Generated by All in One SEO Pro v5.0.0.1, this is an llms-full.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # WordPress PDF Plugin | Embed, Secure & Track - WP-PDF.com Feature-rich WordPress PDF plugin for embedding, securing & tracking documents. Includes watermarks, analytics, thumbnails & security. Trusted by 300,000+ sites ## Posts ### [Embed PDFs Directly in Elementor with the New PDF Embedder Widget](https://wp-pdf.com/embed-pdfs-directly-in-elementor-with-the-new-pdf-embedder-widget/) **Published:** May 21, 2026 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** If you've ever embedded a PDF in Elementor using the Shortcode widget, you know the drill — copy the URL, get the syntax right, publish to check, fix the typo, publish again. The PDF Embedder widget for Elementor cuts all of that out, with a live canvas preview and a full settings panel built right into the editor. **Content:** If you’ve built WordPress pages with Elementor and needed to embed a PDF, you know the routine. You reach for the Shortcode widget, look up the right format, hunt down the file URL in the media library, paste it in carefully — and then nothing looks right until you preview the published page. Sometimes the embed is silently broken because of a typo somewhere in the string. You fix it. Publish again. Check again. It works, but it’s not great. ## The Shortcode Workflow Has Real Friction Working around the Shortcode widget means: - **No live preview.** You configure blind and publish to check. Then you publish again when something looks off. - **URL hunting every time.** Every embed means a trip to the media library, copying the file URL, and pasting it in exactly the right spot. - **Typo risk.** One character out of place and the embed breaks without any obvious error message. - **No visual settings.** Want to move the toolbar or set a starting page? You need the exact shortcode parameter names, the right syntax, and another publish to check if it worked. For a one-off embed, that’s annoying. If you’re managing pages where PDFs change regularly, it adds up fast. ## Introducing the PDF Embedder Widget for Elementor Today we’re shipping the PDF Embedder widget for Elementor — a native widget that lives in your Elementor panel alongside everything else. No shortcodes. No URL hunting. No publishing blind to check the output. **Elementor Widget requires a [Premium Plan](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/)** Unlock the PDF Embedder Elementor Widget and other powerful features. [Get Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) ## Live Preview in the Canvas The moment you select a PDF in the widget panel, it renders in the Elementor canvas. You see the actual viewer — at the width of the column it sits in, with your toolbar settings applied — before you publish anything. Change a setting on the left and the preview updates on the right. The shortcode workflow is configure, publish, check, adjust, publish again. This is just: build the page. ## What the Widget Can Do The widget gives you a dedicated settings panel for each embed. Here’s what you get: - **Dimensions**: Fixed pixel values, or leave both at `max` to fill the column automatically. - **Toolbar**: Position it top, bottom, both, or hide it entirely. Fixed or hover-to-reveal. - **Page navigation**: Set the starting page, let users type a page number to jump directly, or lock movement to Prev/Next buttons. - **Scrolling**: Continuous scroll (mouse-wheel, swipe, click-drag) or button-only navigation. You can also force scrollbars or snap back to the top on each page change. - **Zoom**: Opening zoom as `auto`, `page-fit`, `page-width`, or a custom percentage — with a separate level for full-screen mode. - **Mobile**: Set the pixel width where the viewer drops to a thumbnail with a full-screen button. The button label is editable if “View in Full Screen” doesn’t fit your page. - **Watermarks**: Overlay text on every page using smart tags — `{email}`, `{username}`, `{fullname}` — so each logged-in viewer sees their own details on the document. Position, opacity, rotation, size, color: all configurable. Every setting applies to that embed only. Leave a field at its default and it inherits from your global PDF Embedder settings — so customizing one embed doesn’t touch anything else on the site. ## What It Looks Like in Practice Say you’re building a services page. There’s a product brochure that needs to go midway down the page, next to a feature list. You drop the widget into the column, pick the file from the media library, and the brochure appears in the canvas — at the right width, sitting in the layout exactly where it’ll be when the page goes live. You move the toolbar to the top, set zoom to `page-width`, add a `{email}` watermark so every viewer sees their address on the document. Two minutes, maybe three. ## Who This Is For This is most useful if you’re: - **An agency or freelancer** building client sites where PDFs show up on landing pages, service pages, or resource sections — especially when the client swaps files themselves and needs a setup that doesn’t break. - **A business owner** who embeds contracts, menus, catalogs, or reports on Elementor pages and doesn’t want to deal with shortcode syntax every time. - **Using PDF Embedder’s security or watermarking features**, since the widget lets you set per-embed controls — download, right-click protection, watermarks — without touching your global settings. ## Getting Started ### Step 1: Open Your Page in Elementor Open the page you want to edit in the Elementor editor. ### Step 2: Find the PDF Embedder Widget In the widget panel on the left, search for “PDF” or “PDF Embedder.” The widget appears in the results. ### Step 3: Drag the Widget into Your Layout Drop it into the column or section where you want the embed. The Edit PDF Embedder panel opens on the left. ### Step 4: Upload Your PDF In the PDF File tab, click the upload icon to open the WordPress Media Library. Pick an existing file or upload a new one. As soon as you select a PDF, the live preview renders in the canvas. ### Step 5: Adjust Your Settings and Publish Work through the settings tabs — dimensions, toolbar, zoom, pages, scrolling, mobile, watermark — and watch the preview update as you go. When it looks right, save and publish. Each tab is covered in full in the [PDF Embedder Elementor widget guide](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-pdf-embedder-with-elementor-pages/). ## Ready to Try It? If you’re already on a Premium plan, update [PDF Embedder to 5.4.0](https://wp-pdf.com/changelog/ "Changelog Page") and the widget is waiting in your Elementor panel. Not on Premium yet? [See plans and pricing →](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) Questions about the setup? The [docs cover every setting](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-pdf-embedder-with-elementor-pages/), and you can always [reach us directly](https://wp-pdf.com/account/support/). **Categories:** Announcement **Tags:** elementor --- ### [Tracking PDF Traffic Using UTM Tags](https://wp-pdf.com/utm-tags/) **Published:** August 17, 2021 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** In this article we will discuss, in great detail, everything to know about UTM tags. We will start with its history, how to use it inside of PDFs, for tracking PDFs, and much more. **Content:** In this article we will discuss, in great detail, everything to know about UTM tags. We will start with its history, how to use it inside of PDFs, for tracking PDFs, and much more. - [What Are UTM Tags and What is UTM Tracking?](#h-what-are-utm-tags-and-what-is-utm-tracking) - [How to Create UTM Tags](#h-how-to-create-utm-tags) - [Manually](#h-manually) - [Google Campaign URL Builder Tool](#h-google-campaign-url-builder-tool) - [Is It Possible to Track PDF Link Traffic Using a UTM?](#h-is-it-possible-to-track-pdf-link-traffic-using-a-utm) - [To track link traffic within a PDF, here’s what you can do:](#h-to-track-link-traffic-within-a-pdf-here-s-what-you-can-do) - [To track links to your PDF, here’s what you can do:](#h-to-track-links-to-your-pdf-here-s-what-you-can-do) - [How to track pageviews for a PDF document](#h-how-to-track-pageviews-for-a-pdf-document) - [How to Find UTM Events in Google Analytics](#h-how-to-find-utm-events-in-google-analytics) - [How to Present PDFs with Links Online](#h-how-to-present-pdfs-with-links-online) - [What Can You Track With UTM Codes?](#h-what-can-you-track-with-utm-codes) - [Best Practices for Tracking With UTM Codes](#h-best-practices-for-tracking-with-utm-codes) - [Set a naming convention](#h-set-a-naming-convention) - [Make your URLs user-friendly by using link shorteners](#h-make-your-urls-user-friendly-by-using-link-shorteners) - [Conclusion](#h-conclusion) ## What Are UTM Tags and What is UTM Tracking? UTM is an abbreviation of ‘Urchin Tracking Module,’ which is used to track campaign and content performance online. Urchin Software Corporation was purchased by Google in 2005. Later on, it was Urchin Software Corporation’s software that became the basis of today’s Google Analytics – making UTM an important cog in today’s internet marketing framework. The module uses something called ‘UTM codes’. These are bits of simple code or text that can be added to the end of a specific URL that needs to be tracked. Put simply, UTM tracking is a way of tracking a link’s performance to see where traffic is coming from. A UTM code may look like this: ``` https://example.com/sample-post-title/?utm_source=googleCode language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` The part following the ‘?’ is the UTM code. In this particular example, the code tracks the source or who sent the traffic to the specific page. By adding a UTM code to your URL, you can transmit to Google Analytics (and other analytics tools) unique information about the link, such as: - Campaign ID - Campaign Source - Campaign Medium - Campaign Name - Campaign Term - Campaign Content There are two components in a UTM code: - **UTM Parameter:** This starts with ‘utm\_. There are five different parameters that can be tracked; utm\_source, utm\_content, utm\_campaign, utm\_term, utm\_name. - **Tracking variable:** Refers to a variable used to identify what dimension is being tracked; Followed by the ‘=’ sign and can only contain numbers, letters, periods, + signs, and hyphens. *Video from Moz article, “[UTM Tagging](https://moz.com/blog/gbp-utm-tagging-whiteboard-friday)“.* People use UTM codes to track campaigns online and offline better to understand each link’s performance in terms of traffic. The dimensions tracked via UTM codes appear on Google Analytics reports, providing a better insight into campaign performance and marketing efforts. ![What Is UTM Tracking?](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/What-Is-UTM-Tracking-1024x682.jpg)## How to Create UTM Tags You can create a UTM code manually or with a **UTM builder** such as Google’s Campaign URL Builder Tool. ### Manually You can add UTM parameters manually, which means you’ll need to type in individual parameters at the end of the URL. Just be careful to double-check what you type so that you are sure your UTM is error-free. This can be done if you just want the campaign name or source at the end of the URL. However, if you need a longer code with more complex parameters, this is not advisable due to the possibility of committing errors. A simple UTM code done manually may look like this: ``` https://example.com/page/?utm_source=sampleblog.comCode language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` Fortunately, there’s more manageable, automated ways to create UTM codes that eliminate the possibility of errors: ### Google Campaign URL Builder Tool Using Google’s **UTM builder** is an easy way to create UTM codes. Here’s how to get it done: 1. Navigate to [Campaign URL Builder Tool](https://ga-dev-tools.web.app/ga4/campaign-url-builder/) 2. Enter your site address 3. Enter the campaign source 4. Enter other parameters you wish to track ![Campaign builder with sample parameters](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/image-1024x703.png)Campaign builder with sample parameters5. Your URL will have been automatically generated. Scroll down to copy your generated campaign URL: ![Generated campaign URL](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/image-1-1024x538.png)Generated campaign URL6. Use the new link by pasting it into your content or campaign ## Is It Possible to Track PDF Link Traffic Using a UTM? So, is it possible to use UTM codes within a PDF document? Maybe you want to know if people are clicking on your PDF links through your Google Analytics report. In that case, here’s the solution to **tracking PDF links**: ### To track link traffic within a PDF, here’s what you can do: 1. Add UTM tags Add UTM tags at the end of every link you include in a PDF file. For example: ``` https://example.com/?utm_source=paperCode language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` In this case, the code that begins with the ‘?’ is your UTM code. 2. Set desired parameters Use name, term, medium, or content tags to differentiate what you track. ### To track links to your PDF, here’s what you can do: 1. Navigate to [Moz Open Site Explorer](https://moz.com/link-explorer). 2. Copy and paste the PDF’s full URL onto the search bar. 3. Click “Search”. 4. You will see the following information: 1. Root domains linking to your PDF 2. Pages the links are from 3. Site domain authority 4. What anchor text is being used 5. Newly-discovered links Easy, right? Not only can you seamlessly add UTM tags to PDF documents – you can even analyze the source of your target audience. ### How to track pageviews for a PDF document You might also be wondering, ‘Is tracking pageviews on a PDF possible with UTM tags?’ The answer is yes! It’s possible to track search traffic and other things related to your PDF with Google Analytics. Here’s how: 1. Add a parameter to each link First, add a parameter to each link that points to your PDF (you can also do this for multiple PDFs on your site). For example: ``` Sales BrochureCode language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` In this example, the parameter ‘?pdf=Sales-Brochure’ is added at the end of the PDF URL link. 2. Add custom tracking text (optional) As seen in the example above, you can also add custom tracking text to identify whether or not the link was indeed the ‘Sales Brochure.’ This won’t affect how your users see or download the PDF. To check in Google Analytics, go to Content > Site Content > All Pages. Search ‘pdf,’ and you will be able to view all PDFs you have tagged accordingly. You will now be able to see the pageviews, bounce rate, average time on page, unique pageviews, and other metrics of your PDFs. ***PDF tracking tip:*** Another option is using a tool such as [PDF Embedder Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/), which has a built-in feature that allows you to track PDF views and downloads. ![How to track pageviews for a PDF document](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/How-to-track-pageviews-for-a-PDF-document.jpg)PDF Tracking in PDF Embedder for WordPress## How to Find UTM Events in Google Analytics 1\. To find your UTM events in Google Analytics, go to [analytics.google.com](https://analytics.google.com/). 2\. Then, click Acquisition > All Traffic > Source/Medium. You can select different parameters to understand your data better, such as source, medium, campaign, and source/medium. This is your primary dimension. 3\. You can then select a secondary dimension, which you can set via ‘Event Category.’ ## How to Present PDFs with Links Online So if you have a PDF with links that you want to share or present online, such as on your blog or website, how do you do it? Some tools allow you to host PDF files for secure and easy viewing. One of the most trusted tools for doing so is [PDF Embedder Secure](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/), a secure and dynamic PDF embedder tool that allows you to display PDFs in WordPress. PDF Embedder is trusted by over 300,000 businesses, including NASDAQ-listed corporations as well as small businesses, universities, and government organizations. Among its top features are: - Allowing you to scroll continuously between pages - A ‘download PDF’ button for your users to be able to read the file in their preferred viewers - A full-screen button - Functional hyperlinks - A feature that allows you to jump to a page by typing the page number - Ability to track the number of PDF views and downloads - An unbranded link, meaning you won’t see ‘wp-pdf.com’ in your links If you need to showcase PDFs with links, this tool can help you do the following: **Display PDFs Elegantly** With an impressive layout and viewing experience, PDF Embedder bests other plugins with continuous scrolling, full-screen ability, and hyperlinking, among others. ![A preview of how PDF Embedder looks like on desktop](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/image-2-1024x562.png)A preview of how PDF Embedder looks like on desktop**Easily Display PDFs on Mobile** PDF Embedder is mobile-ready and user-friendly. It’s as simple as uploading images on WordPress, with no need to rely on third-party services. Your PDFs are guaranteed to show up responsively with no distortion at all. **Won’t Hurt Your Site Speed** This tool is built for speed as it uses JavaScript, not iframes or third-party services that give way to slow site speed and outages. Uploading PDFs on WordPress is just as simple as uploading them onto your Media Library (just like images), and you can easily embed them right away. PDF Embedder Premium starts at $20 for a single site license, $30 for two to five sites, and $50 for an unlimited license – making for great value if you want to effectively share tutorials, courses, e-books, or any other PDF-based content on your digital platforms. Check it out [here](https://wp-pdf.com/premium/). ## What Can You Track With UTM Codes? Of the five UTM parameters we discussed earlier, Source, Medium, and Campaign are the three most used parameters. However, you may choose to track all five to get more insights. Here’s what you can find out with each: **Source of Traffic** The ‘source’ parameter tracks where traffic is coming from. To add this parameter to your URL, the code ‘utm\_source’ is added. Examples of sources that can be tracked are: - Google - Facebook - Bing - Twitter - Instagram - LinkedIn - Email list name **Medium** This parameter allows you to track the type of traffic, such as: - Email - Social - Referral - Display - CPC The code added to track this parameter is ‘utm\_medium.’ **Campaign Name** This parameter allows you to track a specific campaign’s performance. With this parameter, you can track and differentiate traffic from different campaigns, such as Facebook Ad campaigns or email campaigns. The code added to your URL for this parameter is ‘utm\_campaign.’ **Content** This is for tracking multiple links pointing to one URL. For example, if you have an ad or blog post with two CTA buttons, this parameter will help you track which one was clicked. The parameter for this is ‘utm\_content.’ **Keyword Term** This parameter is for tracking which keyword term a visitor to your website came from. Specifically used for paid ads on search, the parameter for this is ‘utm\_term.’ ## Best Practices for Tracking With UTM Codes If you’re eager to start using UTM codes to track your campaign links, here are a few helpful tips to get you started: ### **Set a naming convention** Primarily if you work with a team, it’s helpful to establish a naming convention for UTM codes right away. This is so you can have access to precise data once you check your analytics for campaign performance. Put together a document that determines your preferred naming conventions for the most common UTM parameters. For example, decide if you want to use: - `facebook` or `facebook.com` - `social media` or `social` - `search` or `paid search` - `reddit` or `reddit.com` And so on. It’s generally best practice to use lowercase in your UTM links, although it’s optional. Here are a few other considerations for naming: - Specify capitalizations for common parameters - Specify extra spaces, too - Determine if you are going to use either underscores or dashes for campaign names. For example: `sample-campaign-name` or `sample_campaign_name` **Use short and easy to understand campaign, content, and source links** Always use easy-to-understand names for your content, source links, and campaign so that any member of your team can readily understand what the code means. As much as possible, don’t use abbreviations and numbers that might not be universally understood. Here’s a great example: ``` https://example.com/article/tracking-pdf-links-with-utm?utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=facebook-worldwide-loggedinuser30days-no-allseg&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_term=pdf-links-utmCode language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` On the UTM code above, you can easily understand by looking at the campaign name that it is targeting Facebook users worldwide who have logged in within 30 days. In contrast, here’s an example of a difficult to understand UTM code: ``` https://example.com/offers/?utm_source=Mailers&utm_medium=_bella_camp_121156&utm_term=bella_camp_121156&utm_campaign=_bella_camp_121156Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` As you can see, the code above uses similar names for various parameters, and the name doesn’t make much sense. It would also be difficult to analyze data coming from this UTM code. This is why it’s important to create a clear naming convention for your parameters. ### **Make your URLs user-friendly by using link shorteners** Sometimes, you can’t help it if your UTM code is a bit long. After all, the more you want to track, and the more sophisticated your campaigns become, these things tend to get longer, too. However, that’s not beneficial for user experience, is it? Luckily, link shorteners are an easy enough solution for that. You can use a tool like [Bit.ly](https://bitly.com/) to shorten extremely lengthy and complicated links and turn them into shorter, more shareable URLs. Shortening URLs does not affect your UTM parameters; it just gives your users a shorter, easier to share URL for their benefit. ![Bitly](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/image-3-1024x598.png)## **Conclusion** Using UTM codes is an effective way to track campaigns and monitor marketing performance. With the help of tools like Google Campaign Builder and Google Analytics, you can easily track campaigns and improve performance. PDFs are sometimes overlooked in UTM tracking. However, they’re an important resource to track as most websites display PDFs for users to browse or download. Most of the time, downloaded PDFs also connote that users are interested and engaged in the material. Tracking PDFs with UTM codes can allow you to track traffic, pageviews, time on page, downloads, and other important metrics that will give you valuable, helpful insight to improve your communication materials even more. Hopefully, this detailed guide can help you find different methods for PDF tracking, as well as point you in the direction of helpful tools to display, analyze, and track your PDFs, like [PDF Embedder Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/). The Best PDF Embedder Plugin for WordPress Instantly embed PDF files on your website using a shortcode or a block. Extensive features, great customizations, awesome support. [Try it Today!](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) **Categories:** WordPress Tutorials --- ### [10 Best WordPress PDF Viewer Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/pdf-viewer-plugins/) **Published:** July 20, 2021 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Gain in-depth knowledge about the top 12 Best WordPress PDF Viewer Plugins today!. We cover the features, benefits, and purpose of each in our review. **Content:** Gain in-depth knowledge about the top 12 Best WordPress PDF Viewer Plugins today!. We cover the features, benefits, and purpose of each in our review. ## What’s a WordPress PDF Viewer Plugin? The purpose of [a WordPress PDF Viewer plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/premium/) is to make PDFs more readable as embedded documents. As a result, the data within a Portable Format Document is more accessible and browser compatible. In addition, Viewer plugins offer multiple options that make PDF reading more convenient. Without this tool, PDF accessibility is more difficult for both the website publisher and the reader. It’s harder to display a PDF within a web page correctly without a viewer plugin. On the other hand, a PDF will display correctly with the embedding technology of a PDF Viewer plugin. Overall, a [Portable Document Format](https://pdfa.org/about-us/the-portable-document-format/) (PDF) plugin makes life a lot easier. For this reason, let us consider a list of the best WordPress PDF Viewer plugins. ## When Would You Use A PDF Viewer plugin? There are numerous benefits for the web publisher and their audience who use a PDF Viewer plugin. As a web publisher, use this tool to achieve better clarity and accessibility of your PDF. Download speed is much faster with a PDF displayed by a PDF Viewer plugin. Online interaction is enhanced, and valuable connections are made that can bring you more revenue. ## PDF Viewer Plugins With the help of this list, you are on your way to select from the best WordPress PDF Viewer plugins. The truth is, it is not enough to just go over to WordPress and download any old PDF viewer plugin. On the contrary, selecting a WordPress PDF Viewer plugin requires careful consideration. Choose one according to the integration, compatibility, features, and fulfillment of your publishing goals. Additionally, the differences between each plugin are of utmost importance. In particular, certain viewers are simple and provide ease of use, while others are more advanced and complex. Furthermore, some viewers accommodate a specific publishing goal, such as flipbook functionality or forms. Overall, take a good look into the features of each to make an informed decision. As a result, you will gain the WordPress PDF Viewer plugin that is right for you. [![Best WordPress PDF Viewer Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Elegant-Viewing-1024x682.jpg)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Elegant-Viewing.jpg)- [PDF Embedder](#h-pdf-embedder) - [Algori PDF Viewer](#h-algori-pdf-viewer) - [PDF Poster](#h-pdf-poster) - [FlowPaper](#h-flowpaper) - [Wonder PDF Embed](#h-wonder-pdf-embed) - [Embed Any Document](#h-embed-any-document) - [Embed PDF Viewer By Andy Fragen](#h-embed-pdf-viewer-by-andy-fragen) - [WordPress PDF Light Viewer Plugin By Teamlead Power](#h-wordpress-pdf-light-viewer-plugin-by-teamlead-power) - [3D FlipBook WordPress Plugin](#h-3d-flipbook-wordpress-plugin) - [Elementor PDF Viewer](#h-elementor-pdf-viewer) - [Conclusion](#h-conclusion) ### PDF Embedder ![PDF Embedder Banner](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/pdf-embedder-banner.png)[PDF Embedder](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-embedder/) by the WP PDF Team is a viewer plugin that is responsive and highly compatible. Furthermore, it is neither complicated to use nor expensive to own. With a total of 300,000 downloads and counting, this is the best WordPress PDF Viewer Plugins. Rest assured, this viewer tool will display your PDF correctly across multiple devices. Portable document format files are safely displayed with the security of this viewer plugin. This means you specify whether or not you want your PDFs to be downloaded or printed. Options increase if you decide to upgrade your copy of PDF Embedder to the [Premium version](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/ "Premium version"). For instance, upgrading allows you to make PDF downloading accessible from its toolbar. Users of PDF Embedder who upgrade their plug-in also receive access to ongoing support. ### Algori PDF Viewer A PDF Viewer plugin provides all the essentials needed to navigate a PDF with ease. With that said, the [Algori PDF Viewer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/algori-pdf-viewer/) offers these essentials. First of all, flipping through PDF pages is a breeze with this viewer. Aligori allows PDF page navigation using previous and next page browsing. Another key feature is the ability to zoom in and out, rotate and scroll on PDF pages. Moreover, this plugin also has a search feature for those who want to find specific data in your PDF. And above all, Algori allows your readers to translate your document to over 100 different languages. With that said, your readers are sure to have a convenient reading experience. Additionally, this viewer ensures your document displays correctly across numerous browsers and devices. Therefore, readers won’t have a problem visiting your PDF on Google Chrome, Windows, iOS, and Safari. ### PDF Poster PDF Poster is an ambitious tool that aims to provide limitless flexibility for the publisher and reader. This PDF viewer offers publishers the ability to embed an unlimited amount of documents. Equally important is the ease of use and amount of options available in this viewer. To demonstrate, [PDF Poster](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-poster/) rapidly integrates documents into a website for easy viewing. Once integrated, PDF content is easy to read and navigate using the built-in tools of PDF Poster. In addition, you have the option to choose between three primary layouts and numerous sub layouts. With each layout is a different option to make your portable document format appear unique to online readers. After selecting your layout, choose to embed your PDF in a post, widget, page block, or page. No matter where you select, PDF Poster will ensure your document is ready to view. ### FlowPaper Flowpaper is another excellent plugin with PDF viewing technology. For one thing, it is a viewer that offers swift browser-based publication of PDFs—no need to download and install a separate desktop publishing app to publish PDFs online. Instead, Flowpaper publishes your portable documents without the need to use a desktop publisher. In terms of reading, this plugin has cool features that benefit both the publisher and the browser. As a publisher, you can add background audio to your document for the listening enjoyment of your readers. Also, your PDFs will rotate in unison with the rotation of the reader’s mobile device. Rotation of your documents on mobile devices is important as many people tend to rotate their devices frequently. Fortunately, [Flowpaper](https://wordpress.org/plugins/flowpaper-lite-pdf-flipbook/) accounts for this fact about rotation in a viewer plugin that is very web responsive. ### Wonder PDF Embed Looking for a PDF viewer that offers the usual features plus some unique options? [Wonder PDF](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wonderplugin-pdf-embed/) provides excellent copy protection for publishers who use ASPS. Otherwise known as ArtistScope Site Protection System, ASPS is a solution for online media security. Not only do you receive security, but this viewer also works with a lightbox and carousel. As a result, your readers can enjoy your documents with great interactivity. For example, to allow PDF browsing with a pop-up lightbox applies the separate Wonder Lightbox plugin. ### Embed Any Document Embed Any Document lives up to its name regarding the versatility and options it offers the publisher. With a name like this, you can expect a viewer plugin built to provide solutions for PDF display. This tool relies upon Google Docs Viewer and Microsoft Office Online to display your PDF. In addition, Embed PDF viewer is compatible with many types of documents, devices, and browsers. The user-friendly interface is designed to provide ease of use for uploading and publishing PDFs. Equally important is the download feature offered in [Embed Any Document](https://wordpress.org/plugins/embed-any-document/). This feature allows you to choose whether or not your readers can download your PDF. ### Embed PDF Viewer By Andy Fragen [Embed PDF viewer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/embed-pdf-viewer/) created by Andy Fragen is the simplest of all PDF viewing plugins. It offers a block with an uploader. The block has few settings to display your PDF. There are no additional settings in the plugin. ### WordPress PDF Light Viewer Plugin By Teamlead Power Teamlead Power provides a PDF Viewer plugin for website flipbook display. WordPress PDF. This viewer uses Turn.js Javascript to make your PDF pages flip with user interactivity. In other words, your document will appear and act more like an actual book to online readers. One finger tap on a mobile device or a mouse click on a desktop computer, and the PDF pages react. Additionally, [Light Viewer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-light-viewer/) offers navigation as a WordPress pdf thumbnail plugin. Moreover, this responsive plugin hosts an unlimited amount of PDFs regardless of their file size. Bulk uploading of documents and per-page downloading are other available features. ### 3D FlipBook WordPress Plugin Similar to WordPress PDF Light Viewer, [3D Flipbook](https://wordpress.org/plugins/interactive-3d-flipbook-powered-physics-engine/) is a viewer that offers flipbook functionality. The realistic interactivity of this viewer is a look into the future of online document reading. 