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How to Open Google Drive PDFs in Adobe Acrobat on iPhone & iPad
Question details
The user wants to open PDF files stored in Google Drive directly into Adobe Acrobat Reader on an iOS device in order to use advanced PDF features.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat Reader and Google Drive
- Device & OS
- iOS (iPad and iPhone)
- Scenario
- Accessing and opening cloud-stored PDFs on a mobile device for advanced editing, annotating, or viewing.
- Observed behavior
- The native Google Drive previewer opens the PDF but lacks advanced support for comments, annotations, or form fields, requiring the file to be opened in a dedicated PDF application.
Ensure you have downloaded both the Google Drive and Adobe Acrobat Reader apps from the App Store and are signed into your accounts on both applications.
Export from the Google Drive App to Acrobat Reader
Use the native sharing features in Google Drive to send a copy of your PDF directly to Adobe Acrobat Reader.
This method is highly reliable and allows you to push any PDF from your Google Drive straight into Acrobat Reader for immediate editing.
Launch the Google Drive app on your iPad or iPhone and tap the PDF document to open it in the built-in previewer.
Tap the three-dot overflow menu icon located in the upper-right corner of the screen.
Choose “Send a copy” from the list of options provided in the menu.
Tap “Open in,” scroll through your available applications, and select “Copy to Adobe Acrobat.” Your PDF will now open in the Acrobat app.
Connect Google Drive Locations within Adobe Acrobat
Link your Google Drive account directly inside Acrobat Reader to browse and open files without leaving the app.
Edit Cloud PDFs Effortlessly with WPS Office for iOS
WPS Office for iOS offers a powerful built-in PDF reader and editor that integrates directly with Google Drive, allowing you to seamlessly open, annotate, and save PDFs on your iPhone and iPad without juggling multiple apps.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office from the iOS App Store.
- 2. Open Cloud Storage: Launch the app, navigate to the 'Open' tab, and select 'Cloud Storage'.
- 3. Link Google Drive: Choose Google Drive, sign in with your Google credentials, and grant access permissions.
- 4. Edit your PDF: Browse your Drive folders, tap on any PDF, and use WPS Office's comprehensive toolset to edit and annotate the file instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I edit form fields in the Google Drive PDF preview?
The built-in Google Drive PDF previewer on iOS only supports basic viewing. To fill out forms, add comments, or use annotations, you must export the file to a dedicated PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat Reader or WPS Office.
Can I access Google Team Drives using Adobe Acrobat on iOS?
While Adobe Acrobat allows you to connect a personal Google Drive account via the Files app integration, it may have limitations connecting to organizational Team Drives. If your Team Drive does not appear, you will need to open the file from the Google Drive app using the 'Send a copy' method.
Will edits made in Acrobat automatically save back to Google Drive?
If you connected Google Drive as a Location within Acrobat Reader, your changes will typically sync back. However, if you used the 'Send a copy' feature, you have created a local copy on your device that needs to be manually uploaded or shared back to Google Drive to save the changes to the cloud.
