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How to Open Box PDF Files in Adobe Acrobat Reader on iPad Pro
Question details
The user needs to open PDF files stored in Box using Adobe Acrobat Reader on an iPad Pro to utilize advanced markup and annotation tools.
- Product
- Box and Adobe Acrobat Reader
- Device & OS
- iPad Pro (iPadOS)
- Scenario
- Accessing cloud-stored PDF files from the Box app and transferring them to a dedicated PDF editor on a mobile tablet environment.
- Observed behavior
- PDFs open automatically in Box's built-in viewer, and iPadOS limitations prevent users from setting Adobe Acrobat Reader as the default PDF application.
Ensure that both the Box app and the Adobe Acrobat Reader app are installed on your iPad Pro, and that you are signed into your accounts on both applications.
Transfer the PDF to Acrobat Reader via the iOS Share Menu
Use the iPadOS 'Share' or 'Open In' functionality to send a copy of the Box PDF directly to the Adobe Acrobat Reader app.
Because iPadOS does not allow you to change the system-wide default application for specific file types, you cannot force Box to open PDFs in Acrobat Reader automatically.
Instead, you must manually share a copy of the file from the Box viewer to Acrobat Reader. Note that the desktop versions of Acrobat Pro (for Mac or Windows) cannot run on an iPad, so you must use the mobile App Store version.
Launch the Box app on your iPad Pro and navigate to the folder containing your PDF file.
Tap on the PDF file. It will temporarily open in Box's built-in document viewer.
Tap the 'Share' or 'Export' icon (usually represented by a square with an upward-pointing arrow) in the top-right corner of the screen.
From the sharing options, tap 'Open In...' or 'Send Copy' to bring up the iOS app selection menu.
Scroll through the available application icons and tap 'Acrobat' or 'Copy to Acrobat'. The PDF will now open in Adobe Acrobat Reader where you can highlight and annotate.
Annotate Cloud PDFs Directly with WPS Office
Skip the cumbersome process of exporting and manually re-uploading files between apps. WPS Office for iPad integrates directly with third-party cloud drives, allowing you to open, annotate, and automatically save PDF files directly to your cloud storage.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the App Store on your iPad Pro.
- 2. Connect Cloud Storage: Open WPS Office, navigate to the 'Open' tab, select 'Add Cloud Storage', and authorize your preferred cloud drive.
- 3. Edit and Auto-Save: Tap the PDF directly from your cloud list in WPS Office, use the built-in tools to annotate, and your changes will save automatically back to the cloud.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Adobe Acrobat the default PDF reader on my iPad Pro?
No. Apple's iPadOS restricts users from changing the default application for specific file types. PDFs will typically open in the built-in Apple previewer or the viewer of the app you are currently using, requiring you to manually share them to third-party editors.
Will my highlights in Acrobat Reader sync automatically back to Box?
If you exported a copy to Acrobat Reader using the 'Open In' method, the edits are saved locally on your iPad. You must manually use the Share feature in Acrobat Reader to save or upload the annotated file back to your Box account.
Can I install Adobe Acrobat Pro on my iPad?
No, Adobe Acrobat Pro is built exclusively for desktop operating systems like Windows and macOS. iPad users must use the Adobe Acrobat Reader mobile app, which offers a tailored set of markup and viewing features.