3D Flipbook is similar to looking at an actual book in front of you. In contrast, the book pages aren’t flat like your typical PDF viewer and instead appear in 3-D. If you want to be creative, you can change the appearance of the UI easily. The PDF pages are customizable with settings to control hyperlinks, page thickness, and more. ### Elementor PDF Viewer For WordPress publishers who use Elementor Website Builder, [Elementor PDF Viewer](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-viewer-for-elementor/) is a nice choice. In addition, it is known as one of the best WordPress PDF Viewer plugins available. With over 10,0000 active installs, this tool by RedLettuce Plugins enables your website with PDF functionality. Elementor Website Builder allows you to design responsive, unique, and attractive websites on WordPress with minimal effort and no coding experience. With this responsive functionality, your documents will display correctly across mobile devices. Additionally, the user experience of the Elementor PDF interface is swift-loading and intuitive. As a publisher, you can edit the type, URL, width, height, and alignment of your PDF. ## Conclusion WordPress PDF viewers are indeed a remarkable invention that is paving the way for the future of reading. In your choice of a viewer, you contribute to the reading experience we have from now on. With that said, choose your viewer plugin wisely and provide the best reader experience. Many options exist in terms of the design, functionality, options, and appearance of a [PDF embedder](https://wp-pdf.com). But one thing is for sure; the right choice will ultimately help both you and your readers. As a result, select one that makes life easier for you and those who read your documents. Over time, you will likely receive reviews from your audience about their experience in reading your PDFs. Consider these reviews and make your choice in selecting from the best WordPress PDF viewer plugins. The Best PDF Embedder Plugin for WordPress Instantly embed PDF files on your website using a shortcode or a block. Extensive features, great customizations, awesome support. [Try it Today!](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) **Categories:** WordPress Tutorials --- ### [How to Embed a PDF File in WordPress (A Step-by-Step Guide)](https://wp-pdf.com/embed-a-pdf-file-in-wordpress/) **Published:** August 25, 2021 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** In this article, we’re going to show you how to embed a PDF file in WordPress in a few different ways. Before this, let’s give you some context. We’re going to talk about the benefits of embedding a PDF and some of the differences between this file type and other media-specific to WordPress. You’ll also find out how best to display PDF files on your website. **Content:** Your WordPress website will often contain media of some description, whether that’s images, video, GIFs – or all three. However, the Portable Document Format (PDF) is also a versatile and popular way to present information. As such, WordPress gives you a few ways to embed a PDF file on your site. For example, you can turn to dedicated WordPress plugins to help you display PDFs. As an alternative, you may want to embed a PDF without a third-party plugin. The good news is that this is possible depending on your site setup and PDF file. In this article, we’re going to show you how to embed a PDF file in WordPress in a few different ways. Before this, let’s give you some context. We’re going to talk about the benefits of embedding a PDF and some of the differences between this file type and other media-specific to WordPress. You’ll also find out how best to display PDF files on your website. - [The Benefits of Embedding PDF Files in WordPress](#h-the-benefits-of-embedding-pdf-files-in-wordpress) - [Some Quick Tips For Readable and Usable PDF Files on Your Website](#h-some-quick-tips-for-readable-and-usable-pdf-files-on-your-website) - [How to Embed a PDF File in WordPress (2 Methods)](#h-how-to-embed-a-pdf-file-in-wordpress-2-methods) - [1. Use the WordPress Block Editor](#h-1-use-the-wordpress-block-editor) - [2. Use a WordPress Plugin to Embed a PDF File](#h-2-use-a-wordpress-plugin-to-embed-a-pdf-file) - [How to Embed a PDF File Using Google Drive](#h-how-to-embed-a-pdf-file-using-google-drive) - [In Conclusion](#h-in-conclusion) ## The Benefits of Embedding PDF Files in WordPress There will likely be two reasons why you’re reading this article: You already know you want to embed a PDF file on your site, or you have PDF files of value but no way of displaying them. If you’re in the latter camp, you may consider recreating your files as posts on your site. However, this can be a tedious and time-consuming task, even for a few small files. Instead, there are a few benefits of embedding the files as PDFs: - You can still offer a direct experience of the file in question. If you’re concerned that embedding a PDF is akin to adding an image to your site, think again. PDFs can be dynamic and interactive, just like a standard web page. - You can offer a sample of your products or services as the customer will receive it. For example, if you’re an author or produce physical work for purchase, a PDF is a top way to show the customer what they’ll receive for their money. - You can re-use documents as an element of your site, which is more efficient. Think about a signup form. If you embed this on your site, you won’t have to re-create content. Instead, you can offer consistency across physical and digital approaches while saving you time. - In a similar vein, you can also embed white papers, case studies, reports, and more without dedicating time and effort to reproducing them. In a nutshell, embedding a PDF in WordPress is a valuable task, especially if those files offer value to others. Though, a PDF isn’t the same as other media within WordPress. Let’s discuss this next. ## Some Quick Tips For Readable and Usable PDF Files on Your Website Before we move onto how to embed a PDF file, it’s worth looking at how your PDF should look. An optimized and well-presented PDF will be more usable and valuable for the reader given a few typical and good practices: - A PDF file relies on good typography regardless of the setting. As such, look to choose no more than two typefaces that complement each other. What’s more, you’ll want to give your copy an appropriate size, so it’s readable to all users. - If your PDF uses images, it’s important to make sure they are given the right level of optimization too. - Speaking of which, PDFs can be huge in file size depending on its content. Because of this, you’ll want to make sure the file itself is as small as you can make it without sacrificing quality. This goes for dimensions if relevant and possible, and also to file size. - Much like any other writing, the words themselves are important. You’ll want to make your copy readable and easy to understand. It may not seem relevant, but applying Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to your PDF’s content is crucial too. Of course, if there’s no way to alter or edit your PDF, there’s little you can do to meet these ideals. While we can’t advise on what you should do in these cases, it could be that you do choose to recreate the PDF as a web post (or series of posts). At the very least, you could embed the PDF and run an update post for it, highlighting the changes. ## How to Embed a PDF File in WordPress (2 Methods) Let’s get into how to embed a PDF in WordPress. We’re going to offer two methods: Through the default WordPress editor, and using a plugin. Later, we’ll also talk about your options for embedding files using Google Drive too. ### 1. Use the WordPress Block Editor For users of the Classic Editor, there’s no real way to embed a PDF and view it natively. You’d use the *Add Media* dialog to work with media assets, and your page will offer a link for download or let you open the PDF in a new tab. There’s also a long-winded way to display that link on your page: - Upload the PDF to your Media Library. - Grab the link of the file. - Add it into your chosen WordPress editor. This would be more viable using the Classic Editor, but the Block Editor speeds things up. There’s a dedicated File Block that lets you display a good-looking (yet functional) button to help users download a file. Though, that’s not all. To do this, head to your chosen post or page within WordPress, and open the Block Editor. Once you find a good location for your embed link, click either the *Add Block* icon on the page, or use the left-hand menu to open the Block Library: [![block-library](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/block-library.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/block-library.png)Here, search for the File Block. It may be in the pre-defined list, but you might also need to use the search bar: [![file-block](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/file-block.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/file-block.png)When you have the Block, add it into your post or page. This will show you a media uploader: [![file-block-uploader](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/file-block-uploader.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/file-block-uploader.png)From here, you can look to upload your file. Once you do this, you’ll see the default Block layout. This involves an inline embed of your PDF, along with a link and a *Download* button: [![pdf-embed-block](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embed-block.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embed-block.png)If you check out the dedicated Block settings, you can customize the PDF viewer and what is displayed: [![pdf-block-customize](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-block-customize.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-block-customize.png)By default, everything is on and turned up to the ‘max’. If you want to create an experience more suited to your needs, you could remove the download link, change the height of the viewer (or remove it), and more: [![customized-block](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/customized-block.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/customized-block.png)It’s a functional editor, for sure. However, it *does* let you embed a PDF file on your site. For something more customizable, we have a better solution for you. ### 2. Use a WordPress Plugin to Embed a PDF File WordPress wouldn’t be the platform it is without plugins. You can find a solution for almost every niche and task – including ones to embed a PDF file on your website. Let’s introduce you to [PDF Embedder](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-embedder/). #### Introducing the PDF Embedder Plugin ![PDF Embedder Banner](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/pdf-embedder-banner.png)This plugin lets you upload and embed PDF files on your WordPress website with ease. You’re able to resize the PDF viewer on the front end, and because it’s responsive, your file will look fantastic on any device. Most other PDF plugins use iFrames to display files. If this is a new term for you, it’s not important to know what this is. Though, you should know that it’s not as efficient or viable as PDF Embedder’s approach. The plugin uses the same JavaScript that loads other elements of your web page, so there’s a higher degree of compatibility with user devices. What’s more, there are lots of features available in a [premium version of PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/premium/). For example: - You can provide clickable links within the PDF itself. - You’re able to add a *Download* button to your embeds. - In fact, you can also prevent actions such as downloads, printing, and more. - There’s a full-screen mode available to let users read your documents without distractions. The PDF viewer is unobtrusive too so that it won’t dominate the page like the native WordPress viewer. Next, we’ll show you how to begin with PDF Embedder and what the plugin can do. #### Using the PDF Embedder Plugin Your first task is to install the plugin itself. To do this, head to the *Plugins > Add New* page in WordPress. [![add-new-link](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/add-new-link.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/add-new-link.png)Here, use the search functionality to find the PDF Embedder plugin, then click the *Install Now* button: [![pdf-embedder-install](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-install.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-install.png)After the plugin installs, you’ll see the button change to *Activate*. You can click this, which will let you use the plugin itself. Make sure you let WordPress finalize the process, at which point you’ll come to a success screen (often at the top-level *Plugins* page): [![install-success](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/install-success.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/install-success.png)Your first task is to make sure the settings are to your liking. You’ll find a link under *Settings > PDF Embedder*: [![pdf-settings-link](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-settings-link.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-settings-link.png)There are only a few options here, but they will help you tailor the viewer to your site: [![pdf-embedder-settings-page](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-settings-page.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-settings-page.png)Once you make changes and save them, head to a post or page. Here, find a good location for your embed and add a new Block; you’re looking for the PDF Embedder Block: [![pdf-embedder-block](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-block.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-block.png)When you add this to your post or page, you’ll need to locate the PDF file within the Media Library (or upload it). Next, take a look at the specific Block settings: [![pdf-embedder-block-settings](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-block-settings.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embedder-block-settings.png)By default, the width and height value are set to maximum, which isn’t optimal for many PDF files. Instead, you can change one of these values, and the viewer will keep the aspect ratio intact. While you’re here, you can also choose where the PDF view toolbar sits and whether it’s visible upon hover. Note that with the premium version of PDF Embedder, you’ll see more options here. Once you have your settings dialed in, check out the preview to see if it all makes sense with the rest of your page. [![pdf-embed-preview](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embed-preview.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/pdf-embed-preview.png)It could be that you’ll need to make further tweaks to get things looking okay. Though, once you’re done, you can get on to other tasks! ## How to Embed a PDF File Using Google Drive This approach might not be suitable for every user and use case, but it’s worth noting that WordPress can display PDFs from Google Drive. Of course, you’ll need to make sure the PDF is in Google Drive before you start. Once you’re ready, access the *Share* menu. In our example, we’re doing so through *More actions > Share*: [![more-actions-share](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/more-actions-share.