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Why Adobe Acrobat Stores PDF Files in the flattening_temp_dir on Android

Rana Garcia Oct 19, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to understand why Adobe Acrobat Reader for Android creates temporary file copies inside the flattening_temp_dir cache directory.

Why Adobe Acrobat Stores Temporary PDF Files in flattening_temp_dir on Android

Product: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Device & OS: Android
Scenario: Editing or annotating a PDF document that is stored on a cloud storage service.
Observed behavior: The application automatically stores a local working copy of the PDF document in the com.adobe.reader/cache/flattening_temp_dir folder to process modifications before synchronizing.

Before you start

Ensure you have a stable internet connection so that your edited cloud-based PDFs can successfully synchronize, allowing the app to safely clear its processing cache over time.

Solution 1Recommended

Understand and Manually Clear Acrobat Cache Files

This caching behavior is completely normal for cloud-synchronized files. If these temporary files are taking up too much storage space on your Android device, you can safely clear the app cache.

When you open and modify a PDF stored in the cloud, Acrobat Reader must create a local working copy to process your annotations and edits. This file is temporarily kept in the 'flattening_temp_dir' folder.

Once your changes are successfully synchronized back to the original cloud file, this local copy is no longer needed. However, these temporary files might linger in your device's cache and consume storage space.

Open Device Settings

Launch the Settings app on your Android device and navigate to the 'Apps' or 'App Management' section.

Locate Adobe Acrobat

Scroll through your list of installed applications and tap on 'Adobe Acrobat'.

Access Storage Options

Tap on 'Storage' or 'Storage & cache' to view the breakdown of space used by the application.

Clear App Cache

Tap the 'Clear Cache' button to delete the contents of the flattening_temp_dir. Do not tap 'Clear Data' unless you wish to reset your app preferences and log out of your account.

Understand and Manually Clear Acrobat Cache Files

Cache Behavior: These temporary files are not permanent duplicates. They are strictly used for processing document edits to prevent data loss during cloud synchronization.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prevent Adobe Acrobat from creating these temporary files?

No, this is a core function of how Acrobat processes edits for cloud-based documents. The app requires a local working copy to apply your annotations before syncing them back to the remote cloud server.

Will deleting the flattening_temp_dir cache delete my original PDF file?

No. Deleting the application cache only removes the temporary local copies used for processing. Your original PDF remains safely stored on your cloud drive.

Why does the cache folder take up so much storage space on my phone?

If you frequently edit large, image-heavy PDFs or have not cleared your app cache in a long time, the temporary working files can accumulate in the flattening_temp_dir folder. Manually clearing the cache from your Android settings will instantly free up this space.

Does Acrobat create these temporary files for locally stored PDFs?

Typically, Acrobat modifies local device files directly without needing extensive cache copies. The flattening_temp_dir is primarily utilized to ensure smooth syncing and prevent data loss when working with files hosted on external cloud storage services.

PDF Troubleshooting