How to Open & Read PDF Files Natively in Google Chrome on Android?

You have to enable a hidden flag to gain access to this feature early, though. ~~~~~ Hi! Don't forget to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and hit the "Thanks" button on this video, if you can, and join our channel community here -    / @explainingandroid   Video Description ~~~~~~ As it is right now, when you click on a PDF link within Chrome on Android, it will download the file and then ask you how that file should be opened. #android #chrome On my daily driver, I already have Google Drive opening these files, but I've never been a fan of these files being downloaded and saved to my device. And pulling me out of Chrome and into a new application isn't the best way to handle things. Thankfully, Chrome now has a hidden way of natively opening up PDF files within the browser and I can show you how to enable this new feature. Requirements If you're on Android 15, then you can enable this new feature within the current stable build of Chrome. However, if you're on Android 14 or lower, then you'll need to install the Chrome Beta before you can find the correct flag to enable. Older versions of Android should be able to find this new flag within the stable version of Chrome after Google releases version 132 Which is currently scheduled to be released sometime in January of 2025. Reading PDF Files in Chrome So, I'll begin this guide for those who are already on Android 15. You'll need to launch the Chrome application. Go into a new tab and enter the following into the address bar. . . chrome://flags That should bring you to a page that looks like this. And from here, you'll want to search for the word PDF Look for this entry here. And then tap the drop down menu so that you can force the new feature to be enabled. You'll need to tap the blue relaunch button for the changes to take affect. And after the browser opens back up, try to open a PDF link within Chrome. Instead of asking you to download the file. . .or which app you want to open it in. You'll see the PDF file has opened natively within the Chrome application. You can even use the browser's search feature to find text within the file. Android 14 or Older Right now, anyone on Android 12, 13 or 14 can still use this new feature. However, to do so, you must be using version 132 of Chrome. And as of this recording, that is only available in Chrome Beta If you're watching this after version 132 of Chrome has been released to the stable build, then you'll be able to find the hidden flag without switching to the beta. But the steps are similar to what I showed you before. Go ahead and launch version 132 of Chrome. Visit the hidden Chrome Flags page. And then search for the word PDF. This time, since we're on an older version of Android, we need to enable a different flag than I showed you before. But again, after it has been enabled, relaunch the browser and then test it by opening a PDF link within Chrome. You'll see it work just like I showed you with Android 15. conclusion This is a fantastic new feature that should have been built within the Chrome web browser years ago. I'm not exactly sure why it took Google this long to implement the feature. . .but it may be due to the US government wanting the Mountain View tech giant to sell it. And to stop leveraging the popularity of its browser to use its other apps. Whatever the reason, this method is much smoother and less obtrusive than pulling me out of Chrome just to view a PDF file and I'm glad it has finally been released to the public. Let me know if you ran into any issues following this guide. And as always, please remember to like this video while also subscribing to the channel for more Android tips like this. Step by Step Tutorial ~~~~~ 1. Intro [00:00] 2. Requirements [00:44] 3. Reading PDF Files in Chrome on Android [01:28] 4. Android 14 & Older [03:09] 5. Conclusion [05:28] As an Amazon associate, I may earn a commission on sales from the links below. The Gear I Use ~~~~~ 5W "Slow" Charger - https://amzn.to/2OaUMV8 Fast Charger - https://amzn.to/3rtBsC6 MicroUSB Cable - https://amzn.to/38dkpeM USB-C Cable - https://amzn.to/2OqlTvi TPU Cases - https://amzn.to/38g9b9w USB-C to 3.5mm Dongle - https://amzn.to/3rVt7c3 USB-C to 3.5mm DAC - https://amzn.to/3CyksSJ NVIDIA Shield TV - https://amzn.to/4cZFaJz Telescopic Controller - https://amzn.to/3uDrvY9