# FileOpen Viewer — user reviews > 40 indexed App Store user reviews of FileOpen Viewer by FileOpen Systems Inc., rated 1.03/5 from 35 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fileopen-viewer/id520287055/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fileopen-viewer/id520287055.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 0 · 4★ 0 · 3★ 0 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 34 ## Newest reviews (19 of 40) ### 1/5 — Don’t Like. Wouldn’t Recommend. *2020-11-24, version 2.4.6* I am not entirely sure why this app exists in the first place. The UI is nonsensical and it barely even functions. It seems that this was just a token attempt to throw something together. This has earned its 1 star rating for a reason. ### 1/5 — Instructions would have been nice *2020-09-03, version 2.4.6* Apparently the developer doesn’t have pride in their work because this is simply a poorly designed app that lacks even the most basic instructions on how to use. As of this writing the last update was over 2 years ago, so they’re clearly not interested in making it better. But of course, they can get away with it because there’s no other choice if you want to open one of their documents. ### 1/5 — Useless. *2020-07-24, version 2.4.6* Yes, it will open a decrypted file. But that’s where the usefulness ends. You would think that, once a PDF file is decrypted one would be able to save the decrypted file to the same device for opening in Adobe Acrobat. Just to be clear this is NOT a plug in for Acrobat. This is a stand alone, excruciatingly slow, file decryption and (practically unusable) file viewer. The file has to be decrypted each time the file is opened. This process takes several minutes on every use. Once into the file there are no search, find, highlight, or any other kind of tools. The file scrolls slowly when manipulated. The files I’m attempting to use are for my business. The glacial speed of this app has caused embarrassment and frustration on many occasions. I have no other choice as the publisher of the documents insist on using this awful program. Also note, the last plate was in 2017. It is obvious to me that FileOpen management has no real interest in supporting iOS users. If you can avoid encrypting with FileOpen, do yourself and your customers a favor and use a different method than FileOpen. ### 1/5 — Doesn't work at all *2020-05-12, version 2.4.6* I was sent here to open an encrypted file but it doesn't even work. ### 1/5 — Terrible piece of software *2020-04-24, version 2.4.6* What can I say about FileOpen? Well, let’s begin: slow, slow, slow, slow, slow, not user-friendly at all, has to be decrypted every time one tries to open the file, slow, slow, slow... did I mention slow? If I didn’t need this app for certain secure pdf’s I would chunk it right now. And you all need to fire all of your developers and start from scratch. Worst app I’ve ever used, and that is a pretty low bar. ### 1/5 — HORRIBLE APP *2020-03-18, version 2.4.6* One of my organizations uses this app to distribute their annual flagship publication. this app makes it impossible to open and use the publication. Disappointment! ### 1/5 — It doesnt work *2019-11-08, version 2.4.6* I was directed to get this app to view some books and it wont open a pdf it just freezes and eventually crashes ### 1/5 — Totally meaningless *2019-10-10, version 2.4.6* I understand the need for encryption of pdf files and this app is supposed to help view pdf files that have FileOpen encryption. However, it is absolutely useless and meaningless to spend ungodly time waiting for the file to decrypt in the viewer just to find out that once you close it, you will have to go through the process again. Why would someone even think of something like this? If I could give this a negative rating, it would still be an understatement. The UI is terrible too. ### 1/5 — Why Use This App? *2019-02-27, version 2.4.6* Totally and utterly garbage. Why should anyone use this product? It’s a great mystery! It is not clear how you can make it work, if it works. Even the entities that use it to encrypt their PDF file are (lets just say) speechless. ### 1/5 — Non-functioning *2019-02-14, version 2.4.6* Zero stars - it doesn’t work at all. A complete waste of time. It lacks the ability to open any file downloaded via email to my phone. Why was it approved to be in the App Store?? More importantly, who at Apple authorized this to be put on the App Store ?? ### 1/5 — God awful *2017-06-26, version 2.4.5* I'm a pretty happy go lucky guy, but using this app makes me want to put a shotgun in my mouth. There's