On 10/29/2026 4:26 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:

The solution is below, but it's as simple as installing this one FOSS app.
<https://f-droid.org/packages/name.lmj001.savetodevice>

Now the desktop and the Android device WhatsApp will save PDF files easily.

I would suggest to install this app instead:

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.primftpd/

It also adds the ability to save shareable files but it is
also an ftpd server. You don't need to use WhatsApp to copy
pdf files to the smartphone but you can just drag&drop
them with the mouse in Windows explorer.

You can also just open the pdf file (for example in
Firefox) and then save the pdf file from the pdf reader.
No need to install an extra app for this purpose (but
the ftpd server is a must have anyhow).






--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026-10-28 20:26, Maria Sophia wrote:

Woo hoo!

Frank recently astutely noted on the Android newsgroup there is a save to device on the desktop WhatsApp but not a similar option in the Android WA.
I agree, saving *should* be a feature of WhatsApp, but - contrary
to the Windows version - the Android version of WhatsApp does not
have a save (file) feature, only Share. And by default - at least
my Samsung phone - Share does not have a a save choice either.
So... you'll need a extra file manager to get that.

Moments ago, I found a solution to that problem, which *adds* the Save on Device option to WhatsApp on Android so that they both work the same way.
<https://i.postimg.cc/B6ryMZpn/saveasfile.jpg>

The solution is below, but it's as simple as installing this one FOSS app.
<https://f-droid.org/packages/name.lmj001.savetodevice>

Now the desktop and the Android device WhatsApp will save PDF files easily.

I don't use WhatsApp on my iPads so I ask the iPhone users if the WhatsApp
on iOS can save directly to the device outside of WhatsApp storage?

Probably not...

As usual, Arlen/Andy/Maria/(too many nyms to count) is wrong:

A PDF file sent to me via WhatsApp.

I open it to view it.

Then use the Share icon (the ubiquitous square with the upward facing arrow)...

...and choose "File".

It was easy.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 10/29/2026 9:00 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Herbert Kleebauer wrote:

I would suggest to install this app instead:

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.primftpd/

It also adds the ability to save shareable files but it is
also an ftpd server. You don't need to use WhatsApp to copy
pdf files to the smartphone but you can just drag&drop
them with the mouse in Windows explorer.

You can also just open the pdf file (for example in
Firefox) and then save the pdf file from the pdf reader.
No need to install an extra app for this purpose (but
the ftpd server is a must have anyhow).

FTP servers work but the problem is we have to get the file out of the app first, and if we can't do that, then there is no file that can be FTP'd.

Now I'm confused. We started with the problem to transfer a pdf file
from the PC to the smartphone. Once copied to the smartphone (for
example by an ftp transfer) you can open the file with any pdf reader,
for example Firefox.

Then the idea was, if already installed, you can also use WhatsApp
to transfer the pdf to the smartphone. But then you can only open
the pdf file in a pdf reader but not directly store it on the disk,
because WhatsApp doesn't provide a "save as". But this isn't a
problem, because the pdf reader provides a "save as".

Also, opening the file in Firefox (or, for that matter, in *anything*) presupposes you can share the file to that app which opens the PDF for viewing and, which saves the PDF (which is the 2nd desired constraint).

But there is absolutely no problem using the combination WhatsApp/Firefox
for pdf files.

Interestingly, Frank astutely pointed out that the desktop WA has a Save To. But the mobile WA does NOT have a save to. Instead, mobiles have Share-To.

If you want to transfer files of any type, Firefox is of no help. Then
you need an app which doesn't interpret the content of the file, but
just offers a "save as".

Luckily, I found a universal solution that turns a share-to into a save-as.

*PSA: I found a GREAT way to add 'save to device' to the Android share sheet (which works on apps like WA that don't want you to share to the device!)*
<https://xdaforums.com/t/psa-i-found-a-great-way-to-add-save-to-device-to-the-android-share-sheet-which-works-on-apps-like-wa-that-dont-want-you-to-share-to-the-device.4806835/>

My answer was: if you install an app for this purpose, better install https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.primftpd/

Primitive FTPd not only provides the "save as" function as your app,
but also an FTPd server. This way you don't have to use WhatsApp for
the file transfer but can do it by a simple drag&drop with the mouse
in Windows explorer. Primitive FTPd is a replacement for your suggested
app and you also can use it as FTPd server.









--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Oct 29, 2026 at 4:13:05?PM EDT, "Alan" <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

On 2026-10-28 20:26, Maria Sophia wrote:

I don't use WhatsApp on my iPads so I ask the iPhone users if the WhatsApp >> on iOS can save directly to the device outside of WhatsApp storage?

Probably not...

As usual, Arlen/Andy/Maria/(too many nyms to count) is wrong:

A PDF file sent to me via WhatsApp.

I open it to view it.

Then use the Share icon (the ubiquitous square with the upward facing arrow)...

...and choose "File".

It was easy.

But! IT is a self-proclaimed EXPERT on iOS!!! Just ask IT and IT will tell you. Over and over.

Nevermind that IT:

Did not know that iOS has a built-in music playing app.

Does not know how to use the Notes app.

Does not know how to use the Files app.

Did not know that the Files app can network to any computer.

Thinks that Android is more secure than iOS.

Thinks that every iOS update is the ENTIRE 10GB (or whatever size) iOS, even
if just a single line of code was changed. Because he thinks that iOS is monolithic. Nevermind that you can see the exact size of EVERY iOS update. Which explains why x.0.0 versions take more time to DL/install than x.x.1 versions.

Thinks that all apps will stop working if you are not logged into the "Apple Mainframes".

Common Knowledge. Its not what you know. Its what you THINK you know.

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0HGEZXTy8Y>

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 10/30/2026 4:49 AM, Maria Sophia wrote:

Herbert Kleebauer wrote:

What I love about this brilliantly elegant solution, is a tiny FOSS utility allows almost any app to "save as" from the "share to" menu.

It's ingenious. It's brilliant. It's simple. It's robust. It just works!
But if people don't like it, that's fine. It's just yet another method.

Primitive FTPd not only provides the "save as" function as your app,
but also an FTPd server. This way you don't have to use WhatsApp for
the file transfer but can do it by a simple drag&drop with the mouse
in Windows explorer. Primitive FTPd is a replacement for your suggested
app and you also can use it as FTPd server.

Now, I'm NOT saying FTP doesn't work. It does work. It works fine.
But other solutions are FAR BETTER for many reasons, than FTP, IMHO.

You misunderstood. I didn't suggest to install an FTP sever because
then you don't need a "save as" app. I just said, there is at least
one other "save as" app (and maybe many, many more) and that is https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.primftpd/

Now, if there are many apps for the same purpose, you have to
make the decision, which one to install. And here primitiveFTPd
has an big advantage, it not only provides the "save as" function
but also is an ftpd server (which is it's main purpose). And a
ftp server on a smartphone (I suppose an ftp server is also
available for the iPhone) is very useful, because you can copy
files from and to the phone by a simple drag&drop with the
mouse in Windows explorer. Again, this doesn't mean an ftp
server is the only or best way to copy files to the smartphone.
But when you want to install a "save as" app, why not use one
which offers this additional feature.








--- PyGate Linux v1.5.19
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)