How to open a pdf document in Word.

For convenience, we will distinguish four types of programs: viewers (for reading and annotating), editors (for editing text and other content), managers (for splitting, compressing and other manipulations with files) and converters (for converting PDF to other formats).

Most applications can be classified into several types at once.

  • Type: viewer, editor, converter, manager.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

A very intuitive and convenient program with an impressive number of functions. When you launch Sejda PDF, you will immediately see all the tools grouped by category. Select the one you need, drag the required file into the program window and start manipulating. Most things in this app can be done in a few seconds, even if you are using it for the first time.

What you can do in Sejda PDF:

  • edit text, add images and shapes;
  • convert PDF to Excel, JPG (and vice versa), Word (and vice versa);
  • combine and separate files into pages, compress their size;
  • protect documents with a password;
  • add watermarks;
  • discolor documents;
  • trim page area;
  • sign documents.

The free version of the program has limitations. For example, files should not be more than 200 pages and not exceed 50 MB in size. In addition, you cannot perform more than three operations with documents during the day. The full version of Sejda PDF costs $5.25 per month.

  • Type: manager, converter, editor.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, .

PDFsam cannot boast of a polished, user-friendly interface. In addition, the program does not allow you to convert PDF and edit the contents of documents for free. But it does have several useful managerial functions that are available to everyone without payment or any restrictions.

What you can do in PDFsam:

  • combine PDF in several modes (glue in parts or mix page by page);
  • split PDF by pages, bookmarks (in places with specified words) and size into separate documents;
  • rotate pages (if some of them were scanned upside down);
  • extract pages with specified numbers;
  • convert Excel, Word, PowerPoint formats to PDF;
  • convert PDF to Excel, Word and PowerPoint formats ($10);
  • edit text and other file content ($30).

  • Type
  • Platforms: Windows.

A very functional program with a classic interface in the style of Microsoft office applications. PDF-XChange Editor is not very beginner friendly. To master all the features of the program, you need to spend some time. Fortunately, all internal descriptions and tips are translated into Russian.

What you can do in PDF-XChange Editor:

  • add annotations and highlight text;
  • edit text and other content;
  • recognize text using OCR;
  • extract pages from documents;
  • encrypt documents (paid);
  • convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats and vice versa (paid);
  • compress files (paid);
  • sort pages in any order (paid).

These are not all the functions that you can find in PDF-XChange Editor. The program is available in several versions with different numbers of features. The cost of paid versions starts at $43.5.

  • Type: viewer, manager, converter, editor.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.

A popular universal program for working with PDF from the company. The free version is a very convenient document viewer; other functions are available by subscription starting at 149 rubles per month.

What you can do in Adobe Acrobat Reader:

  • view documents, highlight and comment on text, search for words and phrases;
  • sign documents (paid);
  • edit text and other content (paid);
  • combine documents into one file (paid);
  • compress files (paid);
  • convert PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint formats (paid);
  • Convert images in JPG, JPEG, TIF and BMP formats to PDF (paid).

All these features and more are available in desktop versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mobile versions of the program only allow you to view and annotate documents, and also, after subscribing, convert them into different formats.

  • Type: viewer, converter.
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.

Fast and convenient PDF reader with different viewing modes. Ideal for users who want a simple document reader without a lot of extra features. The program is available on all major platforms.

The PDF format is used to store electronic documents. Initially, only a program from Adobe itself was used to open PDF files. But over time, many solutions from third-party developers have appeared. These apps vary in their availability (free and paid) and additional features. Agree, it’s convenient when, in addition to reading, there is the ability to edit the original content of a PDF file or recognize text from a picture.

Therefore, there are a large number of different programs for reading PDF. For some, a simple viewing function is enough. Others need to change the source text of a document, add a comment to this text, convert a Word file to PDF, and much more.


When it comes to viewing PDFs, most programs are very similar. But there are exceptions here too. For example, some have an auto-scroll feature, while others do not. Below is a list of the most popular free PDF viewers.

The most famous program for viewing PDF files is Adobe Reader. And this is no coincidence, since Adobe is the developer of the format itself.

This product has a pleasant appearance and standard functions for viewing PDF. Adobe Reader is a free app, but some features, such as text editing and recognition, are only available if you purchase a paid subscription.

This is undoubtedly a disadvantage for those who need these functions, but do not want to spend their money.

STDU Viewer

STDU Weaver positions itself as a universal combiner for viewing many different formats of electronic documents. The program is able to “digest” Djvu, TIFF, XPS and much more. The number of supported formats also includes PDF. It is convenient when one program is enough to view a variety of files.

You can also note the presence of a portable version of STDU Viewer, which does not need to be installed. Otherwise, this product does not stand out among other PDF viewers.

