed to "look" like that because the two questions are
completely different, and when paired with WhatsApp, a Venn Diagram mess.

Therefore... I openly and publicly admit it was a DUMB IDEA for me to mix 
 1. WhatsApp sharesheet/saveas/openwith
 2. With what is the best PDF reader
Simply because the 1st question already has IMMENSELY COMPLICATED answers.

I repeat: *I should not have conflated the two tasks.*

 a. Getting a PDF out of whatsapp turned out to have many solutions
 b. But one of which was to simply turn the ShareTo into a SaveAs
 c. But that surfaced the capriciousness of the Android sharesheet

So both halves of the question hid unknown complexities, such as:
 A. You can't share to a good PDF reader if it doesn't show up, and, 
 B. What shows up is capricious as hell by design (which is just nuts)

Luckily, there are "supposedly" solutions to the capriciousness.
    *Android's share menu could finally be more consistent in Android 14*
    <https://www.esper.io/blog/android-14-share-menu>
     "Android 14 is expected to bring more consistency to the share menu, 
      which has long frustrated users and developers with its unpredictable 
      behavior across apps. Google is working to give apps and users more 
      control over what appears in the sheet and in what order."

  *App Pinning inside the Sharesheet*
  <https://en.androidayuda.com/android/Tutorials/How-to-customize-the-sharing-menu-on-Android--fix-apps--organize-shortcuts--and-get-the-most-out-of-it-on-Samsung--Xiaomi--and-more./>

But neither of them worked for me on my Android 13 phone.

Sigh.
My bad. 

This thread was too complicated from the start to have clean answers.
I apologize. I was in a rush at the time. And made it too complicated.

I will strive not to make the question so complicated next time.

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