PDFBetter isn't in Google Drive's Open with menu, or a file won't open
Install PDFBetter from the Google Workspace Marketplace or connect Google Drive in Settings → Integrations, then reload Drive. On Google's screen, keep the Google Drive permission ticked. Files over your plan's size limit (10 MB on Free) don't open.
Updated 2 min read
PDFBetter isn't in Open with
- Add it first. Install it from the Google Workspace Marketplace, or click Connect Google Drive in Settings → Integrations.
- Reload Google Drive. A Drive tab opened before you connected doesn't show new apps until you reload it.
- Check the file type. PDFBetter is listed for PDFs, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drawings, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OpenDocument text, RTF, TXT, CSV, PNG and JPG files, and not for other files such as videos or ZIP archives.
- Use the same Google account. Drive shows the apps added to the account you're using there. If you connected another Google account in PDFBetter, switch accounts in Drive or connect this one.
- Work or school account? Your admin can block third-party Drive apps. Ask them to allow PDFBetter, or to install it for your organization.
- On a phone? Open with → PDFBetter works in Google Drive in a web browser, not in the Drive mobile app.
Google keeps asking for permission
PDFBetter needs the Google Drive permission to open the file. If it doesn't get it, PDFBetter stops on Google Drive isn't connected with a Connect Google Drive button, instead of sending you back to Google again. On Google's screen, choose the same account you use in Drive (PDFBetter preselects it).
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| On Google's screen, keep the Google Drive permission ticked. | Click Connect Google Drive and leave the Drive box ticked this time. |
| access was declined on Google's screen | Click Connect Google Drive and continue instead of canceling. |
| That connection attempt expired or was opened in another browser. | Start again from Drive in the browser where you're logged in to PDFBetter. |
| Too many connection attempts. | Wait a few minutes, then try again. |
The file doesn't open
| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| This file is larger than the … MB … allows. | Your plan's per-file limit: 10 MB on Free, 50 MB on Starter, 250 MB on Pro. Download it from Drive and compress it, or choose a plan with a larger limit. |
| Google Drive can't convert a file this large to PDF. | Google limits how big a Docs, Sheets or Slides file it turns into a PDF. In the file, choose File → Download → PDF, then upload that PDF. |
| PDFBetter can't open that file. Pick it again from Google Drive. | Your Google account can't view the file any more, or it's in the trash. In a shared drive, ask a manager for at least viewer access, then open it again. |
| PDFBetter can't import this kind of file. | Open a PDF, a Google Docs, Sheets or Slides file, an Office file or a PNG/JPG instead. |
| Nothing to open | The link from Drive didn't say which file to open. Go back to Drive and choose Open with → PDFBetter again. |
Can I save into a shared drive?
Yes, if your Google account can add files there (Contributor or higher). Pick that folder with Choose folder in Settings → Integrations.
I was using PDFBetter as a guest. Why does it ask me to sign up?
Opening Drive files needs an account. Create a free one and your guest drafts move into it.
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- Open Google Drive files with PDFBetterInstall PDFBetter from the Google Workspace Marketplace, or connect Google Drive in Settings → Integrations. Then right-click a file in Drive and choose Open with → PDFBetter. Your original file in Drive isn't changed.
- What PDFBetter can access in Google Drive, and how to disconnectPDFBetter sees only the Drive files you open with it, pick in Google's file picker, or save from PDFBetter, and nothing else in your Drive. To stop its access, click Disconnect under Google Drive in Settings → Integrations.
- Upload fails or stalls, and file size and page limitsMost failed uploads are a dropped connection: click Retry in the Uploads tray. If the message says the file is too large or has too many pages, you've hit your plan's limit: 10 MB and 500 pages per document on Free.
- Compare the Free, Starter, Pro and Business plansFree costs nothing, with no end date. Starter is $5 a month with unlimited edited downloads. Pro is $15 a month with unlimited downloads and signature requests. Business, $24 per seat a month, adds teams, branding, bulk send and the API.