Why can I open Keepass *.kdbx files only with Google Drive-PDF-Viewer?? It is no PDF. Why does the dropbox app does not let me choose a different App to open the file with? Why not use the android default app open selection??

For those who have this problem, toggle "offline access" on kdbx file (maybe several times). In one state or another (whether offline mode is on or off, seemingly random) keepassdroid selector appears when you open the kdbx. Make shure to check "always", problem solved (after that kdbx always opens in keepassdroid, no matter if offline is on or off). Works for me on xiaomi mi9 with miui rom.

I have stored my KeePass password file (.kdbx) in Dropbox, but cannot anymore open it with KeePassDroid. My setup has worked flawlessly for several years, but this week I noticed that Dropbox tries to open the file with "Drive PDF Viewer". I have not done any changes to settings, in Dropbox -> Settings -> Manage default apps there are no default apps set, and if I choose "Open with..." for this file, the PDF viewer is the only application I can select. I'm using Android, Dropbox version 190.2.2.

It seems that this functionality has been broken by Dropbox update and this is completely unacceptable. I don't understand why the application has to prevent opening a file using "wrong" application. Now it's doing completely same thing (opening password file with PDF viewer)!

Why is it then offered to be opened as PDF? This answer is totally wrong. Since other apps correctly offer opening with keepass. Dropbox does not use the android internal open with functionality. Instead you choose to implement it on your own.It is not a fault by keepass it is yours.But hey then I better switch to nextcloud. This app instead offers me to open it with keepass droid.Congrats Dropbox for getting me to switch.

I was having the same problem on one phone, but not another. On the problem phone I uninstalled dropbox and reinstalled it. I was then able to get it to prompt me to select the option to open the file with keepass once. After a few trial and errors, I found that I should not select "ALWAYS" on the "open with" screen when selecting Keepass, always select "JUST ONCE", otherwise it reverts to trying to open up the file with a PDF reader. I also looked at settings > Manage Default Apps and that list is empty no matter what

Android: Kdbx files can only opened with Google Drive-PDF-Viewer which is wrong!

55 Replies

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tputkonen
Helpful | Level 5
6 years ago
I have stored my KeePass password file (.kdbx) in Dropbox, but cannot anymore open it with KeePassDroid. My setup has worked flawlessly for several years, but this week I noticed that Dropbox tries to open the file with "Drive PDF Viewer". I have not done any changes to settings, in Dropbox -> Settings -> Manage default apps there are no default apps set, and if I choose "Open with..." for this file, the PDF viewer is the only application I can select.

I'm using Android, Dropbox version 190.2.2.
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
6 years ago
Hi tputkonen, thanks for messaging the Community!

It’s possible that the file cannot be directly opened by the third party app any longer. Could you try instead exporting the file to the app to see if this is possible?

If it doesn't work, I'd recommend contacting the app developers to see if they can assist on this matter in more detail.

Keep me posted!
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
6 years ago
Hi kitingChris, thanks for joining the Community!

I've had another user contact us about this matter.

Could you check the info in this thread to see if this helps.

Keep me posted!
Qwerty59
New member | Level 2
6 years ago
I was having the same problem on one phone, but not another. On the problem phone I uninstalled dropbox and reinstalled it. I was then able to get it to prompt me to select the option to open the file with keepass once. After a few trial and errors, I found that I should not select "ALWAYS" on the "open with" screen when selecting Keepass, always select "JUST ONCE", otherwise it reverts to trying to open up the file with a PDF reader. I also looked at settings > Manage Default Apps and that list is empty no matter what
kitingChris
Helpful | Level 6
6 years ago
Having the exact same problem.
kitingChris
Helpful | Level 6
6 years ago
Other apps like google drive or file manager let it open with keepass as intended.
They use the system default open with dialog. But Dropbox decided to implement it's own and treats keepass files as pdf without letting to choose an app.
Fix this asap! You destroy workflows...
JonCohen
Helpful | Level 5
6 years ago
My wife and I both have exactly the same problem. We've been using Dropbox with Keepassdroid for years. Now Dropbox tries to open with the Google drive pdf reader. We can still open the file with Keepassdroid directly, but can't get to it through the Dropbox app. Also same experience with having it work one time only after reinstalling Dropbox.
Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
6 years ago
Thanks for the updates. The Dropbox mobile app can only open files with a valid extension, and one associated with an app that has stated the extension can be opened by them. This is to prevent opening a spreadsheet on a image app for instance.

If the Keepassdroid app isn't showing as an option when opening via Dropbox, then it means that the developer would need to look into this, since the Android device doesn't have the extension registered to that app, and thus neither does the Dropbox app.

After glancing at some search results and recent reviews, it appears users are experiencing the same issue with other cloud providers as well.

I hope they're able to investigate this matter for you in more detail.
tputkonen
Helpful | Level 5
6 years ago
It seems that this functionality has been broken by Dropbox update and this is completely unacceptable. I don't understand why the application has to prevent opening a file using "wrong" application. Now it's doing completely same thing (opening password file with PDF viewer)!
kitingChris
Helpful | Level 6
6 years ago
Why is it then offered to be opened as PDF? This answer is totally wrong. Since other apps correctly offer opening with keepass. Dropbox does not use the android internal open with functionality. Instead you choose to implement it on your own.
It is not a fault by keepass it is yours.
But hey then I better switch to nextcloud. This app instead offers me to open it with keepass droid.
Congrats Dropbox for getting me to switch.