What is a .PDF File And How To Open It – Adobe Systems

Introduction

While downloading files, you might have downloaded a file with the .pdf extension. It is important to know how to open this file – in order to be able to work with it. Don’t worry! This article explains everything about the .pdf file extension, how to open and work with it on various systems.

What is a .PDF file?

The file extension .PDF comes from Portable Document Format File. The creator of this file extension is Adobe Systems.

What to know

There are currently 17 software that can open the .pdf file on 6 platforms.

How to open a .PDF file?

Below you can find an easy to understand, step-by-step guide to open the .PDF file on your operating system/device.

How to open a .PDF file on Windows (7, 8, 10)

The .pdf file can be opened in 4 steps on Windows.

1. The first step is to download the Microsoft Reader, Nitro Pro, Foxit Reader, IMSI TurboPDF and LibreOffice software. This software will be used for opening the file.

Step 2

Step 2: Locating your .PDF file

2. In the second step you need to locate the downloaded file. The file can be usually found in your /download/ folder if you don’t remember where you have downloaded it to.

Step 3

Step 3: Choose “Open with”

3. In the third step right click on your file and choose “Open with”.

Step 4

Step 4: Choose the software and click ok

4. After choosing the “Open with” option, you will have an option to choose the Microsoft Reader software you have downloaded. Choose your software and click on “OK”. Congratulations! You have opened your file on Windows.

How to open a .PDF file on Mac

To open the .pdf file on Mac, please follow these 4 easy steps.

1. In the first step you need to download the Smile PDFpenPro software. This software will be used for opening the file. You can also use Apple Preview, Apple Pages, Solid PDF to Word, LibreOffice and Smile PDFpenPro software.

Step 2

Step 2: Finding your .PDF file

2. The second step is locating the downloaded file. If you don’t remember where you have downloaded your file to, you should check your /download/ folder as it usually gets automatically saved there.

Step 3

Step 3: Clicking “Open with”

3. In the third step right click on your file and choose “Open with”.

Step 4

Step 4: Choosing the software to open your file

4. In the fourth step, after clicking “Open with”, you should see the Smile PDFpenPro software that you have downloaded. Click on the software and click “OK”. Congratulations! You have opened your file on Mac.

How to open a .PDF file on Linux

Below you can see a visual guide on how to open the .pdf file on Linux in 4 easy steps.

1. In the first step you need to download the KDE Okular, Evince and LibreOffice software. You will be using this software in order to open the file.

Step 2

Step 2: Locate the .PDF file

2. In the second step you need to locate the downloaded file. If you don’t remember where you have downloaded your file to, you should check your /download/ folder as it usually gets automatically saved there.

Step 3

Step 3: Hover over the “Open with” button

3. In the third step right click on your file and choose “Open with”.

Step 4

Step 4: Open the file choosing the software

4. In the fourth step, after clicking “Open with”, you should see the KDE Okular software that you have downloaded. Choose your software and click on “OK”. Congratulations! You have opened your file on Linux.

How to open a .PDF file on Android

The .pdf file can be opened on Android.

Step 1

Image 1: Locating your .PDF file in the download folder

The first step is locating the downloaded file. The file can be usually found in your /download/ folder if you don’t remember where you have downloaded it to.

Step 2

Image2: Unable to open the file

While trying to open the file, it won’t work.

Step 3

Image3: Open your Google Play Store

Please locate the app “Google Play Store” (picture above) and open it.

Step 4

Image4: Search for the software and download it

In order to open the file, you will have to search for the Google Drive software and install it. You could also download the Google Play Books, Kingsoft WPS Office for Android and Google Drive software. Congratulations! You have opened your file on Android.

How to open a .PDF file on iOS

To open the .pdf file on iOS, please follow these easy steps.

Step 1

Image 1: Finding your files in the download folder

The first step is locating the downloaded file. If you don’t remember where you have downloaded your file to, you should check your /download/ folder as it usually gets automatically saved there.

Step 2

Image2: Can’t open the file

To open the file, you will need to download the Google Drive software. Please search for it in the iOS App Store and install it. You could also download the Apple Books, Apple Pages, MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro and Google Drive software. That’s all, now you have open your file on iOS.

How to open a .PDF file in the Browser

The currently known web apps that can open this file are: Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. Just right click on the file and choose “Open With” on your OS.

Still cannot open the .PDF file?

If you cannot open the .PDF file, it is entirely possible that you are trying to open the wrong file. The .PDF file extension is similar to other file extensions such as: .pdf-1 – Renamed PDF File, .pdfig – PDF Colony Software, .pdfs – Adobe Systems, .pdfxml – Adobe Systems, .pdg – Broderbund. You might be trying to open the wrong file, please recheck if you are trying to open the right file extension again.

Conclusion

In this article you have learned how to open the .PDF file with the Microsoft Reader, Nitro Pro, Foxit Reader, IMSI TurboPDF, LibreOffice programs on Windows, Smile PDFpenPro, Apple Preview, Apple Pages, Solid PDF to Word, LibreOffice programs on Mac, KDE Okular, Evince, LibreOffice software on Linux, Google Drive, Google Play Books, Kingsoft WPS Office for Android software on Android, Google Drive, Apple Books, Apple Pages, MobiSystems OfficeSuite Pro software on iOS and Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive programs in the Browser.