Open PDF is a free, open source Windows app. This guide walks through downloading the portable program and trying it with your own local files. The available build is x64; testing has been on Windows 11.
What it does
Open PDF reads, searches, organizes, and makes light edits to PDFs. It can keep plain-text notes inside the document.
Download and verify
Use the download button on the Open PDF page to get the portable program, which needs no installer or Python setup. Save the executable in a folder you can write to, such as Documents or a USB drive; the app keeps supporting files beside the program. If you would rather install it, a Windows installer is linked from the Apps page.
Before opening the executable, compare its SHA-256 hash with the checksum shown in its asset details on the latest GitHub release. The product page links to that release. Open PowerShell in the download folder and run:
Get-FileHash -Algorithm SHA256 .\open-pdf.exeIf the value differs, do not run that file; return to the linked GitHub release and download it again. The app is currently unsigned, so Windows may show a publisher warning. Verify the source and checksum before deciding whether to run it.
Try Open PDF
- Open
open-pdf.exeand choose File → Open. - Select a sample PDF and try search, thumbnails, and zoom.
- Use Save As when you want to keep an edited copy of a document.
The Open PDF manual explains the rest of the interface, including editing and notes. OCR requires a separate Tesseract installation.
Report a problem
Use the Contact page or the GitHub issue tracker. Include the app version, Windows version, what you tried, and what happened. Avoid attaching private documents or sensitive information. Feedback and bug reports are welcome; response times vary.