PDFReader - PDF Viewer & Merge
PDFReader is a simple PDF reader that runs in your browser. Choose a PDF from your computer or phone and it opens straight away, with the page number and a slider at the bottom so you always know where you are in the document. You can search for a word, open the table of contents, and switch between scrolling through all pages and reading one page at a time.
It is meant for the PDFs you return to again and again: manuals, course handouts, recipes, sheet music, forms, tickets. Each file you open is kept in a Recent list in this browser, the app remembers the last page you read, and you can sort files into coloured folders or mark them as favourites. If you have several PDFs that belong together, the merge tool combines them into one new document.
There is no account and nothing is uploaded. Your PDFs, folders and settings stay inside this browser on this device.
The app runs entirely in your browser. What you enter is saved only on this device.
How to use PDFReader
- Open a PDF. Tap the round + button on the Recent tab and choose a PDF file. It is saved in this browser and opens in the reader right away.
- Move through the pages. Scroll, or drag the slider at the bottom to jump to a page. Tap the page once to hide or show the toolbars when you want more room.
- Search and use the outline. Tap the magnifying glass, type a word and press Enter; the arrows move between matches. The list icon opens the outline: tap Open bookmarks and pick a chapter to jump to it (this only works if the PDF has bookmarks).
- Adjust how it looks. From the three-dot menu, turn on night mode for a dark page or switch between continuous scroll and single-page mode. The same options, plus a light/dark/system app theme, are in Settings.
- Organise your files. Press and hold a file in the list to rename it, move it to a folder or delete it. Create folders on the Folders tab, and tap the star to add a file to Favorites.
- Merge PDFs. Tap the merge icon at the top of the home screen, add two or more PDFs, drag the handles to set the order or remove one with the X, then tap Merge. The combined file opens and is added to Recent.
- Save a copy. In the reader, the Share item in the three-dot menu downloads the PDF to your device, which is handy for a merged file.
Features
- Opens PDF files from your device and keeps them in this browser
- Continuous scroll or single-page reading with a page slider
- Text search with next and previous match
- Outline (bookmarks) view for PDFs that include one
- Night mode and light, dark or system theme
- Resumes at the last page you read
- Coloured folders, favourites and renaming
- Merge two or more PDFs into a new file, in the order you choose
- Download a copy of any saved PDF
Getting more out of PDF documents
Why some PDFs can be searched and others cannot
A PDF can contain real text or just pictures of pages. Files exported from a word processor, a website or an e-book usually keep their text, so search finds words and you can select them. A document that was scanned on a copier or photographed with a phone is often only an image of each page: it looks the same, but there is no text underneath, so search returns nothing.
If search never finds a word you can clearly see, the PDF is probably a scan. Making it searchable needs optical character recognition (OCR), which many scanners and desktop tools can add when the file is created.
Bookmarks, outlines and page numbers
Longer PDFs often include an outline, also called bookmarks: a clickable table of contents stored inside the file. When it exists, it is the fastest way to move around a manual or a textbook. Many short documents simply do not have one, in which case the outline view stays empty and the page slider is the better tool.
Be aware that the number printed on a page and its position in the file are not always the same. A book with a cover and a roman-numbered preface may show "page 1" on the ninth page of the PDF. The reader always counts physical pages in the file.
Comfortable reading on a screen
Continuous scroll suits documents you skim, such as reports and articles. Single-page mode feels more like turning pages and works well for slides, sheet music and forms where each page is a unit. Night mode inverts the colours so that a white page becomes dark, which many people find easier in a dim room; photos and charts will look like negatives while it is on.
Taking short breaks and looking at something far away every so often is a simple way to reduce eye strain during long reading sessions.
What merging does
Merging places the pages of several PDFs one after another in a single new file. It is useful for sending one attachment instead of five, or for keeping a set of receipts or chapters together. The original files are not changed.
Each page is copied as it appears, so the result looks the same as the originals. Interactive parts such as fillable form fields or internal links may not carry over, so fill in forms before you merge them. Password-protected PDFs cannot be merged until the protection is removed by their owner.
Keeping private documents private
Because this reader stores files only in your browser, nothing is sent to a server. On a shared or public computer, though, anyone using the same browser profile could open the Recent list. Delete sensitive files from the list when you are done, or use your own device for documents such as bank statements or medical letters.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my PDFs stored?
Only in this browser on this device, in its built-in storage. There is no account and the files are not uploaded anywhere. Clearing your browser's site data, or using a private window, removes them, and they do not appear on your other devices.
Is there a size limit?
There is no fixed limit in the app, but browsers set their own storage limits and very large PDFs can take a while to open. If a file will not save, free up some space or delete PDFs you no longer need.
Why does search find nothing in my document?
The PDF is most likely a scan that contains images of pages rather than real text. See the guide above for details.
Why is the outline empty?
The outline shows bookmarks stored inside the PDF. Many documents do not include any; use the page slider instead.
Does merging change my original files?
No. A new file called Merged PDF is created and added to your Recent list; you can rename it by pressing and holding it.
What does the iPhone and Android app add?
The phone app also lets you mark up pages with highlights, pen drawings, notes and shapes, and save handwritten signatures. These tools are not included in the web version.
Limitations of the web version
- Markup tools (highlights, pen, text notes, shapes) and handwritten signatures are only in the iPhone and Android app
- Share downloads the PDF instead of opening a share sheet
- Files are stored only in this browser and are lost if you clear site data
- Password-protected PDFs cannot be merged
Phone app
PDFReader is also available as an app for phones and tablets: