All about PDF Files

The PDF file type is primarily associated with Acrobat.

PDF	File extension: PDF
	File type:	document

What is a PDF file?

PDF files mostly belong to Acrobat by Adobe. A PDF file is a document saved in the Portable Document Format developed by Adobe. It contains one or more pages made up of text, graphics, and metadata. Rich media such as videos, scripts, and other data may be saved in a PDF file. Acrobat is the primary program for creating, editing, and signing PDF documents. Malicious actors sometimes rename the extension of a Windows executable (EXE) to PDF in order to mislead users into installing malware/spyware. ArcGIS geographic information system saves preference definitions in a different type of PDF file.

How to open a PDF file

You need a suitable software like Acrobat to open a PDF file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your PDF file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a PDF file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online PDF File Viewer

Choose your .pdf file to view this image

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

✈

Read our privacy guarantee in Filext’s terms and privacy policy

Please allow ads on our site

This helps us keep our servers running. Then re-upload your file to view it.

Click here to see how to disable the ad blocker for filext.com

How to convert PDF files to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG, ...

You can convert PDF files using our online PDF file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

To do so, click the "Choose your .pdf file to view this image" button above.
Your PDF file will then be displayed in the browser.
Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
Select the office format (e.g. PDF, DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, ODF, HTML, JPG, ...) you want.
Your file will be converted and downloaded.

Programs that open and convert PDF files:

Acrobat by Adobe
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. PDF files are often referred to as Acrobat page layouts because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
7-Zip (compressed data) by Igor Pavlov
7-Zip is a cross-platform file compression and encryption program. It can unpack the contents of a PDF archive compressed using GZip, RAR, or ZIP compression format. This file format is classified as Compressed.
Analyzer (protocol definition) by Analyzer Developer
Analyzer is a discontinued public domain protocol analyzer for 32-bit Windows systems. It saves a protocol definition in a PDF file. This file format is classified as Data.
ArcGIS (preferences definition) by ESRI
ArcGIS is a cross-platform geographic information system with mapping and geo-data analysis tools. Its preferences (settings) definition is saved in a PDF file. This file format is classified as Settings.
Defender (malware) by Microsoft
Defender is a system security software built-into Windows operating system. It protects the system against malware, spyware, and ransomware. Defender can detect and remove malware disguised as PDF documents. This file format is classified as Executable.
Ed-Scan
Ed-Scan is a discontinued document scanning utility. A document scanned by this tool is saved as a 24-bit raster image in a PDF file. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Netware (data) by Novell
Netware is a discontinued cross-platform operating system based on the IPX protocol. It used some data saved in a PDF file. This file format is classified as Data.
P-CAD (database) by Altium
P-CAD is a discontinued printed circuit board design and schematic capture software for Windows. PDF was the filename extension of its database interchange format. This file format is classified as Database.
Photoshop (photo editing project) by Adobe
Photoshop is a professional photo editing program compatible with desktop and mobile devices. It can open a PSD document which has PDF filename extension. This file format is classified as Raster Image.
Sublime (text-encoded data) by Sublime
Sublime is a desktop application for editing plain text and source code in various languages. It can read and edit a text file with PDF filename extension. Such files are usually HTML, JSON, or XML files downloaded instead of PDF documents due to incorrect server configuration. This file format is classified as Web (source). Related links: MHTML, HTML, XML
System Center (package description) by Microsoft
System Center is an enterprise system deployment and management software suite for Windows operating system. It saves inventory-related package definitions in files with PDF filename extension. This file format is classified as Data.
TextEdit (email document) by Apple
TextEdit is a plain text editor which is built into macOS. It can read a winmail.pdf (renamed from winmail.dat) file containing the Rich Text version of an email sent from an incorrectly configured Outlook email client. This file format is classified as Data. Related links: What is the winmail.dat attachment?
Ventura Publisher (EPS-variation page) by Corel
Ventura Publisher is a discontinued desktop publishing software for DOS and GEM platforms. It saves an EPS-variation page in a PDF file. This file format is classified as Page Layout.
XnView (image) by XnSoft
XnView is a cross-platform image organizer with editing and conversion support. It can import and render a JPEG, PNG, or TIFF image with PDF filename extension. This file format is classified as Raster Image.

PDF file format:

Why is it important to know the file format? This is the only way to find out which program to use to open the file. The file format can be deduced from the file extension and the signature. Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. Knowledge is power - this also applies when dealing with unknown or faulty files. Below is our analysis of the PDF files:

PDF is a very common file type and uses a standardized format supported by many programs. However, the following two file formats are common:

85% of all PDF files belong to Adobe Portable Document Format. The files are using the common file format PDF. PDF is short for Portable Document Format, is a file format to present documents, including text formatting and images, in a manner independent of application software, hardware, and operating systems. The contents of these files cannot be read by a human; only a computer program can interpret the data. Most of these files are 32 KB to 2 MB in size. The file type is relatively new. Files like these are sometimes connected to form, report, document, certificate, guide, scan, letter and statement.
2% of all PDF files use the ZIP algorithm, so several files are compressed and saved in one PDF file. Primarily 1 to 60 files are included. If you want to see the included files and images, simply rename the file extension to .zip and double-click it. The files are 5 KB to 4 MB in size, with a median of 210 KB. Such files sometimes refer to epdf, notes, autogenerateddocument, download, evrak, tender, adoc and memo.

