SumatraPDF: Read PDFs and E-books Quickly
View PDFs, EPUBs, etc. on a minimal interface and use tabs, searches, and shortcuts. This guide covers installation, practical steps, limitations, and how to stop using the app.
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Who this guide is for and what to prepare
- First-time users of SumatraPDF
- People who want to check the storage location and safety of data while reducing manual work
What you need
- Check the processing target and storage location, and preserve the original data in another location
- Check the official distribution source, supported OS, and required permissions
When to use it
View PDFs, EPUBs, etc. on a minimal interface and use tabs, searches, and shortcuts.
Install the official version
Select Installer or Portable from the official download at sumatrapdfreader.org.
- Choose Installer or Portable from the official download of sumatrapdfreader.org
Try it
Select [File] → [Open] and select the PDF. Select Continuous or Spread in [Display]. Search for a phrase with Ctrl+F. Move to the page number using the g key. Cancel the association in Windows' [Default apps].
- Select the PDF from [File] → [Open]
- Select continuous or spread in [Display]
- Search for a phrase with Ctrl+F
- Move to page number with g key
- Cancel the association in Windows' [Default apps]
Use it safely
The main use is for viewing, not for advanced PDF editing. For confidential documents, check the scope of external tool collaboration and changes to default applications.
Turn it off or restore settings
To restore the association, search for.pdf in Windows Settings → Apps → Default apps and select the viewing app you want to use. In SumatraPDF, check the settings for remembering opened files and displaying history, and decide whether to keep the history on a shared PC.
Limitations and requirements
- The main use is for viewing, not for advanced PDF editing. For confidential documents, check the scope of external tool integration and default application changes
- Check the current specifications in the official documentation and reconfirm on-screen what you want to delete or overwrite.
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit the PDF text?
The main purpose is viewing. If you want to edit page content or do advanced form processing, check out separate PDF apps that have those features.
How can I avoid keeping a recent-file history?
Review the settings for remembering file history. Displaying recently used files and deleting the document file itself are separate operations.
Official sources and verification date
Sources checked: . Check the official sources below for changes to supported systems, plans and menus.
Related practical guides
- LibreOffice Writer: Create a Document and Export It as PDF
- Create an automatic table of contents from Word headings
- Convert Word document to PDF while preserving layout
- Start page numbering at 1 on page 3 in Word
- Save selected PDF pages with Microsoft Print to PDF
- Combine and split PDFs with PDFsam Basic