For all of the customization options, themes, decorative apps, organization, and options that Android devices offer (with more and more coming along every day), you would think that it would be quite easy to set up a quickly accessible filing system for your PDF Files, or any other files for that matter.
Unless you have directed the PDF file somewhere else when you saved it or downloaded a new, default folder application, your PDF files will go to your Download folder, which is found under your smartphone (smart device) internal storage.
It can sometimes be a bit complicated trying to track down your PDF files or any files within the Android’s architecture. It’s the same with Apple phones, and it’s almost as if the designers of the OS on these two systems decided that it would be best to make it obscure and complicated.
Find Your Downloaded PDF Files
Whenever you download a file off of the internet, PDF files, in particular, up and vanish as soon as they are downloaded, with little indication as to whether or not they went into a particular file or what.
It’s not like Windows or Safari, where the default download location pops up, and you can choose to download it there, in another folder, or you can create an entirely new folder complete with a new name before committing to the download. With Android, as with most smartphones, you have to go hunting for it.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Android apps.
- Search through the myriad of app icons until you come across either “My Files” or “File Manager”.
- Once you open the My Files app, select “Downloads”.
- Your PDF file should be here since your Android is probably defaulted to sending all downloaded files to this location.
Finding PDF Files in the Documents Folder
Most files go to the document folder, even if, for some reason, PDF files do not. However, if you have arranged it as your default folder in the past, they may end up there. You need to open up the File app on your Android device.
You’ll see about six different apps or categories under the File App, and one of them will be “Documents”. You can open it up, and if your files are being saved there, you’ll find it no problem.
Different Strokes for Different Browsers
Not really, at least not with Opera, Google Chrome, and Firefox. Those three browsers will generally save all of your online PDF file downloads to the “Downloads” folder in your internal drive.
However, it can be tricky, especially if you are using an SD card. You can download PDF files to the SD card, thinking that you are downloading it to your external, when it’s going to the default location in the internal storage space.
You have to manually change the route to your external SD card if you’re going to save it there. Since most people who are downloading PDF files on their Androids want to be able to move that data around with a higher degree of portability, they’ll want it on their external SD card.
However, when you get into different browsers, the default settings for those may be different. Since there’s no way of knowing, as of this writing, without purchasing an Android smartphone and downloading all of those browsers to test, you would have to go into the settings of each browser and find out.
There are a lot of mobile browsers out there, including the Brave browser, Duck Duck Go, Presearch, Aloha, Microsoft Edge, Neeva, Phoenix, Cake Web, Yandex, Safari, Dolphin, and so many more that it’s a bit ridiculous.
Jumping on those browsers and downloading PDF files may send them to a completely different location from your internal storage, download folder.
What if Your Android Can’t Read PDF Files?
Then they will download, but you won’t be able to open them. Your Android should be equipped with the ability to open and read PDF files. If you have an older Android device, perhaps that’s not the case.
Your best bet in that instance would be to download an app that allows you to download and open PDF files. Adobe Acrobat and PDF Converter are both popular apps, with Adobe holding the edge on most downloads and popularity on Android devices.
Either way, both will do the trick.
Conclusion
For the most part, you won’t have to worry about where the PDF files go since the default setting will send them into the Internal Storage on the Downloads folder there. However, if you want to change that, you certainly can.
It also pays to know how different browsers treat and direct downloads, so you’re never surprised.
