Are the computers in your school or office so outdated and poorly maintained that they don’t have a program already installed that allows you to open a PDF? Have you tried asking your classmates and co-workers, but none of them are handy with PC use and don’t know how to help you? I see. Well, considering the circumstances I would definitely say that you have landed on the right tutorial, at the right time.
With this guide, in fact, I intend to explain how to open PDF files. It’s really easy, you have my word! In the following lines I’ll show you how to open the files in question from PC and Mac and also how to succeed in the enterprise through smartphones and tablets Android and iOS/iPadOS. You’ll see that, in the end, you’ll have perfectly clear ideas about it.
So. How would you like to finally put the talk aside and start getting busy? Yeah? Great! So, sit back, relax, take a few minutes for yourself and focus on the following. I’m sure that, at the end, you’ll be happy and satisfied with the results.
How to open PDF files on computer
For starters, let’s find out how to open PDF files on a computer. Below you’ll find what I consider to be the most useful programs for Windows and macOS. Put them to the test now and you’ll see that you won’t regret it.
Microsoft Edge (Windows 10)
If you’re using a PC with Windows 10, the first tool to open PDF files that I suggest you use is Microsoft Edge. This is the default browser of the operating system, which allows you not only to browse the Web, but also to open and possibly edit documents in PDF format.
To be able to use it for your purpose, right-click on the icon of the PDF file you want to open, select the Open item from the context menu and then the Microsoft Edge one.
Next, you will be shown the browser window with the PDF inside and you can then view the contents of the document. You can use the side scroll bar and the controls on the top toolbar to adjust the zoom, rotate the PDF etc.
Also at the top of the screen, there are buttons to add highlights, drawings and make other basic changes.
If you have made any changes to the document remember to save them by pressing the floppy disk icon to overwrite the current file, or selecting the floppy disk and pencil icon to create a copy of the file.
Preview (macOS)
If you’re using macOS, you can open PDF files with Preview, the default application for viewing and editing PDF images and documents.
To use it, double-click on the icon of the PDF file you want to work on. If Preview is not the default reader, right-click on the PDF, select Open with from the context menu and then select Preview.
After completing the above steps, the Preview window will open with the PDF inside. You can then scroll through the contents of the document and use the buttons at the top to adjust the zoom, orientation of the document, etc.
You can also make simple changes to the document by clicking on the pencil icon on the toolbar and using the additional commands you see appearing to highlight text, add shapes, etc.
To save any changes made to the current file simply close the Preview window, while to create a copy of the document click on the File menu at the top left and choose the Export as PDF option there.
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (Windows/MacOS)
Among the many programs that allow viewing files in PDF format, I also recommend you try the very famous Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. It is the software par excellence in this category. It was created by Adobe (the company that developed the PDF format) and lets you not only view the documents in question, but also edit them. It is for Windows and macOS and is free of charge, but some more advanced features are only available in the paid version (which has prices starting at 18.29 euros/month, but you can try it for free for 7 days).
To download the program to your computer, visit its website and click on the Download Acrobat Reader button.
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, open the .exe file obtained and click the Yes button in the window that appears on your desktop. Then wait for all the necessary components of the components to be downloaded for the program to work and click on the Finish button.
If you are using macOS, open the .dmg package and double-click on the .pkg file in the window that appears. Next, press the Continue button (twice in a row), type in your Mac user account password, click the Install Software button and finish the setup by pressing the Close button.
Now that you see the Adobe Acrobat Reader DC window on your screen, decide whether you want to set the software as your default PDF reader or not, then click on the File menu at the top left, then on the Open item in it and select the PDF file you wish to view.
After completing the above steps, the PDF will be opened in the program window and you can view it by scrolling through its contents using the side bars. If necessary, you can also use the buttons on the toolbar at the top and on the left to adjust the zoom, search for content within the document, etc.
If, on the other hand, you want to make changes to the PDF, you can do so by selecting the option you are interested in from the right sidebar: there is a function to compile and sign PDFs, one to combine multiple files into one etc.
If you have made changes to your document, remember to save it by selecting the File menu and choosing the appropriate items to overwrite the current document or create a new one.
