WhatsApp for Android has been hit with a frustrating bug over the past day or so that’s preventing users from opening PDF files properly. Instead of showing the usual suspects like Adobe Reader, Google Drive, or Canva when you tap on a PDF, the app picker is serving up completely random options like wallet apps, Reddit, Google Play services, and even the phone dialer.
Here’s how one affected user described the issue on Reddit:
So today out of somewhere, when I tried to open a pdf through through a chat, it gave me only 3 options, Reddit, Google Play services & Google, which previously were I love Pdf, Google drive, Adobe Scan, Canva, Samsung Notes etc.
Similarly, there are close to a dozen more threads (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11) with complaints from users seeking help.
What’s really weird about this bug is how selective it is. Multiple users are reporting that PDFs they receive from others open just fine with all the normal app options. But when they try to open PDFs they’ve sent to themselves or others, that’s when the bizarre app suggestions pop up.
One user chimed in with: “I am getting options for wallet and termux lol” while trying to review important documents. Meanwhile, someone else noted they get an option to “make the phone call with the PDF file.”
The reports are coming from various Android devices including Samsung phones and OnePlus models. Users have tried everything from clearing cache to resetting app permissions, but nothing seems to stick as a permanent fix.
Interestingly, when you access the same PDFs through your phone’s file manager, everything works perfectly. All the expected apps show up without any issues. This confirms the problem is specifically with WhatsApp’s file handling, not your device or the PDFs themselves.
Some users have found that sharing the PDF from WhatsApp to external apps first works as a workaround, though it’s obviously not ideal. Others discovered that WhatsApp Web still functions normally, which could be handy if you need to view documents urgently. Though WhatsApp Web is also bugged out, as some users are facing issues with scrolling.
WhatsApp hasn’t publicly acknowledged the bug yet, though users are being encouraged to report it through the app’s settings menu. Given how widespread this seems to be and how it affects core functionality, expect a fix sooner rather than later.
For now, try using your phone’s file manager or share the PDFs externally before opening them. Alternatively, you can try installing the WhatsApp Beta version and see if that resolves the problem. I’m on the beta and can access PDFs just fine. I’ll update this post if and when there are any further developments.
