Open PDF and Email Applications directly from i365 sharepoint library without sync to OneDrive

Question

Hello,

Is it currently possible to open .pdf files in desktop Adobe app and emails in desktop Outlook directly from i365 SharePoint Library without sync to OneDrive (it works with sync to OneDrive)? It does work for Word documents but not for emails and pdf.

If library synced with OneDrive pdf and emails can be opened in desktop apps but limitation of 300k total files (Library+OneDrive) prohibit to use sync for the company. And yes, the libraries were already split into smaller libraries.

Answer 1

Dear @Al2020s,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.   

I understand you want users to open PDFs in Adobe Acrobat and saved emails (.msg/.eml) in Outlook directly from a SharePoint Online library, without having to sync the entire library to OneDrive. Here are some information help you clarify the behavior.  

1/ How “Open in app” works: 

The “Open in app” experience for PDFs and other non‑Office files relies on the OneDrive sync client. The client acts as a broker that hands the file off to the local default application. It does not require a full library sync, but the sync client must be allowed and active. 

2/ Handling Office documents differently 
Office files such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint behave differently because they use Microsoft’s built‑in protocol for opening directly in desktop apps. This exception does not apply to PDFs or email files. 

For saved emails, SharePoint supports previewing .msg/.eml files, but this preview is limited.  

3/ Working with .msg and .eml files 

Attachments inside the message cannot be opened, and Outlook desktop cannot be launched directly from the browser. 

• For working with PDFs stored in SharePoint: 

Option 1: Deploy Adobe Acrobat integration for Microsoft 365 
This is the recommended approach when users need Acrobat’s desktop features while files stay in SharePoint. 

Note: This action requires approval and execution by your IT administrator in accordance with your company’s policies. If you are an end‑user, please contact your IT admin for assistance. 

Open the Microsoft 365 admin center. 

Go to Settings > Integrated Apps. 

Add and deploy “Adobe Acrobat for Microsoft 365”. 

Users can then open and edit PDFs directly in Acrobat and save back to SharePoint without syncing entire libraries. 

Option 2: Open the PDF in the browser 
Open the document library in browser. 

Select the PDF, then choose Open > Open in browser. 

In the browser‑based PDF viewer, select Edit with Acrobat. 

• For working with .msg/.eml files: 

Since SharePoint does not provide a built‑in option to open .msg/.eml files directly in Outlook desktop, the following method is the supported alternative across all devices: 

Select the .msg or .eml file in SharePoint. 

Download the file to your device. 

Open it in Outlook. 

Additional information is available in the following resources:  
Open a OneDrive or SharePoint file in the desktop app instead of the browser - Microsoft Support 

Open file links directly in Office desktop apps - Microsoft Support 

Microsoft 365 and Adobe integrations | Microsoft Learn 

View SharePoint files with File Explorer in Microsoft Edge - SharePoint in Microsoft 365 | Microsof… 

I completely understand how these limitations in SharePoint can feel disruptive. It’s not just about aesthetics; these differences can genuinely affect how smoothly you work and navigate your day. 

As a forum moderator, I hope you understand that I don’t have the ability to modify or escalate product issues directly. However, I strongly recommend submitting your feedback through the SharePoint · Community portal. This is the most effective way to ensure your voice reaches the product team and can be considered for future improvements. 

 

Once you've submitted your feedback, feel free to share the link here in the comments. I’ll be happy to upvote it to help bring more visibility. If you prefer, I can also submit this great idea on your behalf. Just let me know, and I’ll post it for you and share the link once it’s published. I’m here to help ensure your feedback gets the attention it deserves. 

Additionally, as other users have raised similar concerns and may not be aware of where to share their feedback, I hope this response helps clarify the situation and suggests a potential next step. Highlighting this information can make it more visible to others in the community who may be facing the same issue, making it easier for them to find guidance and contribute their feedback as well. 

Thank you again for your time and for raising this important usability concern. 

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Answer 2

Currently, opening PDF files directly in the desktop Adobe application and emails in the desktop Outlook from a SharePoint library without syncing to OneDrive is not supported. While it is possible to open Word documents directly from SharePoint without syncing, the same does not apply to PDFs and emails. The functionality you are experiencing with PDFs and emails requiring OneDrive sync is a limitation of the integration between SharePoint and these applications.

If you need to work with PDFs and emails without syncing, you might consider alternative workflows, such as downloading the files temporarily to your local device and then opening them in the respective applications. However, this would not provide the seamless experience that syncing offers.

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References:

• Overview of OneDrive in Microsoft 365
• Plan and deploy a file collaboration environment - SharePoint