Foxit Reader

Foxit Reader is almost an analogue of Adobe Reader, with the exception of some differences. For example, the program has the ability to enable automatic scrolling of document pages, which allows you to read a PDF without touching the mouse or keyboard.

The program is also capable of opening not only PDF, but also Word, Excel, TIFF and other file formats. Opened files can then be saved as PDF.

At the same time, the disadvantage of this application is the inability to edit the source PDF text.

PDF XChange Viewer

PDF XChange Viewer is probably the best program presented in this article. It is completely free and allows you to edit the original PDF content. PDF XChange Viewer is also able to recognize text in an image. Using this feature, you can convert books and other paper text into digital format.

Otherwise, the application meets all standards of software solutions for reading PDF files.

Sumatra PDF

Sumatra PDF is the simplest program on the list. But that doesn't mean she's bad. In terms of viewing PDF files, it is not inferior to others, and its simple appearance is perfect for those users who have just begun to get acquainted with working on a computer.

Solid Converter PDF

Solid Converter PDF is a program for converting PDF to Word, Excel and other electronic document formats. The application allows you to preview the document before converting. The disadvantages of Solid Converter PDF include a shareware license: you can use it for free only during the trial period. Then you need to either buy it or reinstall it.

» on your computer. You download a document, and when opening it, problems arise due to a lack of software.

In this article we will look at what the pdf format is, where it is used and what you need to use this format on your device.

More often it is used for printing or scientific documents: books, scientific publications, reference books, magazines, etc. It is used by students and is indispensable for reading literature in electronic form: manuals, scientific manuals, manuals.

It was developed by specialists from Adobe Systems Corporation. They found the optimal solution for ease of reading electronic literature.

However, the format also has disadvantages. Company "Adobe Systems" reliably protected her brainchild with a patent, and therefore it is impossible to modify the utility or eliminate minor errors in its operation. It is also very problematic to edit such a document.

You need to install additional extensions and it is unlikely that your text will look perfect after editing.

But the popularity of the format is due to the excellent quality of the text display and its free use. So, you downloaded a file with this extension. What to do next?

Now you need a special program that "reads" it. If it is not already installed on your computer, you will need to download it additionally.

Modern search engines offer a lot of such software. There are both paid and free versions. Ease of use does not depend on the cost of the program and you can easily install free software.

Which utility is better to choose? We will present you the most popular of them.

This is the first program that is worth paying attention to. A number of its advantages begin with the fact that it was developed by the same company that developed the format itself, so it is ideal for reading.

It is worth noting that Adobe Acrobat Reader is free software that can be downloaded quite quickly and conveniently used. The program is equipped with an interface that will be understandable to everyone: both an experienced user and a beginner in this matter.

“Acrobat” is simply irreplaceable for opening, but you can consider other options as an alternative, because you may like any of the software listed below.

"Foxit Reader" or "Pdf Reader"

In general, the utility is not much inferior to the “acrobat”. It allows the user to read, create, edit and print documents. Its advantage is that this product is available in many languages: English, German, Spanish, and this is not the whole list. Can also be installed on gadgets.

"STDU Viewer"

Another handy utility. It is simply irreplaceable when working with a touchpad, so feel free to install it on your laptop. There is also a function to rotate the page as it suits you and correct shortcomings if there are any in the scanned text.

We talked about how to open a “pdf” file on a computer. We hope our tips will help you and your work with documents will become even more productive.

PDF is a fairly convenient format in which electronic books, scans of textbooks, fiction and journalistic literature, forms and full versions of documents are saved. Today it is supported not only by computers, but also by smartphones and tablets. Therefore, many are confused when a PDF file, often containing important and unique information, cannot be opened. We will figure out how to deal with this problem, what are the best ways to display such documents.

How to open a PDF file?

Make sure Adobe Reader or Acrobat is installed on your device. You can then open PDF files:

  • Launch the program itself, click on "File". Next - “Open”. In Explorer, find and select the one you need.
  • Double-click the document icon in the file system, on the Desktop, in email attachments. If you are not sure whether the default is “Acrobat” or “Reader”, then click on the PC mouse and launch through “Open with”.
  • In the browser, documents of this type open automatically in reading mode, with a truncated toolbar. Make sure the Acrobat plugin is installed. Otherwise, download it from the browser “Extensions”.

Why can't the file open in Acrobat?

The most common standard program for working with such files is Adobe Reader or Acrobat. It is free and sometimes already pre-installed in the OS. If you are looking for how to open a PDF file, then the first place to turn is this.

But why can't Acrobat or Reader open a document? Here are the most common reasons:

  • The file is damaged.
  • The installation or latest update of the program occurred with errors.
  • The application version on your device is out of date.
  • The program cannot recognize the file type.
  • You did not create the document in an Adobe application.

