Why can't I open downloaded files on my Android phone and tablet?

[AC Question]

why cant i open downloaded files on my android phone and tablet?

files downloaded successfully, but when try to open , message appears "cant open file"

 

[B. Diddy]

Im not the guy for answeres .and i didnt do well in school .however the reason this question keeps getting asked and you geeks keep giveing the same wrong answere is step back relax close your eyes open your eyes now read question again .there not ansking for apps that work with files .there asking (WHY DOES MY ANDEROID DOWNLOAD SOMETHING IF I CANT OPEN IT) and its a good question.why is my android capable of d.l. a certain type of file .my phone did it has it reconized it ..then why wont it open it .heres were im dumb isnt reconishion. .reconishion.explain this to us please.thank you very much geeks.

Please keep your posts civil.

I just reviewed this thread -- the problem here is that the same question that is being asked is not being specific enough. Any device can download a file from a website, if that file is made available to download. But in order for that file to be opened or run, it has to be compatible with some app (if you're trying to open the file with an app), or it has to be an apk installer file (if you're trying to install it as an app on the device).

We are very relaxed, and we are giving the correct answers.

 

[Gailzirish]

Re: why cant i open downloaded files on my android phone and tablet?

files downloaded successfully, but when try to open , message appears "cant open file"

Its seems its always games from gmetop on my mobile

 

[Rhiannon Naumann]

I have the same question.

Background info: I have downloaded PDF files before and they have opened just fine but within the past week or two I can no longer open downloaded PDF files however the old ones I had downloaded and was able to open I can still open. I am wondering if there was an Android update that messed something up. I do have a VPN but I have also used it with the VPN deactivated and have the same issue.

 

[Lukie0424]

Why I can't open my file I download

 

[adamG10M]

Folks, you have to tell us what kinds of files you're trying to open. If the file you downloaded isn't compatible with any app you have, then you can't open it. Certain kinds of apps can't be opened on Android devices at all (like Windows .exe files, for example). As in any forum, details are always helpful.

Im downloading music files and they wont open

 

[B. Diddy]

Im downloading music files and they wont open

Welcome to Android Central! What kind of music files -- mp3, m4a, aac, wmv? Where are you downloading them from, and how are you trying to open them?

 

[Missy_1986]

Please keep your posts civil.

I just reviewed this thread -- the problem here is that the same question that is being asked is not being specific enough. Any device can download a file from a website, if that file is made available to download. But in order for that file to be opened or run, it has to be compatible with some app (if you're trying to open the file with an app), or it has to be an apk installer file (if you're trying to install it as an app on the device).

We are very relaxed, and we are giving the correct answers.

Im cant open files either that i downloaded from chrome on my tablet. It would download but say cant open file. Ths two games im trying to download are from websites runescape client and from wizard 101

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! You should be installing games from the Play Store or some similar legitimate app source. Downloading apk files from websites puts you at risk for malware, and if the games are supposed to be paid for but you're downloading the file for free, that's piracy.

 

[IAMAYOUTUBER]

I have to download Bandicam on the Play Store. Or App Store. Theres no Bandicam on these apps!

 

[Shawn Kohler]

Files are opened by apps. If you don't have an app that can open that filetype, you can't open the file.

I'm trying to open a pdf file on my Android 8 tablet

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! PDF file from where? Was it an email attachment? Did you download it from some website? What directory is the file located in?

 

[7la 9m]

I have the same issue.

After some research, I believe the problem comes from the fact that the internal memory of the device is full, and the downloaded files are stored in the SD card.

Maybe the issue could be solved if we could set the default download directory to the SD card.

Any way to do it ?

 

[B. Diddy]

It may depend on where you downloaded the PDF from, and which app you used to download.

 

[7la 9m]

It may depend on where you downloaded the PDF from, and which app you used to download.

Say it's Google Chrome App.
Can I change the destination of downloaded files from Chrome to another directory ? In this case to the SD card.

 

[B. Diddy]

Does the PDF successfully download in the first place? Are you having difficulty locating where the file is?

If you're using the Google search app (as opposed to Chrome), make sure it has Storage permissions turned on.