Top Fixes on Why Can't I Open a PDF on My iPhone

PDF files have the best security features and are universally compatible with every digital device. Whether they are interactive forms or text documents, PDF files preserve the formatting for consistency. Moreover, you can convert PDFs to other file formats with great ease. These benefits make PDF a highly reliable and valuable file format for various applications.

However, due to some technical issues, you may not be able to open PDF files on your iPhone. Thus, if you are wondering why can't I open a PDF on my iPhone, this article will highlight all the related details. We will introduce top professional solutions that can let you open PDF files on your iPhone easily.

Part 1. What are the Primary Reasons for Can't Open PDF on iPhone?

When facing can't open PDF on iPhone, you need to know why it happens across your device. Here are the primary reasons that may cause this PDF opening issue on your iPhone:

1. Lack of Space on your iPhone: Phone storage can turn out to be one of the primary concerns when dealing with documents on your iPhone. If your iPhone does not have much space, applications and other things will malfunction, leading to issues like can't open PDFs on iPhone 15.
2. Incompatible PDF Viewer: To open PDF file on your iPhone, you would need a compatible yet efficient PDF viewer for your iPhone. If the PDF viewer of your iPhone is incompatible or facing a bug, you may face problems in opening the PDFs.
3. Outdated iOS Version: Outdated iOS is one of the biggest problems that can cause issue in the basic functions of your iPhone. It can also be a direct influence on the "can't open PDFs" issue on your iPhone.
4. Encrypted PDF File: Sometimes, users add encryption or passwords to their PDFs to protect their essential data. Therefore, you might be unable to open and view an encrypted PDF file across your PDF app.
5. Incomplete Transfer or Download of PDF File: Incomplete download of PDF files can cause problems opening the document. If there were internet issues while downloading the PDFs, you can't open such files.
6. Corrupted PDF File: If the PDF file was damaged during the downloading process or attacked by a virus, it can get corrupted. Thus, you can't open corrupted PDF documents on your iPhone.

Part 2. Discussing 8 Potential Fixes to Can't Open PDFs on iPhone

After knowing the reasons behind the problem, you might seek solutions resolving can't open PDF on iPhone 15. Check out the solutions discussed below to view and read your PDFs on your iPhone without difficulty:

1. Clear iPhone's Storage To Avoid Device Malfunctions

As discussed earlier, insufficient storage on your iPhone can lead to many problems on your iPhone. Thus, it's important to clear unwanted files, photos, apps, and videos from your iPhone to open PDFs easily.

While you can check your iPhone's storage across the "Settings," go through the list to find the unwanted applications taking up your device's storage. Using the right means, either offload or uninstall such application from your iOS device to make space.

2. Use a Compatible PDF Viewer For Opening PDFs

Using a compatible PDF viewer on an iPhone can also help you tackle unopenable PDF documents. Therefore, UPDF for iOS is the top-notch choice for users who frequently read and edit PDF files on their iPhones.

This PDF viewer is highly compatible with every iOS device and runs smoothly. It also provides AI features to help you summarize and translate content in your PDF files. To use this PDF viewer for opening and reading PDFs, here are the instructions presented below:

Step 1. Set Up UPDF and Import the File

Begin by downloading UPDF on your iPhone.

Afterward, create an account by entering the credentials and agree to the terms and policies. After setting up, go across the "Files" tab and tap the "Plus" icon to import a PDF file from various options such as computer, files, or photos.

Step 2. Explore Editing Options Across UPDF

By using the "Pen" tool, you can add text, shapes, and notes to your PDF file effectively. Similarly, you can use other tools given above to insert text boxes, watermarks, signatures, and stamps into your PDFs. With the "Search" icon given in the top-right corner, you can search for the contents in your PDF.

Step 3. Read PDF in Slideshow Mode

To read the PDF file through the slideshow, tap on the drop-down icon next to the "Home" button. From there, choose "Slide Show" to view your PDF file in slideshow mode. You can use the pen and highlighter to draw on the screen while reading the file.

