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PDF Preview functionality - how to disable?

I really, really dislike the Dropbox PDF preview functionality. It served my needs much better to have the PDF I click on in Dropbox open directly in Acrobat Reader. Is there a way to switch the PDF preview off? If not, I strongly request that become a future option. PDF preview in dropbox may be great for some users, but for me, it's terrible. Thanks.

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310EI

Hello, Mike...

You didn't mention if you're trying to view the PDF on a: PC, Mac, iPhone or Smartphone or what your default browser is so my answers may not help you. I use Firefox and Chrome on a PC and in either, the PDF files preview nicely.

Only way that I know to look at a PDF file in the viewer of your choice would be to download it to your computer. When you click on that PDF, then it should open with Adobe Reader.

Below are a few articles you can read that may help you if you haven't seen them already.

RENDER A FILE IN YOUR BROWSER:

https://www.dropbox.com/help/201

WHAT TYPES OF FILES CAN BE STORED/VIEWED ON DROPBOX:

https://www.dropbox.com/help/6

Out of curiosity... how does below PDF render on your device?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ml2xxb142vdbu1f/DBx_GettingStarted.pdf?raw=1

[above link will expire]

NOTE:

You may have to copy/paste above PDF link into a new browser tab to make sure it's rendering as intended vs clicking on it within the forum.

Let me know when you have time.

mike m.10

I'm talking about the PDF Preview functionality in the Android app on a tablet. Version 2.4.7.18. I have the Reader app on the tablet and in all prior versions of Dropbox, the PDF opened automatically in the Reader app. Now PDF's open in the dropbox app first and I have to click a couple of buttons to send it to the Reader app. Would prefer to turn off this functionality.

Govert V.

I do so totally agree with this. It doesn't only do this for pdfs, but also for office and other files. Wanting to preview the file when clicking it is actually the exception, not the rule. Typically I want to open the file and do something. Dropbox should not want to offer an alternative to dedicated apps; it's the wrong battle for them to pick.

Giangi H.

I just come here on this forum for the very same question

HOW TO DISABLE ON ANDROID THE EMBEDDED PDF (AND ANY OTHER TOO LIKE THE RECENTLY ADDED EXCEL!!!) VIEWER???????

I could "accept" to let it kick in for pdf files stored inside Dropbox, but not when, for example, I'm opening a pdf attached to an email!

Please add options for:

* enable PDF viewer YES/NO

- enable outside DB too? YES/NO

* enable "whatever" viewer YES/NO

- enable outside DB too? YES/NO

Simon H.18

Oh yes, this is an absolute pain. How dare Dropbox foist this on us without an option to switch it off.

On my smartphone I want to view these documents in Adobe Reader, Spreadsheet etc. because they have full functionality (edit, bookmark etc.), the Dropbox viewer has not.

So, what happens. Find the file I want to work with, tap on it. Oh no! Forgot it opens in Dropbox viewer. Close it again. Long hold, open with, and at last I have what I want.

What a waste of time and productivity.

Dropbox PLEASE give us the option to switch it off. I'm far too old to remember to long hold every time!!!

Gary E.7

I really like the pdf preview functionality. Please dont get rid of this option

Giangi H.

Nobody asked to remove this feature but to add a simple OPTION to let the user be able to DISABLE it!!

It's unbelievable that DB is simply IGNORING these requests.

Keith S.15

This feature makes it impossible for me to use Dropbox for PDF-download links. I don't want it previewed. I want it downloaded.

And if I do have to put up with the preview, don't break up my spreads. I didn't save it in single pages. I saved it as spreads on purpose. That's how it's meant to be viewed, and being forced into single pages screws it up.

I know you're trying to help, but please ask first.

Cate C.2

And another request for an option to disable this feature. It drives me nuts that clicking on the file I want to edit (usually word or excel) then won't just open for me to edit.

It's doubly annoying for me since the dcoument editor I use also opens the file in 'protected; mode, so it takes me about five steps to get to the place I need to be.

Allow me to decide what clicking on a file does, or I'll start using OneDrive....

joshua s.27

yes, this is so annoying that i'm looking for an alternative service. otherwise is love love dropbox!

S O.

I just want to add my +1 vote for making the preview an exception rather than the default, it's quite annoying, especially since it forces you to the top of the pdf every time the screen sleeps.

Keith S.15

And it doesn't even work right. The PDF I just Dropboxed to a client has elements in it that don't show up in the preview, thought they're right there if you download it and view it in Acrobat.

Dropbox: Seriously. Please. THIS DOES NOT WORK. Please get rid of it. Please. You can have my dessert. I'll be your best friend.

Kevin D.3

Please make preview an option. I click on an xslx in DB. It fails and says preview not available. I click open with and it opens in documents to go. When I save it saves Ok, but tries to go to preview again and fails. This is awful.

Holly H.7

I agree that this should be an opt in "feature". While a preview in and of itself wouldn't be bad, it is magnified at 200-300% so you have to scroll to actually see the whole document. People who may not look to see the "download" option above are confused and it doesn't serve the purpose for us to have them receive the info from the link this way.

Nigel G.6

I agree this is a completely useless feature. I have apps I use for business and dropbox makes it almost impossible to use. I may end up dropping Dropbox all together and use strictly my Google or one drive.. Oh btw I am currently using dropbox for 1 TB of data.

Ivars N.

It really slows down my work to have my PDF files open in preview. I want to decide myself how to open my files and do not want BIG BROTHER decide for me. It seems logical that PDF files should be opened by Acrobat where they were generated and not by some other application unless I want to do it. It is very strange that Apple after nearly a year of severe complaints have not introduced an easily available way of turning off the preview default.

