Google’s Chrome is one of the most popular browser apps on Android devices, yet it has long not offered a native PDF viewer. However, the search titan has finally addressed this issue and has provided a built-in PDF viewer in the Chrome app for Android devices.
You no longer need a third-party app to open PDF files in Chrome for Android
Chrome is finally rolling out built-in support for opening PDF files directly inside the app on Android devices. Previously, attempting to open a downloaded or linked PDF file directly from Chrome on Android would prompt you with an “Open with” message. Then, it highlighted a third-party app like Google Drive to let you open the PDF file.
Chrome now simply opens these files without you having to exit the app. The feature was first spotted in February last year, but it wasn’t functional at the time. Chrome had an “Open PDF inline on Android pre-V” flag. The feature finally began working in December, but Google kept it locked behind these flags until now.
Supports built-in annotation, search, and more
The PDF file reader inside Chrome provides a built-in annotation functionality, which you can access by tapping the pencil icon. Tapping the icon brings up a bar that has many buttons, including one for a pen, highlighter, eraser, undo, redo, and visibility. You can pick the line width and the color for the pen and highlighter options.
As you can expect, the eraser button allows you to delete an annotation. There are two arrows to let you undo or redo your last annotation. Besides, there’s an “eye” icon that lets you scroll through the page. You can also hold and drag the annotation bar and place it anywhere on the screen. Furthermore, there’s a built-in search feature that lets you find text throughout the PDF files.
According to Android Authority, the built-in support for opening PDF files in Chrome is available on Android 15. However, the functionality hasn’t yet appeared on devices running older versions of Android. Earlier reports have indicated that it should work on devices running Android 12 or later. We will know more in the coming days after the official wider rollout of the feature.