Other solutions to open PDF files on computer
None of the solutions to open PDF files from computer that I have already mentioned convinced you in a particular way and, therefore, you would like me to suggest other solutions? No sooner said than done! You can find them in the list below.
Foxit Reader (Windows/macOS/Linux) – is a free, easy-to-use, cross-platform software with which you can view and edit PDF documents, as well as compile and sign them.
Sumatra PDF (Windows) – is a fairly lightweight PDF reader with an essential interface that not only allows you to open the document types in question but also eBooks in ePub or Mobi format, XPS files and digital comics in CBZ or CBR. It comes in a portable edition and is totally free.
Skim (macOS) – this is one of the most interesting applications for macOS to open PDF files for free. It allows you to view documents in the given format and perform various other operations, such as adding annotations, creating text snippets etc. It integrates with Spotlight and is also very lightweight.
How to open PDF files online
If you don’t feel like downloading new programs to your computer, you can consider opening PDF files online by using some special web services that work from any browser and operating system. To find out which are, in my opinion, the most interesting solutions in this category continue reading.
PDF Candy
If you want to open PDF files from the browser window, I strongly suggest you consider using PDF Candy. This is a free web service that allows you to open and edit PDF files, as well as to perform conversion, compression, etc. However, it does not allow you to upload files larger than 500 MB. To get around this limitation and unlock other extra features you have to subscribe to a paid subscription (at the basic cost of 6 euros/month). As for the privacy of users, this is protected, as the files uploaded to the servers of the service are automatically removed within a few hours.
To use PDF Candy, go to its web page, click on the Add File button and select the PDF you want to work on. Alternatively, drag the file directly into the browser window. You can also download the PDF from your Google Drive or Dropbox account by clicking on the appropriate icons.
When the upload is complete, you will have your document in PDF format in front of you and you will be able to view its content, using the buttons to advance through the pages on the right. If necessary, you can adjust the zoom level using the appropriate buttons at the bottom.
If you want to make changes to the document, you can do so by using the tools in the toolbar on the left, where you can add text, drawings, etc.
If you have edited the document, you can save an edited copy of it to your computer by clicking the Export File button on the right and pressing the Download File button. You can also choose to save the resulting compressed PDF to Google Drive or Dropbox.
Other solutions to open PDF files online
Looking for more solutions through which you can open PDF files from your browser? Then try the solutions of this type in the following list. I sincerely hope that you will eventually find something that will satisfy you.
Soda PDF – is a free and very easy to use online PDF viewer. Note that the service also provides other tools to make various changes to the files that are given to it. To unlock some advanced features, however, it is necessary to take out a paid subscription (with prices starting at €3.90/week). As far as privacy is concerned, it should be kept in mind that files uploaded to the service’s servers are automatically deleted 24 hours after upload.
PDF24 – is yet another web service through which you can view and edit documents in PDF format. It is free of charge and does not place limitations on the maximum weight of files and the number of documents you can act on. Moreover, the privacy of the users is protected as the files uploaded to the service’s servers are removed in the short term.
iLovePDF – this is a Web service that provides users with a PDF editor that, obviously, also works as a viewer. It should be noted that various other tools are also available to work on the type of documents in question. It is free and only allows processing one file at a time with a maximum size of 200 MB. To get around these limitations and unlock other extra features, you have to upgrade to the paid version (with costs starting at 6 euros/month). Regarding privacy, files uploaded to iLovePDF are automatically removed from its servers a few hours after upload.
How to open PDF files with Android
Let’s now move to the mobile side and find out how to open PDF files with Android. Below you will find those that in my opinion represent the best solutions belonging to this category. Put them to the test now!
Google PDF Viewer
The tool for opening PDF files on Android that I suggest you first consider is Google’s PDF Viewer. The application should already be pre-installed on all Android devices (if not, it can be picked up for free from the relevant section of the Play Store) and allows you to open and view documents in the format in question, without offering any editing features.
To be able to use it, all you have to do is open any PDF file from downloads or any other app, then take care to select the item related to the use of the viewer through the proposed menu (if necessary).