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/more-actions-share.png)You can pick whatever options you’d like here to tailor the experience to your needs. When you’re ready, click *Done* and head back to the *More actions* menu. Here, click to open the PDF in a new window: [![google-open-new-window](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/google-open-new-window.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/google-open-new-window.png)Once you do this, the options within the menu change. If you click the *More actions* menu once more, you’ll notice the *Embed item…* link: [![embed-item-link](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/embed-item-link.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/embed-item-link.png)If you click this, you’ll see a dialog that includes some HTML code: [![embed-code](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/embed-code.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/embed-code.png)You can copy this, then head back to WordPress. Again, choose your desired post or page and a suitable location; then, within the Block Editor’s *More action* menu, choose *Code editor*: [![code-editor-wordpress](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/code-editor-wordpress.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/code-editor-wordpress.png)This will show you the HTML code, and your task here is to find the right location and paste in the embed code from earlier: [![wordpress-iframe-paste](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/wordpress-iframe-paste.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/wordpress-iframe-paste.png)From here, click the *Exit code editor* link, and you’ll see the embed preview on your page: [![google-embed-post](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/google-embed-post.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/google-embed-post.png)The downsides here are that you can’t change the layout of the viewer, and you have to use an iframe to display the PDF. Still, if you want a quick, functional way to embed a PDF in WordPress, this might fit the bill. ## In Conclusion It’s fair to say the majority of websites use images, video, and GIFs to enhance the text on screen. Though, not many sites use PDFs in the same role. This is a mistake, as a PDF file can convey lots of additional information and context that other media types can’t deliver. This post has looked at how to embed a PDF in WordPress. The best way is to use a plugin such as [PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/). This gives you a way to customize the experience for your users and gives you control over whether a user can download or print the PDF itself. There are other options to consider, such as a direct embed from Google Drive, or using the Block Editor. The final decision of which approach to take lies with you. Do you need to embed a PDF in WordPress, and if so, which method makes sense to you? Let us know in the comments section below! The Best PDF Embedder Plugin for WordPress Instantly embed PDF files on your website using a shortcode or a block. Extensive features, great customizations, awesome support. [Try it Today!](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) **Categories:** WordPress Tutorials --- ### [How to Add and Upload PDF Files to Your WordPress Website](https://wp-pdf.com/add-and-upload-pdf-files/) **Published:** November 4, 2021 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** While a site might use images and video, PDF documents can boost the User Experience (UX). This post will show you how to add and upload PDF files to WordPress! **Content:** WordPress is adept at handling a lot of media types. This is a boon because the average website relies on displaying images, videos, and more. However, not many users want to add and upload PDF files. This is a shame because there is a lot of mileage from the document format, that could enhance the usability and experience on your site. For example, you could showcase white papers, or even upload old e-books for download. Regardless of your approach, you’ll want to use a dedicated plugin for the task, such as PDF Embedder. While WordPress’ native method is okay, it doesn’t offer the breadth and scope of a plugin. In this post, we’re going to look at how to add and upload PDF files to your WordPress website. First, let’s look a little more at why you’d want to do so in the first place. ## Why You’d Want to Add and Upload PDF Files to Your Website The modern web is driven by media. While it wasn’t commonplace in the past, if a site today doesn’t use images *at a minimum*, it’s at a severe disadvantage. However, there are other media types that also give your site a User Experience (UX) boost. PDFs are an unsung file type that can offer your users a way to view rich and complex documents: [![A sample PDF file.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/pdf-example.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/pdf-example.png)There are lots of benefits for using PDF files on your site: - You won’t need to recreate large documents for your site. Instead, you can offer the full PDF without compromise. - You’re able to repurpose site content as a PDF, and offer it as part of a conversion or signup strategy. - Much like your site’s content, you can offer a consistent way to consume your content. In some cases, this could offer even greater compatibility and consistency for certain media within your PDF. - Offering a PDF is a fantastic way to keep your ‘bounce rate’ down. If you can compel the user to carry out an action on site, this will increase a number of metrics. The time on site, bounce rate, and more stands to improve all from a single click to download. All considered, adding or uploading a PDF to your WordPress website gives you a stellar opportunity to deliver content that will benefit users. Even better, the process can be quick to implement. ## The Quickest Way to Upload PDF Files to Your WordPress Website WordPress is flexible enough that it can handle all sorts of media files, including PDFs. As such, the process to get one onto your site is simple and deceptively powerful. Let’s take you through the process of getting a PDF from your computer to your website. Of course, you’ll want to have a PDF on hand before you start. Also, we’re going to use the Block Editor for this. However, if you use another page builder or editor, it could take longer to add your PDF to your site. ### 1. Upload Your PDF Files Through the Media Library You’ll want to start with logging into your site. From here, you have two options: You can head straight to the *Media Library*, or navigate to your chosen post or page. We’re going to opt for the first path, although we’ll point out where you can take an even shorter approach later. [![The WordPress Media Library.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/media-library.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/media-library.png)On this screen, click the *Add New* button at the top of the page. This will open an upload dialog, and you’ll want to choose your PDF file from the interface: [![Uploading a PDF file to WordPress.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/media-uploader.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/media-uploader.png)As soon as you select the PDF, it will upload to your site. This is all you need to do to add your PDF file to your WordPress website. From here, you’ll want to display it. ### 2. Use a File Block to Display Your PDF Files To do this, head to your desired post or page – either can host your PDF file. Next, add a new *File* Block wherever you want to place the PDF: [![Adding a File Block to a page.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/file-block.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/file-block.png)You’ll notice that there are two options here: *Upload* and *Media Library*. Both of these will let you skip the initial step where you’d go to the Media Library first. Because we already have the PDF file within WordPress, we can choose it using the *Media Library* option. This will add the PDF to your post or page, and display it in a basic viewer: [![Viewing a PDF on the front end.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/populated-file-block.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/populated-file-block.png)This may be all you need. If you select the Block itself, there are a few options to help make the experience better suited to your site and needs: [![The File Block settings.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/file-block-options.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/file-block-options.png)However, there are a few drawbacks to this approach that might not be apparent at first glance. We’ll cover this in more detail next. ## Why You Don’t Want to Use a Native Approach to Add and Upload PDF Files In fact, there’s not much wrong with the upload process itself. After all, it’s the same one you’ll use for any other media file. However, there are a few negatives when it comes to the native WordPress method: - You’re stuck with the one PDF viewer option. While it offers a lot of functionality, it doesn’t cover all of the necessary bases. - The WordPress viewer keeps printing enabled by default. What’s more, a savvy user could download the PDF even if you don’t offer that option. - WordPress’ native viewer doesn’t offer a distraction-free experience for viewing your PDFs. Because of the drawbacks, we’d recommend a dedicated plugin to help you better massage your PDFs into your site’s design. Next, we’ll discuss what the leading option is. ## Introducing the PDF Embedder Plugin If you want full control over how your PDFs display on your site, the [PDF Embedder plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-embedder/) is the answer. It’s a free solution that comes with a multitude of plaudits on the WordPress.org Plugin Directory. ![PDF Embedder Banner](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/pdf-embedder-banner.png)It’s as simple as using a *File* Block, but comes with a greater set of features and functionality: - While the plugin sets an automatic size for a PDF, you can also set one edge and leave the rest to the plugin too. - The PDF viewer embeds into the page in a direct way. This means you have greater control over the look and feel of the viewer, compared to other solutions. - The free version of the plugin doesn’t include a download button. This is a good first-step in restricting a user from stealing your content. You’ll also find the PDF Embedder is more flexible on a technical level [compared to the competition](https://wp-pdf.com/pdf-viewer-plugins/) too. This is because the plugin uses native JavaScript to display your PDF, rather than the less efficient *iFrames*. If this concept is alien to you, know that PDF Embedder is quicker, more stable, responsive, and doesn’t contact third-party services such as Google to pull in dependent files. While the free version of PDF Embedder is top-quality, you can get even more from the plugin with a premium purchase. Let’s look at the benefits in more detail. ### The Premium Version of PDF Embedder For a small charge, you can enhance the features of the free PDF Embedder, and leverage the [full experience of the plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) on your site. There are a few standout features to note: - Readers can access a full-screen mode, that’s free from distractions. - You’re able to jump straight to a certain page in the document using a dedicated chooser. - There’s a continuous scrolling option that makes for a seamless reading experience. What’s more, you’ll also have access to analytics that can tell you how many views a particular document has. If you choose to add a download button to your viewer, you can also track the number of downloads so far. Speaking of which, the premium PDF Embedder plugin also improves the security of your files too. The result is that it’s harder for a user to download your PDF without using the dedicated button. While no file on the web is free from theft, this is almost all you can do to keep light fingers at bay. ## How to Add and Upload PDF Files to Your WordPress Website Using a Plugin (In 3 Steps) The good news is that you can use the free version of PDF Embedder to add and upload PDF files to your site. The process takes around three steps, and some of them will be familiar to you. Let’s start at the beginning, with the installation process. ### 1. Install and Activate the PDF Embedder Plugin One great aspect of PDF Embedder is that you install it in the same way as other WordPress plugins. For the unaware, you can do this through the *Plugins > Add New* screen: [![The Add New link.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/plugins-add-new.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/plugins-add-new.png)Here, you’ll want to use the search bar in order to find the PDF Embedder plugin in the Directory: [![The PDF Embedder plugin within the Plugin Directory.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/add-plugins-dialog.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/add-plugins-dialog.png)Next, click *Install Now*, and wait for WordPress to do its thing. At one point, the button will change to read *Activate*. You should click this too and let WordPress finish the installation [![Activating a plugin.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/activate-plugin.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/activate-plugin.png)After this, you’ll see PDF Embedder on the *Plugins > Installed Plugins* screen: [![The PDF Embedder plugin within the Installed Plugins screen.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/installed-plugins.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/installed-plugins.png)The next step is to configure the global settings, in order to help match the experience to your requirements. ### 2. Configure the PDF Embedder Plugin’s Settings In lots of cases, you won’t need to touch the plugin settings. However, it’s good to check this over in case there’s a setting that can impact the experience straight away. PDF Embedder is set up so that you can begin to use it after install. Even so, there are a handful of settings to view: [![The PDF Embedder settings.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/plugin-settings.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/plugin-settings.png)For example, you can set the maximum width and height, work with the placement of the toolbar, and choose to display credit for [wp-pdf.com](https://wp-pdf.com). However, if everything looks good, you can begin to add and upload PDF files within the WordPress Block Editor. ### 3. Use the PDF Embedder Block to Add Your PDF Files to WordPress While there are lots of ways to [upload a PDF to WordPress](https://wp-pdf.com/upload-a-pdf-to-wordpress/), we’re going to take a different approach to the one outlined at the beginning of the article. Once the PDF Embedder plugin is ready to rock and roll, head to your desired post or page, and find a good location. From here, add a new *PDF Embedder* Block: [![Adding the PDF Embedder Block.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/pdf-embedder-block.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/pdf-embedder-block.png)Once you choose this, the Block interface will ask you to open the *Media Library*. You can click on the link to do so: [![The Open Media Library dialog.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/open-media-library.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/open-media-library.png)This process follows the same one for almost every other media file in WordPress, so you should be good here. However, unlike the [embed process](https://wp-pdf.com/embed-a-pdf-file-in-wordpress/) for the native WordPress option, you’ll only see a link to the PDF in the Block Editor: [![A link to the PDF file.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/pdf-link.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/pdf-link.png)This isn’t a big deal; after all, the file is within your content, and if you preview the page, you’ll see the PDF on display: [![The PDF viewer on the front end.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/preview-page.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/preview-page.png)With this peace of mind, you can work on the specific settings for the PDF viewer. The good news is that the options you get will be similar to the global settings – this time they will only affect the Block in question: [![The Block Settings dialog.