Matt H.52

I despise this "function" as well. Please allow us to disable previews.

William S.14

Totally agree with this.

It is apauling that Dropbox adds all these hurdles to prevent easy access to your files.

Since Feb 2016 dropbox has:

- Horror menu: Starts with history instead of folder view. No way to reverse this.

- Horror viewers: When tapping a file cheap viewers instead of far better apps, some of which you may have paid for.

I am a grown up. Can I please decide for myself how I want to work????

Megan C.13

I really wish we had the option to enable or disable the preview. I cannot stand it in certain situations.

I'm a graphic designer at a sign shop, and often times I will use Dropbox to send proofs to my customers (when the files are too large to attach to an Email).

Often I WANT them to download the file, and not just preview it, so that they have it on their own personal computers.

Two example situations where I find it a problem:

1. I send a PDF with proof and pricing to a customer (expecting them to save it) but instead they just view it, then later down the road, when I'm cleaning out my dropbox, I delete it... then I get a phone call or Email saying:

"I can't find it now - the link doesn't work - I wanted to show my friend the layout"

MY DROPBOX ISN'T A STORAGE FACILITY FOR YOUR LOGOS OR LAYOUTS! I want them to download the file, so I can delete it after. I don't want to have to worry about having to hold on to old estimates and proofs for customers from months and months ago.

2. I send a proof to a customer of some vehicle graphics (pin striping or a vehicle wrap) and I've designed it at full scale, when opened in the Dropbox preview, it opens it at 100% -- therefore, if my art board is the size of a truck cab, it comes in massive on screen. Not a huge problem because you would just zoom out, BUT:

(this is literally a true story) sometimes I deal with customers who are not tech savvy AT ALL (older business men/women) and I had a customer (who I sent some pin striping artwork to) and he could not figure out how to zoom out. When he viewed the PDF, he only saw a tiny portion of the vehicle graphics, and couldn't figure out how to see the whole thing; this would have been avoided if he was just FORCED to download the file in the first place, and not been able to preview it on Dropbox. Then it would have fit to screen on his computer.

I've learned now to always send my proofs scaled down to 8.5" x 11" so that doesn't happen! but it is just annoying because now I have to take extra steps just in case I get another technologically impaired customer who doesn't understand how to zoom!

PLEASE GIVE US THE OPTION TO DISABLE PREVIEW!!!!!!

Simon H.18

Incredible that, after over a year of us moaning about this and doing nothing to help, Dropbox have made things even worse by opening in "Recent" mode (which usually just whirls around with no results).

I really don't want Dropbox telling me where I should be going for my files - I KNOW where they are!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Dropbox, when you decide to foist new 'features' on us, allow us to switch them off.

Disgruntled and looking hard at OneDrive

Stefanie

Hi Megan and others,

Did you know that in a shared link you can force a file to download instead of previewing?

Please see here for instructions:

https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/201

Thanks,

Sofia

Giangi H.

Sofia, do you understand the difference between a single tap action and the suggestion you wrote? :-(

Nigel G.6

Sofia not a suitable solution. I liked Dropbox because it was simple and did the job well. Now I am forced to use their viewer which is horrible and interferes with the apps I use. If this is not resolved I'll be cancelling my 1tb subscription and use One Drive and Google Drive. But hey who am I just one consumer....

Nigel G.6

P.S. This forum is not playing nice with my Note 4 in 2 separate browsers.

William S.14

There are several imposed changes nobody wants.

Default recent files screen on mobile.
Default viewers for files in a world full of free viewers already.
Sharing a file turns out to be sharing a link to the file and changing rights.

Just make it optional:

You have the working code from before.
You know what a check box is.
You may understand how to code if then statements.

JUST DO IT!!!

Simon H.18

I really have no idea what the contribution from Sofia was meant to achieve. Our complaints are about the Dropbox App telling us how we can view our files, not about shared links.

Can somebody from Dropbox explain why they have decided to turn an excellent, easy to use piece of software into an un-navigable nightmare?

William S.14

There is serious miscommunication between dropbox and it's customer base.

Dropbox is really not listening and is playing down complaints. I would not be suprised if some moderators here are paid to help out dropbox with that.

First real proof that dropbox is listening would be they acknowledge a list of silly design mistakes they commit to fix asap.

Nigel G.6

I was an early adopter of Dropbox and it was fantastic. I am not impressed as of late. Actually Microsoft has done a much better job as of late ncluding integration with One Drive. Normally I'll be the first to sqwauk about MS and their goofy things they do.

Megan C.13

I think she was referring to my comment about wanting customers to be "forced" to download the file; clearly that word choice was misleading.

Even though I do want my customers to have to download the PDF to see it, I don't want it to be automatic. I just want the files to be able to be viewed without a preview -- All I want is the option to turn the preview off or on.

I want to be able to just NAVIGATE through files without the preview always popping up OR slowing everything down OR confusing my customers.

John B.8

I actually found something that worked for me (so far!):

1) Uninstall Dropbox app

2) Open a local PDF file (using ES File Explorer, etc.)

3) System will prompt for default program to open

4) Pick the program you WANT to use :-)

5) Reinstall Dropbox

6) Open another local PDF file (ES File Explorer)

7) System will AGAIN prompt to choose default program

8) Make your selection

My phone now opens most PDF by default in Adobe Acrobat (local and URL). Dropbox PDF still open in the viewer, but once open, the viewer provides the option to switch to Acrobat.

I'm running Dropbox 7.2.8, Android 6.0.1 on Nexus 6P, and the Dropbox app is running with full permissions.