Let's look at how to deal with specific problems.

Solutions when the problem is in the file itself

If a PDF file does not open, then the first thing we tend to assume is that the reason for this is in itself. Based on this, we will offer popular solutions to the problem.

The document is password protected. The publisher could protect his work with a special code. Without entering it, you will not be able to open the document. The characters are printed in a special window, which is displayed immediately before starting the file. Of course, the author must provide you with the code.

Suspicious file. Acrobat automatically blocks documents that do not meet any Adobe industry standards. For example, allowing downloading of malicious content. Therefore, if a PDF file does not open, it is worth checking the reliability of its source.

Incompatible document. If the file was created in a non-Adobe program, then there is a possibility that this is the cause of the problem. The solution here is to update your Adobe Reader or Acrobat to the latest version or turn to the help of analogue programs.

Damaged file. Another common reason is that the file is damaged. Perhaps some errors occurred while downloading it; it was not downloaded completely. The solution is to download it again and try to open a copy.

What to do: PDF file won't open? Try running it on another device. If the action is successful, then the reason is not in the document.

Solutions when the problem is in the OS

If a PDF file does not open, then the source of the trouble may be that by default the system launches it using a program that does not read this format. We fix the problem this way:

  • On Windows: right-click on this document. Select "Open with..." Next - "Select another application" ("Select another program by default"). In the list that opens, select Adobe Reader or Acrobat. Next - “Use this application (program) for all documents of this type” (“Always use an application to open PDF”). Confirm your decision by clicking OK.
  • On a Mac: In the Finder, click the icon for the document you want. Next - “File”, its “Properties”. In "Open with..." click on the small schematic triangle. From the drop-down list, select "Reader" or "Acrobat". If you don't find them in the list, select "Other" and continue your search there. Confirm your actions by clicking on "Replace All".

Solutions when the problem is in the program

If everything is in order with the file, then we will solve the problem using the methods described below.

Application update. Why can't PDF files open? Your computer may have an outdated version of Adobe Reader or Acrobat. To do this, launch the program and go to Help. Next - “Check for updates”. In the "Install..." window, click "Yes". The updates will download automatically, after which you need to restart your PC and try to open the file again.

Program recovery. For one reason or another, the application may be damaged both during download and installation. The consequence of this is that the PDF file opens with hieroglyphs or does not start at all. Recovery is only available on Windows:

  1. In Start, go to Control Panel.
  2. Go to "Programs" - "Programs and Features" ("Add or Remove Programs" in earlier versions).
  3. Search for Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat.
  4. Click on “Change”, then follow the system prompts.
  5. Finally, click on "Done".

You can try to restore the program within itself: go to "Help", and from there to "Restore..."

Reinstallation. If nothing helps, then you need to uninstall and reinstall “Reader” or “Acrobat”:

  1. Go to "Control Panel".
  2. Go to Programs, then Programs and Features (Add or Remove Programs).
  3. Remove "Acrobat" or "Reader".
  4. Go to the official Adobe website and download the application again.
  5. Find the program file with the extension .exe in the downloads. Double click to launch it.
  6. The installation process will begin.

Once the program is installed, try opening the PDF file again.

Signs that a file cannot be opened in the browser

You can determine that it is not a PDF file that takes a long time to open in the browser, but rather does not launch, using these signs:

  • Instead of an image or text, a blank page came out.
  • Red cross in the middle of the window.
  • The browser reports a broken link.
  • Error message. This most often contains instructions telling you what to do to solve the problem.

Let's see how to resolve errors related to the inability to open PDF files in the browser.

Program decisions

Most often, the reason may be in the Acrobat or Reader itself. Applications just need to be updated to the latest versions (Adobe releases updates every three months). To do this, open the program, go to Help - Check for updates. In later versions of the application, the download will start automatically; in later versions you will need to confirm your actions.

You can also uninstall the program, and then download and install it again if the previous method did not help.

File related solutions

The problem may be in the document itself. Therefore, it is advisable to do the following:

  • Refresh or reload the page.
  • Launch another PDF file. If this also does not work, then you can try opening the document in another browser.
  • Save the file to your computer and try opening it in Reader, Acrobat, or the file system of your PC.

Browser solutions

The reason may also be in the Internet browser. It is important to do the following:

  • Open the file in another browser.
  • Switch to Compatibility Mode if available.
  • Restart your PC, open your browser and try to run the file again.
  • Clear your browser cache.
  • Update the browser itself, as well as Reader or Acrobat. Restart your computer and try again.
  • Remove the apps from the previous title, download and install them again.

Now you know how to open a PDF file. We also looked at typical solutions to errors that make it impossible to open documents of this type.