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/block-settings.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/block-settings.png)As with the global settings, you may not need to touch these, although the option is there if required. ## In Summary When you think of the different types of media on a WordPress website, a PDF isn’t a first choice. However, for a savvy site owner, a PDF can provide an excellent way to give a user rich content in a format you can control. What’s more, a PDF can be a key weapon in your arsenal with regard to capturing and converting new users. While WordPress offers a quick and simple way to add and upload PDF files, you’ll get the best bang for your buck from a solution such as [PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com). This helps you through the upload process, and also gives you a gorgeous file viewer complete with a number of beneficial features. As such, your PDF files can sit alongside your other content, without sticking out like a sore thumb. If you want to add and upload PDF files to WordPress and make sure they display in the best possible light, [PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) is budget-friendly and feature-rich. What’s more, you’ll get a 14-day no quibble, money-back guarantee! **Categories:** WordPress Tutorials **Tags:** pdf, wordpress --- ### [How To Upload A PDF to WordPress (A Step-By Step Guide)](https://wp-pdf.com/upload-a-pdf-to-wordpress/) **Published:** August 9, 2021 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Get off to the right start a publisher by learning how to upload a PDF to WordPress. Our tutorial demonstrates various ways to embed and upload. **Content:** Learn how to upload a PDF to WordPress easily, and the various options you have which go along with it. Otherwise known as Portable Document Format, a PDF is a digital document for reading, sharing, and printing. In 1992, Adobe co-founder [Dr. John Warnock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Warnock) presented the PDF to the world. Since then, it remains one of the most efficient ways to read and exchange documents. - [What is a PDF Document?](#h-what-is-a-pdf-document) - [How To Upload A PDF to WordPress](#aioseo-how-to-upload-a-pdf-to-wordpress) - [The Best Tool To Embed, Compared To Other PDF Plugins](#aioseo-the-best-tool-to-embed-compared-to-other-pdf-plugins) - [Working with PDF Documents in WordPress](#aioseo-working-with-pdf-documents-in-wordpress) - [Managing PDF Documents in WordPress](#aioseo-managing-pdf-documents-in-wordpress) - [Optimizing Your PDF For Display On Mobile Devices Using Photoshop](#aioseo-optimizing-your-pdf-for-display-on-mobile-devices-using-photoshop) - [Optimizing Your PDF For Display On Mobile Devices Using Apple Preview](#aioseo-optimizing-your-pdf-for-display-on-mobile-devices-using-apple-preview) - [Further Mobile Optimization Of Your PDF Using PDF Embedder](#aioseo-further-mobile-optimization-of-your-pdf-using-pdf-embedder) - [Deciding Whether To Embed A PDF In WordPress With And Without a Plugin](#aioseo-deciding-whether-to-embed-a-pdf-in-wordpress-with-and-without-a-plugin) - [How to Embed a PDF in WordPress With a Plugin](#aioseo-how-to-embed-a-pdf-in-wordpress-with-a-plugin) - [Secure Your Embedded PDF Documents](#aioseo-secure-your-embedded-pdf-documents) - [Preview Your PDF on WordPress Once It’s Uploaded](#aioseo-preview-your-pdf-on-wordpress-once-its-uploaded) - [How To Add PDFs To WordPress, And Easily Add Links Too](#aioseo-how-to-add-pdfs-to-wordpress-and-easily-add-links-too) - [Linking To Additional Media Files](#aioseo-linking-to-additional-media-files) - [Creating A Custom Button Linked To Your PDF](#aioseo-creating-a-custom-button-linked-to-your-pdf) - [Conclusion On How to Embed a PDF File in WordPress](#aioseo-conclusion-on-how-to-embed-a-pdf-file-in-wordpress) ## **What is a PDF Document?** Notably, PDFs offer the ability to share an essay, book, newspaper, or periodical in seconds. In addition, it is compact and does not take up any physical space like a book. As a digital document, PDFs are compatible to read using Acrobat, Preview, and internet browsers. With these applications, you have everything you need to enjoy the future of documentation. As a media publisher, edit and add content to a PDF using Acrobat or Adobe Photoshop. Furthermore, upload, embed, and publish it online to the world using WordPress. To demonstrate, let’s examine how to upload a PDF to WordPress. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/pdf-image.png) ## **How To Upload A PDF to WordPress** Want to know how to upload a PDF on a blog? Uploading a PDF is simple with WordPress. Below, learn the simple approach on how to upload PDF files to your WordPress site. 1. On your WordPress dashboard, hover over the Media menu. It has an icon of a camera and musical note accompanying the text. 2. Next, click on the Add New option located in the Media pop-up menu. 3. Notice the blank grey square entitled Upload New Media. Inside the square, click on Select Files. 4. Navigate to the PDF using the Upload New Media pop-up window. 5. Select the PDF file, then click Open to upload your document. 6. Once the file finishes uploading, click the Edit button at the right-hand side of the file. That’s it! Now that your upload is complete, you can copy the File URL at the Edit page of your PDF. With your copied URL, use one of the How To Embed options explained later in this article. ## **The Best Tool To Embed, Compared To Other PDF Plugins** Realistically, you could send your brain into a tailspin by reviewing all of the PDF plugins out there. But truth be told, [PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/premium/) is among the best plugins you will find today. The user experience of PDF Embedder offers unmatched value and excellence in displaying documents and images. In addition, this plugin maintains a loyal user base ranging from mom-and-pop businesses to government agencies. These are just some of the thousands of users who rely upon PDF Embedder. Notably, PDF Embedder is celebrated by many satisfied customers for its ease of use. Both publishers and readers are happy with its continuous scrolling, smooth functionality and full-screen viewing. Furthermore, PDF Embedder provides content to the reader in an attractive streamlined format. So with that said, stop looking around and select this straightforward and reliable PDF embed tool. As a result, you will avoid other embed plugins that overcomplicate what should be a simple task. ![PDF Embedder Banner](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/pdf-embedder-banner.png)## **Working with PDF Documents in WordPress** Working with PDF documents in WordPress offers unique opportunities for you as a publisher. In fact, the ease of use and flexibility in using WordPress is quite remarkable. From uploading and organizing your files to embedding, publishing is exciting. The truth is, WordPress is designed to accommodate a unique publishing workflow. Furthermore, it is a platform like none other for displaying media online. Notably, WordPress is fully outfitted with the best features to prepare your media. For example, swift uploading, a media library and the ability to implement post blocks are powerful features. Although you can easily publish with these features, you should consider one more thing. Above all, a reliable PDF plugin should also be in your toolbox. Ideally, your best choice of a plugin is the renowned tool known as PDF Embedder. This tool is essential for working with PDF documents in WordPress and makes things easier. ## **Managing PDF Documents in WordPress** In this article, we discuss ways to manage your PDF files using WordPress and PDF Embedder. To begin, choose the media option on the left column of your WordPress dashboard. Next, click on the Library button. Within the Library, your documents are available via thumbnail in the Media Library. Chances are, you might have more than one type of media element in your library. If so, just click on the All Media Items drop-down menu. From there, select the Documents option to view only your PDF uploads. PDF Embedder offers additional management options for your PDF documents after uploading. In addition, it provides an extra level of security for your media files. For instance, readers cannot download your embedded PDF files with [PDF Embedder Secure](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/). ![PDF Embedder Secure Options](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Secure-and-Watermark-Options-1024x870.png)## **Optimizing Your PDF For Display On Mobile Devices Using Photoshop** Mobile web browsing increases in popularity each year. For this reason, implement PDF optimization to make your document mobile-ready. With optimization, your PDF file size will decrease and therefore load faster on mobile devices. In addition, the quality of your document will remain intact despite the decrease in file size. Thankfully, Photoshop provides PDF optimization features. To begin, optimize your PDF document using the following steps: 1. Open Photoshop and navigate to the File menu. 2. From the File menu, select Open and navigate to your PDF file on your computer. 3. Select the PDF and open it in Photoshop. 4. Next, from the File menu select Format from the drop-down menu. 5. Click on Photoshop PDF from the Format menu, then click Save. 6. After you click Save a new window will pop up. In this window, deselect the Preserve Photoshop Editing Capabilities option. 7. Save your PDF. As a result, its file size will decrease. ![Optimizing Your PDF For Display On Mobile Devices Using Photoshop](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Ready-for-Mobile-1024x682.jpg)## **Optimizing Your PDF For Display On Mobile Devices Using Apple Preview** If you can’t afford Photoshop, try this free alternative. Fortunately, Mac users can optimize their PDFs with a free built-in application called Preview. Thankfully, it does a decent job when you want to quickly edit or optimize these types of files. Using the following steps, optimize your PDF for mobile display: 1. Launch the Preview application on your Mac. Next, navigate to the File menu. 2. Click on the File menu, then select Open from the drop-down menu. 3. Browse for your PDF document on your computer from the Open window. When you find your document, select it and open it in Preview. 4. Head back over to the File menu and from the drop-down menu select Export. 5. From the Export menu, choose Quartz Filter and from there select Reduce File Size. 6. As a result, Preview will reduce the file size of your PDF making it mobile-ready. ## **Further Mobile Optimization Of Your PDF Using PDF Embedder** Once your document is optimized for file size using 3rd-party applications, upload it to WordPress. From there, PDF Embedder will take care of the rest. In fact, this plugin will ensure that your document displays correctly on mobile devices. Regarding mobile optimization, PDF Embedder is equipped with the ability for readers to view your PDF in full screen. Compared to other viewer plugins, this solves the problem of PDFs displaying incorrectly on mobile. Unfortunately, these types of documents are sometimes hard to interact with on small mobile device screens, However, you can fix that with the optimization settings contained in PDF Embedder. By adjusting (or deleting) the cut-off width setting, it will also adjust your document for various screen sizes. As a result, browsing through the text and interacting with all of the elements of your PDF becomes easier. ## **Deciding Whether To Embed A PDF In WordPress With And Without a Plugin** Still trying to decide how to embed your PDF document into your latest WordPress post? Truthfully, learning how to embed a PDF in WordPress with and without a plugin is possible. However, it is ultimately your best choice to use the PDF Embedder plugin. To explain, this plugin provides fancy features to enhance the look and functionality of your document. In addition, PDF Embedder simplifies the process of embedding. With that said, why go through a timely and complicated process of embedding without a plugin? Instead, rely upon a tool designed to simplify the process and let you see results faster. Rest assured, PDF Embedder is among the best tools available for managing PDFs. Furthermore, it will save you time to complete the other tasks associated with being a WordPress publisher. ![Deciding Whether To Embed A PDF In WordPress With And Without a Plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/PDFEmbedder3.2_GutenbergOutput.jpg)## **How to Embed a PDF in WordPress With a Plugin** ![How to Embed a PDF in WordPress With a Plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/PDFEmbedder3.2_GutenbergEditing.jpg)PDF Embedder is a professional WordPress plugin that will enhance your ability to embed a PDF on WordPress. Here is how to upload & insert a PDF in WordPress with this plugin. 1. To begin, use the Media Library section of your WordPress dashboard to upload your PDF. 2. After the upload is complete, insert a PDF Embedder Block. 3. Choose the PDF you just uploaded. 4. As a result, your new post will display .embedded document. Once the embed is complete, further customization of your document is possible. For example, you can edit the display according to size, shape, and toolbar options. As a result, PDF Embedder is a helpful tool to prepare your documents for online publishing. With this plugin, embedding is easier and offers more options than without a plugin. ## **Secure Your Embedded PDF Documents** Security of data should be of the utmost concern for any content creator who uploads their work online. To accommodate creators, is the ultimate tool in PDF security that will make your uploads virtually bulletproof. Introducing PDF Premium Secure, which not only is great for uploading documents but is also protective. With this tool, you choose whether or not to allow certain options to your readers. For example, with PDF Premium Secure you can enable or disable options using the following features: - Option to prohibit or inhibit downloading of your PDF documents by online readers. - Ability to activate or deactivate the ability for readers to save images from your PDF. - Choose to add or subtract a transparent watermark which is a copyright for your PDF document. The truth is, your readers don’t always need complete access to your documents. In some cases, you may want to implement some prohibitions. In that case, PDF Premium Secure will get the job done. ## **Preview Your PDF on WordPress Once It’s Uploaded** It is a gratifying moment to preview your PDF on WordPress before publication. This is the moment when you learn how your document will appear to others. Fortunately, it is easy to accomplish this with WordPress. Truthfully, the steps to preview your PDF are quite simple. While in Edit mode on WordPress, click the Preview button. It’s at the top right hand of your browser window next to Publish. In the pop-up window, choose whether you are on a Desktop, Tablet or Mobile device. After you make your choice, click on the Preview In New Tab button. And there you have it! In the new window that pops up, you will see what your PDF looks like to online viewers. Take this time to observe any corrections you want to make to your document. Following your assessments, make any necessary edits to improve the display of your PDF. ## **How To Add PDFs To WordPress, And Easily Add Links Too** Linking is an important aspect of PDF editing that encourages interactivity between your PDF and its readers. As your readers browse your document, anchor links enhance their ability to gain information. For example, your PDF about low-carb dieting could host an anchor link pointing to an authoritative health website. This is easily accomplished by adding links in a relevant place within the body of the PDF article. To accomplish linking, use your preferred 3rd party application such as Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Word or Photoshop. Any of these programs can be used to create your PDF before uploading it to WordPress. ## **Linking To Additional Media Files** In some cases, additional media is needed to support your uploaded PDF document. As a result, you are able to upload different types of media files into your post. After uploading, position the media below or above the post block containing your PDF. The truth is, a plugin often allows you to embed different types of media into a single presentation. The result is an organized all-in-one display of a PDF, audio and/or video. Without using a plugin, you don’t receive the same type of presentation or organization. ## **Creating A Custom Button Linked To Your PDF** In addition to embedding your document with PDF Embedder, you can create a custom button. This is an extra touch of interactivity you can use to create a link to your PDF. It is optional and can actually help to enhance your embedded document. ## **Conclusion On How to Embed a PDF File in WordPress** In conclusion, a PDF is simple to manage but offers numerous possibilities for advanced publishing. With this information, you have a step-by-step guide for the process to upload a pdf file. Thankfully, [PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/premium/) offers an all-in-one solution to accommodate your publishing workflow. With this tool, you will enjoy your role as a publisher and experience the simplicity of embedding. All things considered, this is the best way to learn how to upload a pdf document to WordPress. Without a doubt, this methodology has helped me to manage my own PDFs with ease. I am happy to share the process on how to embed a PDF on my website. The Best PDF Embedder Plugin for WordPress Instantly embed PDF files on your website using a shortcode or a block. Extensive features, great customizations, awesome support. [Try it Today!](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) **Categories:** WordPress Tutorials --- ## Pages ### [Pricing](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) **Published:** June 6, 2024 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** # The Most Powerful Way to Embed PDF **300,000+ WordPress sites** use PDF Embedder to display, protect, and track their documents. **Allen Wyatt** !