Once you’ve gone through the above steps, you’ll find yourself in front of the Google PDF Viewer screen with the document you wanted to open. If you want, you can adjust the magnification level by using pinch to zoom, while to search for specific words in it you just need to press the button with the magnifying glass and by tapping the button with the three vertical dots you can access the settings to send the file, print it etc.
Other solutions to open PDF files with Android
Here are some other solutions for opening PDF files on Android that you can consider using as an alternative to the default document viewer on your device. Feel free to choose the solution that you think will appeal to you the most.
PDF Viewer & Reader – is a rather simple app that allows you to view PDF documents and eBooks without providing users with advanced features. It’s basically free, but offers in-app purchases (at a cost of €2.79) to remove advertisements.
Prestigio eReader – this is a PDF file reader that doubles as an eBook reader. Thus, it supports PDFs and digital books in multiple formats, including those protected via the Adobe DRM system. It is free of charge, but offers in-app purchases (at the base price of €1.09) to unlock all available features.
PDF Reader for Android – great app for reading and editing PDF documents from Android. It also includes useful tools for searching document contents, adding underlines, copying text and much more. It’s basically free, but offers in-app purchases (at a minimum cost of €2.19) to unlock all features.
How to open PDF files on iPhone
Do you own an iOS/iPadOS device and are wondering how to open PDF files on iPhone, as well as on iPad? Then you can turn to the useful solutions for the purpose that I have provided below.
Books
If you are looking for a simple, yet effective solution to open PDF files on iPhone and iPad I suggest you to turn to Books. This is the default eBook reader for iOS/iPadOS, which also allows you to view and edit documents in PDF format. It is very easy to use and integrates with iCloud Drive, so you can access PDFs from all devices on your personal cloud space. It comes pre-installed (if the app has been removed it can be re-downloaded for free from the App Store).
To use Books, select the PDF file you want to open, tap on the share icon (the one with the square with the arrow inside) present on the next screen and select the app icon present in the menu that appears.
After completing the above steps, you will be shown the Books screen with your PDF inside and you can scroll through the various pages in it. If necessary, you can also use the buttons at the top of the screen to adjust the zoom, search for words in the document, etc.
If you then want to make changes to the file, press the button with the pencil and you will be shown all the various tools for editing, adding highlights, drawings, etc..
More solutions to open PDF files on iPhone
If you’re looking for more ways to open PDF files on iPhone and iPad, you can consider using the additional PDF apps I’ve listed below.
Xodo PDF – is an application that allows you to open and possibly even edit PDF files, including adding text and editing existing ones. It is completely free of charge.
Notability – this is a renowned application for viewing PDF files and adding annotations to them, as well as for creating new documents of this type yourself. You have to pay for it (it costs 9.99 euros).
PDF Expert – is undoubtedly one of the best apps for iPhone and iPad to open PDF files and edit them. It offers many interesting features and also has a pleasant user interface. It’s basically free, but to access the more advanced features you need to purchase the paid version (at a cost of €52.99/year).
How to open PDF files with password
Are you trying to open a PDF document but can’t because you are asked to enter a password? If this is the case and you do not have the ability to find the access key to the file, the only way to open PDF files with a password is to use special software.
Are you trying to open a PDF document but can’t because you are asked to enter a password? If this is the case and you do not have the ability to find the access key to the file, the only way to open PDF files with a password is to use special software.
How to open damaged PDF file
Trying to view your documents you get a message that the files are corrupted and, therefore, you would like to find out if there is a way to open a damaged PDF file? The answer is yes.
In fact, you can use software specially designed for recovering damaged or corrupted files, such as the ones I’ve recommended in my specific guide on how to recover corrupted files. Please note, however, that if any of your PDF files are unreadable because the data they contain is irreparably compromised, there is nothing you can do about it even if you use these programs.
How to open p7m PDF files
Do you need to open p7m PDF files? If so, you need to turn to ad hoc software, such as the ones I told you about in my specific guide on how to open pdf.p7m files.
In case you don’t know it, this is a type of file that has the purpose of authenticating a text document or a project with a digital signature and that is used especially by professionals and officials of the Public Administration.