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How to stop iPhone iOS Dropbox app using Acrobat?

My Dropbox app on iPhone is suddenly insisting on trying to use Acrobat reader to open a password protected pdf. It never did this before. And Acrobat crashes if I try. The file opens fine in Preview on my Mac. How do I stop the iPhone Dropbox app from doing this?

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DenysB

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this. It’s actually a problem on my sister’s phone and she has finally discovered an unexpected work-around. It begs yet more questions about what’s going on here though.

If she opens the Dropbox app to access the file, she encounters this problem.

However, if she accesses the *same* file through Files—>Dropbox—->password_protected_file.pdf it behaves perfectly normally.

Incidentally, and in case you ask, we deleted the Adobe Reader app (which would crash if you tried to open the file using it), then restarted the iPhone - that made no difference, Dropbox app still wanted to use Adobe Reader. Weird.

Thanks again everyone.

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Nancy

Welcome aboard the forum, @DenysB!

Is this file you mention a personal one or has it been shared by someone else with you? Do you see the exact same thing if you try to preview this PDF file on www.dropbox.com?

Also, is this happening if you try to access other PDF files that haven’t been password-protected?

Let me know when you’ve got more details.

DenysB

Thanks for the reply, Nancy

Yes to both questions.

It’s a personal file, it has been shared, same thing happens on iPhone via Dropbox.com, but it’s fine when viewed on an iMac.

It also happens when trying to view regular pdfs without password protection and which may or may not be shared.

Nancy

Thanks for the extra info! It really helps.

Is it possible to send me a screenshot of what you see on your end, when trying to preview one of your PDF files on your phone (preferably one that isn’t password-protected)?

DenysB

Here’s a screenshot

DenysB

It’s a regular pdf, not password protected.

Hannah

Sorry to jump in here, @DenysB.

Can you open the Dropbox app, tap on 'account', then on the gear icon and then on 'clear cache', close the Dropbox app and then reopen it and try to preview the files again, to see if that works?

DenysB

Thanks, Hannah, tried that but it doesn’t fix it.

Rich

Your screenshot looks like you already have the PDF open for preview in Dropbox. The Open with... menu that you're seeing usually only appears after tapping the square icon with the arrow on it.

Is that not the case here? Is that menu appearing on its own? If it's appearing on its own, can you not just tap Cancel and get back to your PDF file?

DenysB

Hi Rich It seems to be a problem with password protected files. Pressing cancel on an unprotected file results in the file opening normally. But a locked file behaves differently.

1 Unlock screen is presented

2 Enter the password

3 Open with Adobe Reader message appears

4 Press cancel

5 Unlock screen presented

6 Enter the password

7 Open with Adobe Reader message appears

- it just loops you round in circles

DenysB

If she opens the Dropbox app to access the file, she encounters this problem.

However, if she accesses the *same* file through Files—>Dropbox—->password_protected_file.pdf it behaves perfectly normally.

Thanks again everyone.

Nancy

I’m to hear you were able to figure this out, Denys!

If you need something else, you can always give us a shout.