Gander
Gander is a free, open-source Android app for viewing files offline.
What Gander is
Gander is a free, open-source Android app for viewing files offline. It opens documents, spreadsheets, presentations, photos, video, audio, Markdown, code, ZIP archives, and STL models, but it does not edit files. Supported formats include PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OpenDocument, and Rich Text. You can search files, browse folders, open recent items, print, and select and copy PDF text; night mode is available for PDFs and Word files. ZIP contents can be browsed like a folder, with files opened directly from the archive without extracting them to the phone. Files can be passed in through Android’s share sheet or Open with actions, or selected using the system document picker. Gander says it has no ads, tracking, accounts, or INTERNET permission, and renders files on the device. It runs on Android 8.0 and up; PDF viewing requires Android System WebView 125 or newer. The maker lists Google Play, GitHub APK releases, and Obtainium as installation or update options.
Good
- Opens documents, media, code, archives, and 3D models
- Works offline and renders files on-device
- Search, printing, folder browsing, and recent files
- Opens ZIP contents without extracting them
- Free and MIT licensed
Watch out
- Does not edit files
- Requires Android 8.0 or newer
- PDFs require Android System WebView 125 or newer
- Legacy .ppt files are unsupported; spreadsheet charts are not drawn
Who it suits
Gander suits Android users who need an offline viewer for varied document and media formats. It may also suit people who want file rendering on-device and no ads, tracking, or accounts.
Verdict
Gander covers a broad range of file types in an offline Android viewer, with useful browsing and PDF tools. Check its Android and WebView requirements, and note that some PowerPoint and spreadsheet content has limitations.
The facts
Each one read from Gander's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Distribution
- The maker lists Google Play, GitHub APK releases, and Obtainium as installation or update options; F-Droid is described as requested and in progress.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Features
- Features include file search, text selection and copying in PDFs, night mode for PDFs and Word files, printing, recent files, and folder browsing.checked 11 Oct 2026
- File handling
- It opens files you choose through Android’s file picker, a granted folder, or another app’s “Open with” action.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Formats
- It supports formats including PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OpenDocument, Rich Text, ZIP, STL, images, video, audio, Markdown and code.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Install sources
- The maker lists Google Play, GitHub APK releases and Obtainium as installation or update options; F-Droid is described as requested and in progress.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Users can open files through Android's share sheet or Open with intents, and can browse folders using Android's system document picker.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The maker describes Gander as a general-purpose utility and invites organizations that want it on managed devices to get in touch.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License
- Gander is MIT licensed, and the maker says its source is available on GitHub.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Limitations
- Legacy .ppt files are unsupported, complicated PowerPoint decks may render approximately, and spreadsheet charts are not drawn.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Notable limits
- Gander is a viewer, not an editor; it does not support legacy .ppt files, and complex PowerPoint decks may render approximately while spreadsheet charts are not drawn.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says the app requests no permissions, has no INTERNET permission, analytics, advertising, tracking, crash reporting, or account, and does not transmit files.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Gander is an open-source, offline Android viewer for documents, photos, video, audio, Markdown, code, archives and 3D models.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Gander is a viewer and does not edit files.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Gander runs on Android 8.0 and up; viewing PDFs requires Android System WebView 125 or newer.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- Gander says its build fails if a dependency adds a permission, and its About screen displays the permissions Android reports for the app.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks users to report vulnerabilities privately through GitHub or by email and says the maintainer will reply within a week.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- The security policy says fixes go into the next release and older versions are not patched.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker invites issues and small pull requests, and provides an email address for organizations seeking managed-device use or features.checked 11 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Gander is an open source, offline file viewer for Android that opens documents, spreadsheets, slides, photos, video, audio, Markdown, text, code, ZIP archives, and STL models.checked 11 Oct 2026
- ZIP files
- Gander lists ZIP contents like a folder and opens files directly from the archive without extracting them onto the phone.checked 11 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform requirement
- Gander runs on Android 8.0 and up, and PDF viewing requires Android System WebView 125 or newer.checked 11 Oct 2026
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