3. Consider Restarting Your iPhone

Restarting your iPhone is a common yet helpful way to fix temporary issues on the device. It can remove minor bugs from the iPhone and boost the system's memory. Hence, it's a simple and effective solution to fix can't open PDF on iPhone 15, which can be understood with the following steps:

Instructions. For iPhone X and latest models, unlock your iPhone, then press and hold the "Power" and "Volume Up" button which is located at the right side of your iPhone. As a pop-up displays stating "Slide to Power Off," slide to turn off your iPhone. Wait for a few minutes and hold the "Power" button again until the Apple logo appears on the screen.

4. Connect iPhone With Stable Wi-Fi

Incomplete download of PDF files is caused due to poor internet connection on your iPhone. Thus, attaching your iPhone with strong and stable Wi-Fi connection can help you in downloading and opening your PDF files efficiently. Check the Wi-Fi connection across the "Settings" of your iPhone and see whether you are connected to the right option.

5. Reset the Settings To Start From Scratch

If you are facing issues with unopenable PDF files frequently, there might be a serious underlying issue. In such a scenario, resetting all the settings can be helpful in resolving this issue without needing third-party tools, which are provided as follows:

Step 1. After opening the "Settings" of your iPhone, access the "General" settings and scroll down to find the "Transfer or Reset iPhone" option. Proceed to select "Reset" and continue with the "Reset All Settings" option from the pop-up menu.

Step 2. Provide your password and continue tapping on "Reset All Settings" for confirmation. The device sets itself to its default state and restarts after completing the process.

6. Update Your iOS To Latest Version

Updating your iOS can instantly enhance the overall performance of your iPhone. It can not only fix the present bugs on your iPhone but also eradicate internal problems causing issues in opening PDFs. To update iOS on your iPhone, follow the instructions to resolve "why can't I open PDF on iPhone:"

Instructions. By navigating to "Settings" and proceeding onto "General" settings, look for "Software Update" option. If there is an update available, select "Update Now" and wait until the new iOS version is completely installed on your iPhone.

7. Uninstall Troublesome Apps

There are some troublesome apps which can decrease the performance of your iPhone. Apps like Alibaba and WinZip can prevent the PDFs from opening on your iPhone. Moreover, if you have downloaded apps containing virus, it can also affect the health of your iPhone. Thus, delete such problematic apps and then try to open PDF on your iOS device.

8. Resend the File

It may be possible that the sender of your PDF file has encrypted the document. In such a case, ask the sender to resend the file by removing the password. Moreover, if the PDF file is corrupted, asking the sender to resend the file is necessary.

Bonus Part. Revisiting the Best Way to Read PDFs: UPDF

UPDF is an extraordinary tool that you can function on iPhone, Android, Windows, and macOS platforms. This powerful software include different compatibilities to sort, organize, and edit PDF files in a professional interface. By launching UPDF on desktop platforms, you can read the document while comparing it to the other PDF file. It also zooms in and out to catch the details in your PDFs closely. It offers a free trial so that users can try its amazing features first.

By utilizing the AI technology of UPDF, you can ask questions related to your topic to create a flawless PDF file. Moreover, you can insert different elements in PDFs to make your document look engaging and interactive. For a better idea of why UPDF stands among the top options in PDF editing, look into the following features:

1. Edit PDF: The editing options in UPDF allows you in insert text boxes and images in PDFs at the desired place. You can attach links and add backgrounds in the PDFs for more modifications.
2. Organize PDF: The organizing tool helps you in rearranging, cropping, splitting, and extracting PDF pages without affecting the overall layout of the PDF document.
3. OCR PDF: The OCR feature can convert scanned text documents and images into editable ones in multiple output formats. With high OCR speed and 99% accuracy, it can recognize the scanned file in 38 different languages.
4. Compress PDF: UPDF does not compromise the quality of PDFs while compressing the file size of the document. With four levels of compression and various supported file formats, you can compress a PDF file on any device easily.

Download it for a free trial now!

Or watch the video below to know more about it.

Conclusion

Opening and reading PDF files on iPhone is a frequent task for many individuals belonging to different industries. However, if you can't open PDFs on your iPhone, it can disrupt your daily work activities.

Thus, this article has touched on the issues and related fixes to resolve the unopenable PDF files on your iPhone. For a more enhanced reading experience on your iPhone, UPDF is the best and most compatible option for professional users.