["Verified Customer" badge](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/verified-customer.svg) PDF Embedder has been a vital part of our websites for years. I appreciate the ease of use for the plug-in and the great support offered by the company. We will continue to rely on PDF Embedder for years to come. ## Choose PDF Embedder Plan ### Elite normally $259 $ 129 .50 /year $129.50 savings* The hassle-free all-inclusive solution for agencies [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705463&discount=SAVE50) Everything in Pro, and: - Up to 100 Sites - Unlimited PDF Embeds - Highly-configurable PDF Viewer 🏞 Thumbnails Generation - Title Page Image - Automatic Generation - Support Secured PDFs - Support Watermarked PDFs - Plugin Updates - Premium Support [](#all-features)[](#all-features)[See all features ](#all-features)↓[ ](#all-features) [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705463&discount=SAVE50) Best Deal ### Pro normally $159 $ 79 .50 /year $79.50 savings* Everything you need to securely manage PDF files for clients [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705265&discount=SAVE50) Everything in Plus, and: - Up to 20 Sites - Unlimited PDF Embeds - Highly-configurable PDF Viewer 🔒 Secure PDFs - Store Files Securely - Prevent Search Engine Indexing - Block File Access - Disable Right-Clicks - Dynamic Attachment Pages 📷 Watermark Management - Custom Watermark Text - Dynamic Watermark Text - Configure Watermark Placement - Global and Per File Configuration - Plugin Updates - Premium Support [](#all-features)[](#all-features)[See all features ](#all-features)↓[ ](#all-features) [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705265&discount=SAVE50) Deliver branded, secure PDFs with a fully customized experience. ### Plus normally $99 $ 49 .50 /year $49.50 savings* Essential features for freelancers and small businesses [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705263&discount=SAVE50) Everything in Basic, and: - Up to 5 Sites - Unlimited PDF Embeds - Highly-configurable PDF Viewer 💅 Polish the Presentation - Pages Gap - Hide PDF Annotations - Plugin Updates - Premium Support [](#all-features)[](#all-features)[See all features ](#all-features)↓[ ](#all-features) [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705263&discount=SAVE50) ### Basic normally $59 $ 29 .50 /year $29.50 savings* Essential features to embed and nicely display your PDFs [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705244&discount=SAVE50) - **Premium Features, and:** - 1 Site - Unlimited PDF Embeds - Highly-configurable PDF Viewer 🤌 Quality-of-Life Features - Continuous Page Scrolling - Jump-to-Page - Internal PDF Linking - External Links Support - Elementor Widget 🔎 Search Text in PDFs - Toggle Functionality - Instant Text Search ⬇️ Views & Downloads - Toggle Functionality - Track Counts Per File 📱 Mobile Customizations - Configure Mobile Threshold - View Button Text - Disable Device Zoom - Plugin Updates - Premium Support [](#all-features)[](#all-features)[See all features ](#all-features)↓[ ](#all-features) [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705244&discount=SAVE50) ## **Our 100% No-Risk Money Back Guarantee** We’re excited to have you experience PDF Embedder. Over the next 14 days, if the product isn’t the best fit, simply reach out! We’ll happily refund 100% of your money. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/signature-slava.png)Product Lead, WPAuth LLC All pricing is in USD. You can change plans or cancel your account at any time. \* Special introductory pricing. All renewals are at full price. ## Trusted by 300,000+ WordPress Sites PDF Embedder is the core plugin on my website I’ve been using it since 2018 on a site that offers more than a thousand PDF catalogs. To save money and reduce the load on my shared hosting, I needed a WordPress plugin that would let me host my PDFs on Dropbox. PDF Embedder made it easy to do exactly that. On top of that, the support team is very responsive and always helpful. Franck Benedittini version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Essential tool for my business I’ve been using PDF Embedder Secure for 3 years now, and it helped me sharing my paid content securely, preventing malicious people from buying my PDF files and then sharing them illegally everywhere. PDF files are chopped, digested, watermarked, unaccessible even if someone finds the direct link. The few bugs occurred were eventually fixed, making it an essential tool for my business. Daniele Benedettelli version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Go-to recommendation for any client I’ve been in the web design business for a long time, and one of the biggest challenges I face is finding the right solutions for my clients’ specific needs. One client wanted to display PDF newsletters in a way that was clean, user-friendly, and easy to scroll through. That’s when I discovered WP PDF Embedder. It does the job beautifully, making PDFs look professional and effortless to navigate. Since then, it has become my go-to recommendation for any client who needs to showcase PDF content on their website. Vera Schafer version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? This plugin is terrific! For years I solved the pdf problem by converting the file to Word, then importing to WP. When I saw this — and saw that it worked — I was overjoyed. If you don’t use the Pro version, you’re wasting a lot of time maintaining your website. Tony Lima version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Tech support is excellent I’ve been using the premium PDF Embedder plugin for four years. If embedding PDF’s is important to your business, customers, clients or students, this plugin is well worth it. It comes at a low price and tech support is excellent. Kerry Kriger version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Vital part of our websites PDF Embedder has been a vital part of our websites for years. I appreciate the ease of use for the plug-in and the great support offered by the company. We will continue to rely on PDF Embedder for years to come. Allen Wyatt version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Great plugin – used it for years Importantly, it allows for accessible front end PDF rendering + in document links. Most importantly, their support has been top notch – developers you can actually talk to. Al Cain version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Stable with good functionality and support Have used this plugin for several years and it has always performed well. My users like it as well. On the one instance I needed support the response was timely and accurate. Robert W. Drummond version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Definitely 5 Star I have been using PDF Embedder for well over ten years. It’s just a great app. Can’t recommend it enough. Rich Calo version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Excellent value The PDF Embedder plugin is an excellent value. I have been a customer for many years now, and am very happy with the functionality. It gives my PDF’s a more professional look and feel. Adam Benson version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Essential plugin As soon as I found out about PDF Embedder, I knew it would be a game-changer for my local news site… Simple to use, both for editors and for users. This is kinda what the Internet was invented for. mongrel version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Steady, reliable, protects my work! I use this product so that I can display my poems without them being (easily) scraped and pirated. PDF Embedder does the job well, with no fuss! kimbols version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Perfect plugin! I have been using this plugin (both the free version and the pro version) for a number of years on various clients’ websites. It is easy to set up, does what it needs to and just works the way a plugin should. I highly recommend it. Also, the few times I have had to reach out for support, it has been prompt and fixed my problem quickly. DebsWebs version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? Finally, a perfect PDF Embedder Just connect this plugin to your PDF, and it works perfectly. Nothing to adjust or set. All the borders, width, and height are perfect. No wasted space. Displays one page at a time. It lets users easily page through the PDF. Do download button to remove. I deleted all other PDF plugins and made this the only one I use. If you want perfect simplicity, this is it. Edwin Berry version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"? ## Frequently Asked Questions Do you have a question about PDF Embedder? See the list below for our most frequently asked questions. If your question is not listed here, then please [contact us](/contact/). Who should use PDF Embedder?PDF Embedder is perfect for website owners, content creators, businesses, and educational institutions who need to securely display and manage PDF documents on their WordPress sites. It offers essential features like document protection, search functionality, and user interaction management, making it a versatile solution for various professional needs. Will PDF Embedder slow down my site?Absolutely not. PDF Embedder is carefully built with performance in mind. We have developed everything with best practices and modern standards to ensure things run smoothly and fast. Your huge PDF files may take some time to render though, but it depends on the browser and the machine where this browser is running. Do I have to pay extra for support?PDF Embedder support is free for all users. You may open a support ticket at any time on WordPress.org. Premium or Thumbnails support, however, requires a valid license key. License keys are issued at the time of purchase. What happens if I do not renew my subscription?License keys are subscription-based and will *automatically* renew every year. *Lock in your pricing* by keeping your subscription active. If you decide to cancel, you will lose access to support and updates as well as opt-out of your existing pricing. Can I use my single PDF Embedder license key on client sites?Yes, you can use PDF Embedder and PDF Thumbnails on client sites, even if you own a single license key. Purchase the appropriate Plan for the number of client sites PDF Embedder will be installed on. Your purchased plan determines the number of sites that can activate your license and receive automatic plugin updates. ## Compare WP-PDF Plans ### Elite normally $259 $ 129 .50 /year $129.50 savings* The hassle-free all-inclusive solution for agencies [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705463&discount=SAVE50) Best Deal ### Pro normally $159 $ 79 .50 /year $79.50 savings* Everything you need to securely manage PDF files for clients [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705265&discount=SAVE50) ### Plus normally $99 $ 49 .50 /year $49.50 savings* Essential features for freelancers and small businesses [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705263&discount=SAVE50) ### Basic normally $59 $ 29 .50 /year $29.50 savings* Essential features to embed and nicely display your PDFs [ Get Started ](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/?edd_action=add_to_cart&download_id=705244&discount=SAVE50) Supported SitesUp to 100 SitesUp to 20 SitesUp to 5 Sites1 SitePlugin Updates1 Year1 Year1 Year1 YearEmail SupportPremiumPriorityStandardStandardPDF Embeds∞∞∞∞Core FeaturesContinuous Page Scrolling✓✓✓✓Jump-to-Page✓✓✓✓Internal PDF Linking✓✓✓✓External Links Support✓✓✓✓Elementor Widget✓✓✓✓Search Text in PDF✓✓✓✓Track Views & Downloads✓✓✓✓Mobile Customizations✓✓✓✓Pages Gap✓✓✓✕Hide PDF Annotations✓✓✓✕Secure PDFsStore Files Securely✓✓✕✕Block File Access✓✓✕✕Disable Right-Clicks✓✓✕✕Dynamic Attachment Pages✓✓✕✕Watermark ManagementCustom Watermark Text✓✓✕✕Dynamic Watermark Text✓✓✕✕Configure Watermark Placement✓✓✕✕Thumbnails GenerationTitle Page Image✓✕✕✕Automatic Thumbnail Generation✓✕✕✕Support Secured PDFs✓✕✕✕ --- ### [Changelog - Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/changelog/) **Published:** November 7, 2024 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** # Changelog [PDF Embedder Premium](/changelog/) [PDF Thumbnails Premium](/changelog/thumbnails/) ### Version 5.4.1 May 25, 2026 - Fixed: Pro/Elite Elementor widget: every settings section below “PDF File” (Width & Height, Toolbar, Actions, Pages, Scrolling, Zoom, Mobile, Watermark) was hidden when a PDF served from `/securepdfs/` was selected. - Fixed: PDF view/download tracking for anonymous (logged-out) visitors was silently disabled due to a typo. Tracking now records views and downloads from logged-out visitors correctly. - Fixed: Improved input sanitisation in the secure PDFs path resolver to prevent unintended matches caused by special characters in site URLs. - Fixed: PDF view and download counts that were under-reported or attributed to the wrong file on sites that had been migrated, used a CDN for media, or served secure PDFs from `/securepdfs/`. - Fixed: Secure PDFs with an uppercase .PDF extension now load correctly in the Viewer. - Fixed: A URL parameter could bypass the Download restriction on Secure PDFs and expose the original file. The endpoint no longer accepts that parameter; downloads now decrypt in the browser. ### Version 5.4.0 May 14, 2026 - IMPORTANT: The minimum WordPress version is now 6.6. - IMPORTANT: The minimum PHP version is now PHP 7.4. - IMPORTANT: The minimum PDF Embedder version is now v5.0.0. - Added: New PDF Embedder widget for the Elementor page builder, mirroring the Gutenberg block. All the same per-plan options are available with an in-ElementorEditor preview of the PDF Viewer. - Added: Live PDF preview in the Block Editor that matches the front-end Viewer for every plan. The block reuses the same iframe-based viewer used on the front-end, so per-plan options (toolbar, scrolling, watermarks, etc.) are reflected live in the editor preview, and the file picker has moved to the block sidebar to make room for it. - Added: New “Pages > Pages Gap” block option to control the spacing between PDF pages in the Viewer. Defaults to 10px; the last page always remains flush with the bottom of the Viewer. - Added: New “Pages > Show Annotations” block option to control whether the embedded PDF File annotations should be displayed on the front-end. The default behavior is to display them the same as before. - Changed: Compatibility with WordPress 7.0. - Changed: The block has been updated to API version 3 for the new iframe-based Block Editor, so the upsell controls and embedded PDFs continue to work correctly inside the editor preview. - Changed: The “Pages & Scrolling” block options panel has been split into two separate “Pages” and “Scrolling” sections, making room for more options coming to each. - Changed: The Block Editor PDF preview is now compatible with multilingual sites running Polylang or WPML where the admin’s home URL resolves to a language-prefixed path. - Changed: PDF Embedder Lite is now automatically installed, activated, or updated to the minimum required version when needed. - Fixed: When a site admin was looking at the plugin update popup (when a new version is available) fixed there was no details of what exactly has been fixed or changed in the plugin. - Fixed: The license key and activation status were not removed from the database when the Premium plugin was uninstalled. - Fixed: The “Open in new window” setting on the Settings > Extra page was being ignored on the front-end: links inside embedded PDFs always opened in a new tab even when the setting was turned off. The setting is now respected. - Fixed: PDF files with Arabic, Chinese, or other non-ASCII characters in their file names were still being saved with URL-encoded names (e.g. `%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8.pdf`) when downloaded via the PDF Viewer toolbar, unless the Secure PDFs option was enabled. The original file name is now preserved in all cases. - Fixed: The PDF Viewer iframe now always carries a `title` attribute and the iframe’s document `title` tag matches it. When the shortcode `title="..."