YaPDF
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Windows app · Free · Works offline

A free PDF reader for Windows, with the tools others charge for.

YaPDF Desktop opens PDFs fast and keeps going where free readers stop: redact, recognize text in scans, reorder pages, sign, protect, compare and convert. It installs in seconds, needs no account and never uploads a file.

Download for Windows See what is inside

Version 1.0.0 · 3.4 MB · Windows 10 and 11 · Free, no account

  • Works offline
  • No watermarks
  • No signup
  • No admin rights
YaPDF Desktop showing a PDF with the markup bar on the left and the All tools panel on the right

01 · WHAT IS INSIDE

A reader first. A full toolbox when you need it.

Everything below is in the free download and runs on your computer. Nothing is locked behind a plan.

01

Read comfortably

Tabs for several documents, thumbnails and bookmarks, find with match counts, fit-width and fit-page zoom, two-page view, full screen, a hand tool, read aloud, and a light or dark window.

02

Mark up, fill and sign

Highlight, type anywhere, draw, leave sticky notes, add images, fill in form fields, and sign by drawing, typing or importing a photo of your signature. Markup is saved as standard PDF annotations that other readers can open.

03

Organize pages

Drag pages into order, rotate, delete, duplicate, insert blank pages or pages from another file, extract, split by count, range or bookmark, crop, and combine PDFs and images into one document with a bookmark per file.

04

Protect and redact

AES-256 passwords with optional print, copy and edit limits. Redaction that rebuilds the page so the text underneath is gone from the file, with find-to-redact for emails, phone and card numbers. Remove metadata, attachments and scripts. Flatten markup and forms.

05

Recognize text in scans

Turns scanned pages into searchable, selectable PDFs with the OCR engine built into Windows. It runs offline in any language pack you have installed, and the page keeps its exact appearance.

06

Convert and finish

Export to editable Word, JPG or PNG images, or plain text. Add headers, footers, page numbers, Bates numbers and watermarks. Compare two versions of a document. Reduce file size.

02 · HOW IT COMPARES

The paid features, without the plan.

Free PDF readers are good at reading. The tools people actually get stuck on, such as removing a page, blacking out an account number or making a scan searchable, usually sit behind a subscription. YaPDF Desktop includes them.

What you can doYaPDF DesktopTypical free readerTypical paid PDF suite
Read, search, print, fill forms, signYesYesYes
Reorder, rotate, delete and insert pagesYesNoYes
Combine files and split documentsYesNoYes
Redact so content is removed from the fileYesNoHigher tier
Recognize text in scans (OCR)YesNoYes
Password protection and permissionsYesNoYes
Export to Word and imagesYesNoYes
Compare two versions of a PDFYesNoHigher tier
Bates numbering, headers, footers, watermarksYesNoHigher tier
Account or sign-inNeverOften promptedRequired
PriceFreeFreeMonthly subscription
Comparison reflects the publicly listed features of widely used PDF readers and subscription suites in September 2026; plans change, so check the vendor for current details. Adobe and Acrobat are trademarks of Adobe Inc. YaPDF is an independent project and is not affiliated with Adobe.

Why it is so light

Most desktop PDF software ships its own rendering engine, its own browser runtime and its own OCR models, which is how installers reach hundreds of megabytes. YaPDF Desktop borrows what Windows already has: the Microsoft Edge WebView2 runtime draws the window, and the OCR engine built into Windows reads scans. The download only carries the PDF engines: pdf.js for display, pdf-lib for editing and qpdf for encryption, the same ones that power the YaPDF web tools.

The result is a 3.4 MB installer that installs for your account in a few seconds, starts quickly and leaves nothing running in the background: no updater service, no tray icon, no startup entry.

03 · INSTALL

Three steps, under a minute.

Version 1.0.0 · 3.4 MB · Windows 10 and 11. If you only need one quick job, the web tools work without installing anything.

  1. 1
    +

    Download the installer

    One small file from this site. There is no download manager, bundle or toolbar.

  2. 2

    Run it

    It installs for your Windows account only, so it never asks for an administrator password. Windows SmartScreen may show "Windows protected your PC" because the installer is new and unsigned: choose More info, then Run anyway.

  3. 3
    ✓

    Open a PDF

    Drop a file on the window, or right-click any PDF and choose Open with. Make it your default PDF app from the link on the Home screen whenever you like.

04 · REQUIREMENTS AND PRIVACY

What it needs, and what it never does.

SystemWindows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit
NeedsMicrosoft Edge WebView2 Runtime (included with Windows 11)
Installs toYour user profile; no administrator rights
NetworkNone. Works fully offline
PriceFree

YaPDF Desktop follows the same rule as this website: your documents stay on your device. The app contains no analytics, advertising, account system or update pings, and it opens files only when you choose them. Read the privacy page for how the website itself is served.

Download for Windows

05 · QUESTIONS

Good to know.

About the Windows app. For the web tools, see every question.

Is YaPDF Desktop really free?

Yes. Every tool is included for everyone. There is no trial, premium tier, page limit, watermark, advertising or account.

How can it be so small?

It does not ship its own browser engine or OCR models. The window is drawn by Microsoft Edge WebView2, which Windows 11 includes and Windows 10 receives through updates, and text recognition uses the OCR engine built into Windows. The installer only carries the PDF engines themselves.

Does it need an internet connection?

No. After installation everything runs on your computer, including OCR, redaction, conversion and password protection. The app has no analytics, no update pings and no sign-in, and your documents are never sent anywhere.

Which versions of Windows are supported?

Windows 10 and Windows 11, 64-bit. It needs the Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime, which is already present on Windows 11 and on almost every updated Windows 10 PC. If it is missing, the installer tells you and links to Microsoft’s free download.

Can it replace Adobe Acrobat?

For reading, signing, organizing, protecting, redacting, OCR and converting, yes for most people. It does not rewrite existing paragraphs in place: you can add text, images and whiteout, but not reflow the original text. It also does not create fillable forms or certificate-based digital signatures.

Is redaction really permanent?

Yes. Each redacted page is rebuilt as an image with the marked areas burnt in, and the original text, fonts, annotations and form values for that page are deleted from the file. Optionally the rest of the page is made searchable again with OCR. Keep a copy of the original if you may need it.

Which languages can OCR read?

Any language whose Windows language pack includes optical character recognition, such as English, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Arabic, French, German, Spanish or Japanese. Add languages in Windows Settings, Time and language, Language and region.

How do I uninstall it?

Open Windows Settings, Apps, Installed apps, find the app and choose Uninstall. The uninstaller removes the program, its shortcuts and its file association, and can also remove your settings.

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