Google Chrome is working on new feature which lets you open PDF files in your preferred app

Google is currently testing a new feature for Android users that could enhance their experience when dealing with downloaded files. This feature, available as a Chrome Canary flag called "Open downloads in preferred app," allows files such as PDFs to be opened directly in the user's preferred application, rather than automatically opening in Chrome.

This change addresses a common frustration for Android users who frequently download documents, images, or other file types. The experimental feature works by leveraging Android's preferred-app system, which takes over file handling after a download is complete. For instance, a downloaded PDF could be opened in a user's preferred document viewer, like Vivo Docs, rather than remaining inside Chrome.

This change is still in the experimental stage and may take some time to reach Chrome's stable release. As of now, there is no confirmed timeline for the feature to be implemented in the stable version of Chrome. While this development could be seen as a quality-of-life improvement for Chrome users, it is essential to note that it is still a test feature rather than a confirmed addition to the stable Android browser.