nothing intuitive or user friendly about this app. All I can say is good luck and I'm sorry you're here. ### 1/5 — Awful *2017-06-23, version 2.4.5* Have to use it, but just awful on iPad ### 1/5 — Ugly,ugly,ugly *2016-10-19, version 2.4.5* Basic functionality. Ugly interface. Slow to open files. Crashes on large documents. No search. Waste of a lot of time. ### 1/5 — Useless *2016-10-19, version 2.4.5* Takes so long to open a file it is effectively useless. Won't even load in the background, so you need to keep the app active and wait. And wait. And wait. ### 1/5 — Slow *2016-09-08, version 2.4.4* I hope the developer reads these reviews. In today's digital age people expect to be able to access data quickly and easily. This app does neither. It is slow and buggy when opening up PDFs that I use for work. It's like trying to download pictures on dial up internet! Trying a work around, but in the meantime I am stuck with this lousy app. Doesn't even deserve a one star rating. ### 1/5 — Poor PDF viewer *2016-02-20, version 2.4.2* The "viewer" doesn't even have a Back button. If you have a large document, you either have to close - reopen - go to Index, or scroll through the whole document. That explains why there is no Help file - absolutely no helpful features. None. ### 1/5 — Piece of crap *2015-12-04, version 2.4.2* Worst execution of software I have encountered. Incredibly in reliable. Should be removed from the App Store. ### 1/5 — Useless *2015-05-24, version 2.3.5* Useless piece of crap. Not working. Don't bother. ### 1/5 — Trash *2015-02-28, version 2.3.5* Don't even bother. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Worst App *2022-11-23, version 2.4.6* This is by far the worst adaptation ever to IOS, instead of letting me open an encrypted pdf in acrobat or similar, it tried to be a pdf reader and fall way short, it takes ages to open a document, its missing key features and basically its impossible to work with documents having more than 2 pages. Review should be zero stars. ### 1/5 — Try anything else *2022-09-08, version 2.4.6* Painfully slow, your files will get opened but it’s a hassle each time. ### 1/5 — Useless *2022-05-31, version 2.4.6* It doesn’t open files. It doesn’t let you view files. Apple should remove this app from the store. ### 1/5 — Worst ever *2022-04-26, version 2.4.6* No instructions what so ever. Useless. ### 1/5 — Useless junk *2022-02-13, version 2.4.6* Exactly what the person said. 500 page file takes 17min every time you need it. Unbelievably slow. Junk ### 1/5 — Useless app *2022-01-07, version 2.4.6* You would think since there is a “local” tab in the app you could pick a file saved to the files app on iOS. This app was put together by someone who doesn’t know how iPhone apps should be made. Don’t bother. ### 1/5 — Just horrible! *2021-12-29, version 2.4.6* So horrible! Now most of my pdfs don't open or authenticate. ### 1/5 — Absolute garbage. *2021-11-10, version 2.4.6* I would give it zero stars if I could. Takes ages to decrypt files if you can even make it that far. Not only that, you have to decrypt the file every time you open it and if your device enters sleep mode or your autorotate activates? Forget about it. Doesn’t run in the background, either. And now I’m getting “server timeout” errors on files I’ve opened dozens of times so this app is effectively useless to me. I love the mastersofanatomy ebooks and this app is required to open them but it’s not worth the headache. ### 1/5 — Remove this app from the store *2021-04-25, version 2.4.6* Apple, please review this app and remove ### 1/5 — Unusable *2021-01-07, version 2.4.6* The app takes forever to decrypt the file and the file only remains decrypted while the file is open. If you close the file to try then reopen the same file, you have to decrypt the whole file over again. As other have said , the decryption is horribly slow. I shouldn’t have to wait and decrypt a file again if I had it open previously. Worst copy protection ever. ## Most praised reviews (2 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Needs the ability to reflow text *2014-04-06, version 2.3* It would be great if I could change text size and if it could reflow text to make it ideal to study from! ### 2/5 — Technically, it worked... *2019-05-14, version 2.4.6* So, technically I eventually able to use this to open a protected PDF, which means that the app "works". However the description step takes an ungodly amount of time and if you actually need to use the app's UI, beyond just scrolling through a PDF, it will make you cry. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*