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Forum Discussion
How do I open PDF files from Dropbox on Android devices?
Hello :-)
There is a problem with PDF files. They do not open when downloading in android devices :-(
The dropbox link is ?dl=1
There isn't any problem when downloading in Desktop PC and Apple iOS, there is problem only in Android.
Look here for the PDF file as an example: https://www.openbook.gr/se-mia-olympia-traveller-79/
There is nothing wrong with tha PDF files. If I download the same files from e.g. Gmail to my Android devices they open normally !
Can you please check it?
Thanks for the reply Giannis F. and sorry to hear this persists.
Do you notice the same behavior on other browsers other than the one you used so far?
Remember the "dl=1" parameter at the end of shared links should tell the browser to download the file(s) instead of attempting to display it so this seems to be an issue caused by the browser you use (as you say, the files and links are working fine).
Let me know what you find.
- Walter
Dropbox Staff
Sorry to hear about this Giannis F. - could you please let me know how are you generating those shared links to begin with?
Could you try replacing the "?dl=1" parameter to "?dl=0" (or to "?raw=1" if you'd like these files to render on other websites) and let me know if the issue persists?
Thanks!
I have a similar problem, but I'm using the official Dropbox addon for Gmail, so modifying the URL parameter isn't an option. The shared files can not be opened in Gmail for Android. Tested in various devices and the message is the same: "Cannot display PDF (filename.pdf is of invalid format)". The file itself is OK, can be opened on all devices if sending as attachment and also OK on a desktop computer. (BTW what grammar is this "something is of invalid"? Why not just "something is invalid"? Or is it a different meaning?)
The addon generates a "?dl=0" URL and because I'm curious I tested the link without the addon. The result is same: can't open. Tried with "?dl=1", same result with a little different error message: "Cannot display PDF (filename.pdf cannot be opened)"
Obviously I doesn't open my emails and also usually doesn't receive Dropbox files this way, so I'm not sure if this method is broken all the time or it's a new bug.
What do you think about this?
Thanks in advance,
András.- Dropbox never replied to my inquiry, so I ended up moving all my files to Google Drive and sharing through there. I just have a floating account here now.
Thanx for the immediate answer.
I generate them through the "Share" button > "Create a link" into Drobox.
When I use ?dl=0 file opens normally
When I use "?raw=1" it downloads normally and opens the PDF file !
>> But please don't tell me to chance the urls to ?raw=1 in my 5.000 files :-( I did that again in previous year when you changed the share method > It took me 2 months, not againg please.
Please help me :-(
and fix the ?dl=1 link
- Walter
Thanks for the reply Giannis F.!
When I click on the "Share" button on my end, the shared links that are generated end in "?dl=0" by default - are you seeing this behavior on shared links you created in the past or new ones?
If this is not too much of a problem for you, could you please share a link that's giving you this problem here with me so I can investigate further?
