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Fix PDF Figures and Tables Displaying Incorrectly in Android
Question details
Users experience distorted or corrupted figures, tables, headings, and subtitles when viewing certain PDFs on mobile PDF readers, despite the files appearing normal on desktop computers.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader for Android / PDF Files
- Device & OS
- Android
- Scenario
- Viewing PDF e-books or documents on mobile devices.
- Observed behavior
- Figures, headings, subtitles, and tables display incorrectly, with distorted text or broken layouts on the mobile app.
Ensure you have access to a desktop or laptop computer, as diagnosing embedded font issues in PDF files requires advanced desktop PDF properties tools not typically found in mobile applications.
Check and Embed Missing Fonts in the PDF
Use a desktop PDF application to verify if fonts are fully embedded in the document, and re-export the file if they are missing.
Desktop operating systems often have extensive font libraries and can seamlessly substitute missing fonts when you open a PDF. Mobile devices like Android phones, however, have very limited local fonts. If the creator of the PDF did not embed the fonts into the file itself, the mobile reader will fail to render figures, tables, and headings correctly.
Transfer the problematic PDF file to a desktop or laptop and open it using a desktop PDF viewer such as Adobe Acrobat or WPS PDF.
Right-click anywhere on the document, select 'Document Properties' (or 'Properties'), and navigate to the 'Fonts' tab.
Review the list of fonts used in the document. Look for the text '(Embedded)' or '(Embedded Subset)' next to each font name. If these labels are missing, the fonts are not embedded.
If you have the original source file (e.g., a Word document), open it and save or export it as a PDF again. Ensure you check the 'Embed fonts in the file' option or select the 'PDF/A' standard in your export settings.
Update the Mobile PDF Reader App
Ensure your Android PDF reading application is fully updated to resolve potential software bugs related to rendering.
Ensure Perfect PDF Layouts Across All Devices with WPS Office
Stop struggling with broken PDF tables and distorted figures on mobile. WPS Office provides a highly compatible PDF reader for Android that handles complex formatting with ease. Plus, you can use WPS Office on your PC to export your original documents into flawlessly embedded standard PDFs.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office on your Android device from the Google Play Store or on your PC from the official website.
- 2. Open your document: Launch the WPS PDF viewer to seamlessly open and accurately display PDFs that struggle on other mobile readers.
- 3. Export flawlessly: When creating new PDFs on the desktop version of WPS Office, easily export them with perfect font embedding to prevent mobile distortion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do PDFs look different on my phone compared to my computer?
Desktop operating systems have extensive built-in font libraries and automatically substitute missing fonts when opening a PDF. Mobile devices have limited local fonts, which causes text or layout distortions if the original fonts aren't properly embedded inside the PDF file itself.
How do I ensure fonts are embedded when saving a PDF?
When exporting a document to PDF from Word or other word processors, go to the 'Options' or 'Preferences' menu during the save process and check the box that says 'Embed fonts in the file', or choose to export as the 'PDF/A' standard.
Will changing the PDF format standard fix layout issues?
Yes. Exporting your original document using the PDF/A standard forces all fonts to be embedded natively into the file, ensuring that the layout, figures, and text remain consistent across all mobile and desktop PDF readers.
Can I embed fonts into an existing PDF directly from my Android phone?
Generally, no. Embedding fonts into an existing PDF requires advanced PDF authoring tools typically found on desktop software like WPS Office or Adobe Acrobat PC versions. Mobile apps usually serve only as viewers or basic annotators.
