# "Open in default app" on Mobile **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [November 5, 2023, 11:38am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/open-in-default-app-on-mobile/70726 "2023-11-05T11:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sam1996](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sam1996](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Sam1996)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 11:38am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/open-in-default-app-on-mobile/70726/1 "2023-11-05T11:38:17Z")
Hello Obsidian Community, I am reaching out to inquire about a particular feature on the Obsidian desktop version that I find incredibly handy - the ability to open a file with the default system application. This feature has become an integral part of my workflow, especially when dealing with PDFs and various other document formats like images. However, I’ve noticed that this functionality seems to be missing on the Android version of Obsidian. I am also led to believe it might be the case with the iOS version, though I am not entirely sure. I am wondering if there is a structural or technical reason behind this absence? Is this a feature that might be introduced in future updates? Alternatively, is there a possibility to implement this feature through a plugin? I genuinely appreciate any insight or assistance regarding this matter. This feature significantly streamlines the handling of different document formats, and having it on mobile would undeniably enhance my, and presumably many others’, user experience. Thank you in advance for your time and help! ### What I’m trying to do Tldr: Open in Default program on mobile ### Things I have tried - Search the forum, - Google around - Looked for relevant plugin ---
**Author:** ![CawlinTeffid](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/cawlinteffid/32/82899_2.png) [@CawlinTeffid](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/CawlinTeffid)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/open-in-default-app-on-mobile/70726/2 "2023-11-05T22:57:36Z")
I don’t know why that feature is absent from mobile , but you can work around it by using the share menu to send to another app. This may create another copy in the other app, depending. On iOS it at least sometimes opens the actual file in in the other app rather than copying it. ---
**Author:** ![Sam1996](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Sam1996](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Sam1996)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2023, 7:46am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/open-in-default-app-on-mobile/70726/3 "2023-11-16T07:46:30Z")
Thank you! I’ll give this a try! To be honest, if it where to open another copy of the file that would be a bit of a dealbreaker for me, since the primary use would be accessing and editing highlights in files and then syncing them. But this definitely seems worth a shot! ---
**Author:** ![CawlinTeffid](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/cawlinteffid/32/82899_2.png) [@CawlinTeffid](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/CawlinTeffid)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2023, 12:04am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/open-in-default-app-on-mobile/70726/4 "2023-11-17T00:04:53Z")
I think it depends on what the receiving app supports, so if you get a copy you can try a different app. Altho…I just tried it, and the app i thought opens the actual file doesn’t. So you might actually have to make some kind of shortcut in Shortcuts and share to that to make it happen (or use the Shortcuts Launcher plugin which can possibly provide more info to the shortcut). ---
**Author:** ![system](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/b/e/bec35fbd23ab28909bb6bfe62cb32eb82dd34019.png) [@system](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/open-in-default-app-on-mobile/70726/5 "2024-02-15T00:05:46Z")
Closed on February 15, 2024, 12:05am UTC This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.