The remaining 13% of all PDF files are files with no common format, often, for example, HTML, DOC, Mac2OSX, JPG, GZIP, XML, PNG, TIFF, RAR, rtfd and book. Often described as card, application, manual, converted, list or resume. Just click the "Choose your .pdf file to view this image" button on this page to find out what your PDF file is.

Technical Data for PDF File Extension

File classification:

Page Layout

Related files:

check, jpg, epdf, docx, csi, unknown, zip, do, soa, txt, png, jpeg, file, adoc, online, pptx, scanner, xdo, download, xlsx, edn, xfdf, fdf

Mime type:

application/pdf, application/x-pdf, application/postscript

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document, FileType: Adobe Acrobat Document, AppName: Acrobat Reader 5.0
EXEFile: AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document, FileType: Adobe Acrobat Document, AppName: Acrobat Reader 5.1
EXEFile: AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document, FileType: Adobe Acrobat Document, AppName: Adobe Acrobat 5.0
EXEFile: Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document, FileType: Adobe Acrobat Document, AppName: Adobe Acrobat 6.0
EXEFile: Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document, FileType: Adobe Acrobat Document, AppName: Adobe Reader 6.0
EXEFile: AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document, FileType: Adobe Acrobat Document, AppName: Portable Document Format
EXEFile: Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document, FileType: Adobe Acrobat Document, AppName: Portable Document Format
EXEFile: AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: aliddy, FileType: PDF File, AppName: Jaws PDF Editor
EXEFile: pdfeditor.exe

ProgramID: CorelDRAW.Graphic.11, FileType: CorelDRAW 11.0 Graphic, AppName: CorelDRAW(R)
EXEFile: coreldrw.exe

ProgramID: GraphicsConverterPro.pdf, FileType: Portable Document Format, AppName: GraphicsConverter-reg
EXEFile: GraphicsConverter.exe

ProgramID: PhotoshopElements.PDFFile, AppName: Adobe Photoshop Elements
EXEFile: photoshopelements.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Acrobat 6.0.2 CE\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Acrobat\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0 CE\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0 CE\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\installed programs\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Curricular\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: C:\Acrobat3\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: C:\ACROREAD\ACROREAD.EXE %1

ProgramID: pdffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: Photoshop.PDFFile.8
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Photoshop CS\Photoshop.exe %1

ProgramID: ft000002
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0.1\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: d:\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: C:\AddOn\AcrobatReader\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\adobe reader\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: D:\DOWNLOADS\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat Reader 5\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: c:\lotus\acroread\acroread.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%r\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: D:\Acrobat3\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 4.0 ME\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat_FR\reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%r\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: pdffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Ghostgum\gsview\gsview32.exe %1

ProgramID: PhotoshopElements.PDFFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2\PhotoshopElements.exe %1

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: C:\DOCUME~1\Popper\Desktop\FOXITR~1.EXE %1

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXITP~1\FOXITR~1.EXE %1

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Internet\Browsers\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe %1

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat 7.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.1\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXITS~1\FOXITR~1\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%r\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe Reade 7.0.5\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: PhotoshopElements.PDFFile.4
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 4.0\PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Foxit\Foxit.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0 ME\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nitro PDF\bin\PlusShell.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: CIBepdf.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\CIBSOF~1\CIBPDF~1\CIBepdf.exe

ProgramID: Photoshop.PDFFile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Photoshop 6.0\Photoshp.exe

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXIT-~1.162\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0 CE\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXITR~1\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\!BackupC\prgs\FOXITS~1\FOXITR~1\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Acrobat Reader 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0 ME\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

ProgramID: PDF-XChangeViewer.1
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Tracker Software\PDF-XChange Viewer\pdf-viewer\PDFXCview.exe

ProgramID: pdffile
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Visagesoft\pdfeditor\vspdfeditorpro.exe

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXITP~1\PDFREA~1.EXE

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXITR~1\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: NitroPDF.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Nitro PDF\Professional\NitroPDF.exe

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\FOXITS~1\FOXITP~1\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: FoxitReader.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Foxit\FOXITR~1.EXE

ProgramID: AcroExch.Document
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Acrobat 9.0\Acrobat\Acrobat.exe

Show all 93 listings To Top

a pdf document is a special file format by Adobe and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with PDF files

Associate the PDF file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open documents. Because only the current version supports the latest PDF file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Adobe manufacturer website after an available Acrobat update.
To make sure that your PDF file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .PDF file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.