` is set, it is used in both places; otherwise a readable name is derived from the PDF file URL. - Fixed: With Secure PDFs enabled, non-PDF files uploaded alongside a PDF in the same request could end up in the `securepdfs/` directory instead of the regular `uploads/` folder. - Fixed: A broken or empty PDF Viewer was displayed on the front end when post content tried to embed a PDF from the `/securepdfs/` folder while the active plan (Basic or Plus) did not include the Pro-only Secure PDFs feature. The Viewer is now hidden in this scenario. - Fixed: Optimized the build process — our block is now much smaller and faster to load in the Block Editor. - Fixed: Hardened various security checks across the plugin. --- ### Version 5.3.3 January 29, 2026 - Changed: Improve the reliability of the server software detection, so we can instruct users better on how to set up Secured PDFs on their servers. - Changed: Improved the rendering performance of PDF files with watermarks when they have a lot of pages. - Fixed: There was an unneeded gap around PDF pages inside the PDF Viewer. We have removed the gap, so now PDF pages are flush with the edges of the Viewer. - Fixed: On some mobile devices (specifically iOS devices), the scrolling of PDF files inside the PDF Viewer when opened in the fullscreenshot was not working correctly. - Fixed: Zooming in and out using fingers while moving around the PDF file in fullscreen mode on iOS devices was not working as expected. - Fixed: On mobile, double-tap to zoom in was not working correctly in fullscreen mode. To avoid crashes we disabled this behavior, but users can still use pinch-to-zoom gestures on iOS devices. Android prevents this functionality from working inside iframes. - Fixed: Watermarks on top of PDF pages were disappearing when scrolling through the pages fast, especially often happening after hitting the end of the PDF document and then scrolling back up. - Fixed: If the shortcode had a `title` attribute defined, the title was not set in the PDF Viewer iframe. Having the `iframe[title]` helps with accessibility. ### Version 5.3.2 December 30, 2025 - IMPORTANT: The minimum PDF Embedder version is now v4.9.3. - Changed: Compatibility with WordPress 6.9. - Fixed: When a relative URL was used to embed a PDF file using a shortcode, the PDF Viewer was not rendering the file correctly. - Fixed: When a relative URL was used to embed a PDF file using a shortcode, the Download button in the PDF Viewer Toolbar wasn’t working as expected. - Fixed: Fixed a potential issue with the incorrect encoding of the PDF file name if the file name contained Arabic, Chinese, and other characters. Downloaded file name should be the same as the uploaded file name. - Fixed: Correctly display the time when the license key was last checked (using the site time zone). - Fixed: Encrypted cached files for uploaded secured PDF files were not deleted when the associated PDF file was deleted. - Fixed: Changing the zoom level was breaking our watermark rendering on top of PDF pages. - Fixed: The block or shortcode option to display the watermark only on even pages was not rewriting the global plugin setting as expected. - Fixed: Redefining fullpage zoom level (`fpzoom`) via a shortcode or a1 block option was not respecting user-defined values in some cases. ### Version 5.3.1 April 17, 2025 - Changed: Do not display the “Horizontal Offset” block option in the Watermark section of the Block Editor when “Horizontal Alignment” is set to “center”. - Changed: The PDF Viewer should now load up to 10% faster (depending on your theme) inside the iframes. - Fixed: When editing the watermark text in our block the cursor was jumping to the end of the textarea when typing at the beginning or somewhere in the middle. - Fixed: Watermark text was not rendered in the PDF Viewer when it was the same as set in the plugin’s global options. - Fixed: Potentially fix the “home page loading in an iframe” bug for everyone. Confirmed with at least several different cases with Thrive Theme, Thrive Architect, Paid Memberships Pro, and other plugins. - Fixed: The PDF Embedder block performance was improved in the Block Editor. - Fixed: Decrease the chances of unneeded server redirects when accessing the secured PDF file – this improves the overall PDF Viewer speed as less time is spent retrieving the file from the server. - Fixed: PDF files were not rendered in the PDF Viewer when the WordPress installation was in a domain subdirectory. - Fixed: Compatibility with other plugins was significantly improved. This should greatly decrease the chances of a home page being loaded inside the PDF Viewer. ### Version 5.3.0 January 22, 2025 - IMPORTANT: The minimum PHP version is now PHP v7.2. - IMPORTANT: The minimum WordPress version is now v6.1. - IMPORTANT: The minimum PDF Embedder version is now v4.9.0. - Added: In addition to the previously available vertical offset, you can now set up the new horizontal offset for the watermark text. - Added: All the watermark options can now be configured on a per PDF file basis via shortcode attributes or block options (in the Block Editor). - Added: You can now set the color of the watermark text. - Added: We now display a notice for Nginx and Caddy users to educate them that they need to configure their servers properly for Secured PDFs to work as expected. - Added: Block the interaction with the toolbar when a mobile device is used to view the PDF file, so users won’t be able to navigate pages and change the zoom until they click the “View in full screen” button. - Added: In the Block Editor there is now a handy link to check the selected PDF file tracking data (views and downloads). Check the Actions section for the PDF Embedder block. - Changed: Changed: Compatibility with WordPress 6.7. - Changed: The sharpness and quality of the text in the PDF Viewer were significantly improved. - Changed: Further improvements to the PDF Embedder block in the Block Editor. - Fixed: There was an error in code that prevented WordPress from removing the plugin using the plugins admin interface. - Fixed: PDF files located outside the default WordPress uploaded Media files location were not rendered in the Viewer, home page was loaded instead. --- ### Version 5.2.3 June 12, 2024 - Fixed: There was a small typo in the code that generated in certain cases an incorrect URL to download PDF files. - Fixed: Sometimes the PDF Viewer was still blocked by the “View in full screen” button on mobile devices. - Fixed: Remove some debugging messages that are displayed in the browser console in certain cases by the PDF.js library. ### Version 5.2.2 June 9, 2024 - Fixed: Remove debug code that was left in the plugin by mistake resulting in fatal error. ### Version 5.2.1 June 7, 2024 - Changed: Do not display the license key on the About page in plain text. - Fixed: There was an error in code that prevented WordPress from removing the plugin using the plugins admin interface. - Fixed: PDF files located outside the default WordPress uploaded Media files location were not rendered in the Viewer, home page was loaded instead. ### Version 5.2.0 June 6, 2024 - IMPORTANT: The minimum WordPress version is now WordPress v5.8. - IMPORTANT: The minimum PHP version is now PHP v7.0. - IMPORTANT: If you are using a caching plugin and added PDF Embedder JS files to the exclusion list, you will need to do that again due to changed JS file names. - Added: A ton of new configuration options were added to the PDF Embedder block. If modified, they override the global plugin settings on a per-file basis. - Changed: The plugin has been tested with the latest version of WordPress. - Changed: Block was rewritten from scratch, and now it looks and works better in the Block Editor and also syncs its default settings with plugin options. - Changed: The PDF Viewer (which continues to use an iframe) now has a proper canonical URL when pointing to the public PDF file. Secured PDFs have a robots `noindex` meta tag. - Fixed: A lot of strings in the plugin have been fixed to make them accurate and translatable. - Fixed: Several security-related improvements have been implemented (data sanitization and escaping). Also, improved the way PDF files are rendered to prevent arbitrary script execution. - Fixed: PDF file embedded via a shortcode was not loadable when the content was retrieved via AJAX. - Fixed: Text in PDF files in certain languages (like Japanese and Korean) was not rendered correctly. - Fixed: Download and View counter can be enabled and disabled on a per PDF file basis via shortcode attributes (view\_counter and download\_counter) or block options (toggle to on/off). - Fixed: Toolbar locations bottom and both were not working properly due to various JavaScript errors. - Fixed: There was incorrect padding at the top of the viewer when the toolbar location was set to other than top or both. - Fixed: The zoom attribute defined for a specific file was not passed properly to the viewer. - Fixed: User-redefined zoom value was not preselected inside the Viewer Toolbar. - Fixed: External links option (global for the plugin and per individual PDF file) was not respecting the “Open in new tab” setting. - Fixed: The fullscreen button in the viewer was not working correctly. You can now close it by pressing the ESC key on your keyboard or clicking the same fullscreen icon again. - Fixed: PDF Attachment pages were having some performance issues due to the excessive number of database queries. - Fixed: Improved the responsiveness (ability to interact with) of scrollbars and automatically hidden toolbar when it’s not fixed. - Fixed: Improved the readability of the text inside the Search panel inside the Viewer. - Fixed: You can now again set the first page of the multipage PDF file to be displayed by default via a shortcode attribute or a block option. - Fixed: The “Scroll to Top” attribute in the shortcode (or plugin global setting) was not scrolling to the top of the PDF file when arrow navigation within the Viewer was used. - Fixed: Watermarks are now part of the Viewer canvas which makes them more reliable. - Fixed: Correctly handle newline characters in the watermark text, they are now preserved. - Fixed: Correctly center the watermark text in the PDF Viewer according to the viewer sizes. - Fixed: The loading speed of PDF files improved in various cases. - Fixed: It was not possible to download the PDF file from within the Viewer on certain WordPress installations. - Fixed: Some performance-related issues were addressed, so the plugin has less effect on the overall site performance. - Fixed: PDF files’ encryption was not working as expected. - Fixed: Several encoding issues in various PDF files were fixed. - Fixed: “Disable right-click” option was not working properly. - Fixed: Enabling the tracking functionality (PDF views and downloads) didn’t have an effect, now the counters are displayed and incremented properly. - Fixed: The mobile options in the plugin were not working as expected, now the button to display the file in full screen is visible on mobile devices, threshold is configurable. The threshold is applicable to the PDF Viewer width. - Fixed: PDF Viewer styles on mobile are improved a little bit. More to come! --- ### [PDF Embedder Coupon Code](https://wp-pdf.com/pdf-embedder-coupon-code/) **Published:** December 4, 2023 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** Congratulations – you have found the best PDF Embedder coupon! Use the following PDF Embedder coupon code at checkout to get 50% off any of our plans: **SAVE50** This coupon code can be used with any of these products: - [PDF Embedder Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/ "PDF Embedder Premium") - [PDF Thumbnails](https://wp-pdf.com/thumbnails/ "PDF Thumbnails") **Note:** This is the only official PDF Embedder coupon code! Please be aware of other websites making misleading offers such as: - PDF Embedder Coupon - WP PDF Coupon - PDF Embedder Coupon Code - PDF Embedder Coupons - PDF Embedder Code - PDF Embedder Promo Codes - WP-PDF Promo --- ### [Privacy Policy](https://wp-pdf.com/privacy/) **Published:** October 31, 2024 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** Your privacy is very important to us. At WPAuth we have a few fundamental principles that we follow: - We don’t ask you for personal information unless we truly need it. (We can’t stand services that ask you for things like your gender or income level for no apparent reason.) - We don’t share your personal information with anyone except to comply with the law, develop our products, or protect our rights. - We don’t store unencrypted personal information on our servers unless required for the on-going operation of our site. WPAuth LLC (“WPAuth”) operates several websites including wp-pdf.com. It is WPAuth’s policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect while operating our websites. ## Website Visitors Like most website operators, WPAuth collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. WPAuth’s purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how WPAuth’s visitors use its websites. From time to time, WPAuth may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its websites. WPAuth also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users and for users leaving comments on our blogs. WPAuth only discloses logged in user and commenter IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below, except that blog commenter IP addresses are visible and disclosed to the administrators of the blog where the comment was left. ## Gathering of Personally-Identifying Information Certain visitors to WPAuth’s websites choose to interact with WPAuth in ways that require WPAuth to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that WPAuth gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who comment on our blog to provide a username and email address. Those who wish to receive WPAuth updates via email, we collect their emails. In each case, WPAuth collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with WPAuth. WPAuth does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities. ## Phone Number By sharing your phone number with us, you consent to receive billing-related text messages (eg payment reminders). Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message & data rates may apply. Unsubscribe at any time by replying `STOP` or contacting our support team. ## Aggregated Statistics WPAuth may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its websites. For instance, WPAuth may monitor the most popular pages on the wp-pdf.com site or use spam screening solutions (like Akismet service) to help identify spam. WPAuth may display this information publicly or provide it to others, for example, to [Awesome Motive, Inc.](https://awesomemotive.com/) which is the management company behind the WPAuth products. However, WPAuth does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. ## Protection of Certain Personally-Identifying Information WPAuth discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on WPAuth’s behalf or to provide services available at WPAuth’s websites, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using WPAuth’s websites, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. WPAuth will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, WPAuth discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when WPAuth believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of WPAuth, third parties or the public at large. If you are a registered user of an WPAuth website and have supplied your email address, WPAuth may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with what’s going on with WPAuth and our products. We primarily use our various product blogs to communicate this type of information, so we expect to keep this type of email to a minimum. If you send us a request (for example via a support email or via one of our feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish it in order to help us clarify or respond to your request or to help us support other users. WPAuth takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information. ## Cookies A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. WPAuth uses cookies to help WPAuth identify and track visitors, their usage of WPAuth websites, and their website access preferences. WPAuth visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using WPAuth’s websites, with the drawback that certain features of WPAuth’s websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies. ## Usage Tracking WPAuth collects certain information through usage tracking. The purpose of usage tracking helps WPAuth to better understand our users and their website needs by looking at a range of variables in their WPAuth plugins, WordPress, and web host. This information allows us to continuously improve our product as well as our Q&A / testing process. The information may include the license key (and type), plugin activation dates. We may also collect information of active integrations and plugin settings but sensitive settings such as API keys (if any) are automatically excluded from tracking. Our usage tracking includes collecting information as to the WordPress active theme/plugins, locale, timezone, whether SSL enabled, or if a site is a multisite, and the site URL. In addition, the usage tracking includes determining the PHP and MySQL Versions in order to help us make sure our testing procedures have proper coverage to avoid compatibility issues, and determining the server software, which is used for testing purposes. Opting Out of Usage Tracking If you have a paid license with WPAuth, then you will by default be opted into usage tracking. To disable this, please reach out to support and they will happily help out. If you’re using a free version of the plugin and would like to enable usage tracking so that our team can keep making our product better, then please go to the plugin settings. There, you’ll need to check the Allow Usage Tracking checkbox. ## Your Data Protection Rights Under The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) If you are a citizen of a European country, you may have specific data protection rights under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) and the equivalent Swiss arrangements. We aim to take reasonable steps to allow you to correct, amend, delete, or limit the use of your Personal information. If you wish to be informed what Personal Information we hold about you and if you want it to be removed from our systems, please contact us at support@wp-pdf.com. In certain circumstances, you have the following data protection rights: - request a copy of your Personal Information; - request that your inaccurate or incomplete Personal Information is corrected; - request that your Personal Information that we are not legally required to keep be deleted and destroyed; - object to processing or request that the processing of your Personal Information is restricted in certain circumstances or withdraw consent, including to opt out of receiving communications (including electronic) from us; - not be subject to automated decision making; and - request the transfer of your Personal Information. If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@wp-pdf.com. When making your request please provide: - your full name and address; and - details of your request and/or the information you want. Please be as specific as possible. You have the right to complain to a Data Protection Authority about our collection and use of your Personal information. A list of National Data Protection Authorities can be found at: https://ec.europa.eu/justice/article-29/structure/data-protection-authorities/index\_en.htm ## Business Transfers If WPAuth, or substantially all of its assets were acquired, or in the unlikely event that WPAuth goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of WPAuth may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy. ## Ads Ads appearing on any of our websites may be delivered to users by advertising partners, who may set cookies. These cookies allow the ad server to recognize your computer each time they send you an online advertisement to compile information about you or others who use your computer. This information allows ad networks to, among other things, deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of most interest to you. This Privacy Policy covers the use of cookies by WPAuth and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers. ## Comments Comments and other content may be submitted to Akismet anti-spam service and saved on our servers unless they were marked as false positives, in which case we store them long enough to use them to improve the service to avoid future false positives. ## Privacy Policy Changes Although most changes are likely to be minor, WPAuth may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in WPAuth’s sole discretion. WPAuth encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change. *Last updated: October, 2025* --- ### [Terms of Service](https://wp-pdf.com/terms/) **Published:** September 25, 2017 **Author:** Dan **Content:** These Terms of Service (the “Agreement”) set forth the terms and conditions that apply to your access and use of the internet website owned and operated by WPAuth, LLC (“WPAuth”) and located at wp-pdf.com and \*.wp-pdf.com (the “Site”) including all subsidiary webpages and access to any optimized version of the Site via a wireless device, and access and use of the services available thereon, including, without limitation, the services that enable you to create, test and host promotion-specific custom landing pages for online marketing purposes (the “Services”). This Agreement is legally binding between you, the person using this Site, and WPAuth. Terms such as “we,” “our” and “us” refer to WPAuth. YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE TO THIS AGREEMENT AND CONSENT TO WPAUTH’S PRIVACY POLICY LOCATED AT (THE “PRIVACY POLICY”), BY DOING ANY ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS: (1) VISITING THIS SITE; (2) MAKING A PURCHASE OR SUBMITTING CONTENT THROUGH THE SITE; (3) COMPLETING THE ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS BY CLICKING A BOX INDICATING YOUR ACCEPTANCE; OR (4) BY EXECUTING A SUBSCRIPTION THAT REFERENCES THIS AGREEMENT. If you are entering into this Agreement on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to these terms and conditions, in which case the terms “you” or “your” shall refer to such entity. If you do not have such authority, or if you do not agree with these terms and conditions, you must not accept this Agreement and may not use the services. The provisions of this Agreement that relate to terms for the payment of fees specified in any subscription to Services apply only to the Elite, Pro, Plus, and Basic paid subscriptions. All other terms apply. On our Site, we may provide short summaries of the terms and conditions in this Agreement. Any such summaries are provided only for your convenience, are not legally binding and do not modify this Agreement in any way. WPAuth may update or modify this Agreement or the Privacy Policy at any time and such updated versions will be posted on the Site. You are responsible for periodically checking the Agreement and Privacy Policy. Your continued use of the Site and/or the Services after this Agreement and/or Privacy Policy are updated shall be deemed acceptance of any such updated Agreement and/or Privacy Policy. - [Ability to Enter into this Agreement](#ability-to-enter-into-this-agreement) - [Your Profile Information and Account](#your-profile-information-and-account) - [Fees](#fees) - [Intellectual Property Rights](#intellectual-property-rights) - [Confidential Information](#confidential-information) - [Plugin License](#plugin-license) - [Disclaimer of Warranties](#disclaimer-of-warranties) - [Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Compliance Disclaimer (“WCAG Disclaimer”)](#web-content-accessibility-guidelines-compliance-disclaimer-wcag-disclaimer) - [Support](#support) - [License Holders](#license-holders) - [Inactive License](#inactive-license) - [Limitation of Liability / Exclusion of Consequential and Related Damages](#limitation-of-liability-exclusion-of-consequential-and-related-damages) - [Indemnity](#indemnity) - [Automatic Renewal](#automatic-renewal) - [Cancellation and Termination](#cancellation-and-termination) - [Refund Policy](#refund-policy) - [Discount Policy](#discount-policy) - [Agreement to Governing Law and Jurisdiction](#agreement-to-governing-law-and-jurisdiction) - [Severability](#severability) - [Legal Remedies](#legal-remedies) - [Surviving Provisions](#surviving-provisions) - [Manner of Giving Notice](#manner-of-giving-notice) - [Miscellaneous](#miscellaneous) ## Ability to Enter into this Agreement This Site and the Services are not designed for or directed at children 13 years of age or younger. In addition, in order to enter into this Agreement, you must be 18 years old or have otherwise reached the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction of residence or possess legal parental or guardian consent, and are fully able and competent to enter into the terms, conditions, obligations, affirmations, representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement, and to abide by and comply with this Agreement. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are legally eligible to enter into this Agreement under any laws applicable to you in your jurisdiction of residence or otherwise. If you accept this Agreement, you represent that you have the capacity to be bound by it. You may not use the Services and may not accept this Agreement if (a) you are not of legal age to form a binding contract with WPAuth, or (b) you are a person barred from receiving the Services under the laws of the United States or other countries including the country in which you are a resident or from which you use the Services. Before you continue, you should print or save a local copy of this Agreement for your records. ## Your Profile Information and Account In order to access certain Services, you may be required to provide information about yourself (such as API, identification or contact details) as part of the registration process for the Service or as part of your continued use of the Services. You may also have to create passwords or other forms of authentication. You agree to provide true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself, and you may not misrepresent your profile information. You agree and understand that you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any such information or passwords. Accordingly, you agree that you will be solely responsible to WPAuth for all activities that occur under your account. If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your password or of your account, you agree to notify WPAuth immediately. Your right to access and use the Services is personal to you and is not transferable by you to any other person or entity. You agree not to disclose your password to any third party. You are solely responsible for all activities that occur under your Account or under your Profile Information. If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your Account or Profile Information, you are responsible for notifying WPAuth immediately. By providing us with your e-mail address, you agree to receive all required notices electronically to that e-mail address. It is your responsibility to update or change that e-mail address, as appropriate. By providing us with your phone number, you agree to allow WPAuth to contact you via that telephone number regarding all billing notices and/or inquiries (including, but not limited to: payment issues, billing discrepancies, declined/failed payments and/or expired payment methods). It is your responsibility to update or change that phone number, as appropriate. ## Fees You shall pay all fees specified in any subscription to Services or use of the Site (“Subscription”). We will charge you a periodic fee based on the Subscription you choose. Such fees shall be billed in advance for each period and are non-refundable except as specifically mentioned in these Terms of Service. Except for refunds provided for cancellation of Subscriptions within the first fourteen (14) days (as described in the section below entitled Cancellation and Termination and in the WPAuth Refund Policy), there will be no refunds or credits for partial months of service or for periods in which your Subscription remains active but you do not use the Services We reserve the right to modify our billing rates at any time upon thirty (30) days written notice by posting such fee changes to the Services or on the Site. At our discretion, we may offer free or discounted pricing for use of the Services (a “Trial Program”). Once the terms of any Trial Program have expired, you agree that our normal billing rates shall apply. You agree to comply with any additional terms, restrictions or limitations (including limitations on the total amount of usage) we impose in connection with any Trial Program. You may not sign-up for multiple Accounts in order to receive additional benefits under any Trial Programs. You agree to pay all charges incurred by users of your credit card, debit card, or other payment method used in connection with your Subscription at the prices in effect when such charges are incurred. You will pay any applicable taxes, if any, relating to any such purchases, transactions or other monetary transaction interactions. All prices listed, fees, charges and refunds are issued in USD. We make no guarantees as to the exchange rate between any currencies, or that the exchange rate will remain unchanged during any period of time. The cost of Services may increase or decrease over a given period of time depending on the currency you choose to pay with and the specific exchange rate at that time. Refunds are likewise issued in USD and are subject to exchange rate volatility. There will be no additional refunds or credits issued in consideration of current or eventual exchange rates. You are responsible for any currency exchange taxes, fees, or other costs that may incur by making a purchase of our Services. ## Intellectual Property Rights All right, title, interest and ownership and intellectual property rights in and to the Site, WPAuth trademarks and the templates provided via the Site, including but not limited to its “look and feel” (e.g., text, graphics, images, logos, buttons, icons and the placement and layout thereof), images, video, audio, data, content, software (including html-based computer programs) and other media, material or information, other than your Content, are and will remain the property of WPAuth or its software or content suppliers. Any templates or derivatives of templates provided that you may build using the Site belong to WPAuth. The Site is protected under Canada, United States and international copyright, trademark and other laws and treaties. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, WPAuth grants to you, during the term of this Agreement, a non-transferable, non-sublicensable, non-exclusive, revocable, limited-purpose right to access and use the Services that are subject to a valid Subscription. You acknowledge that any ideas, suggestions, concepts, processes or techniques which you provide to WPAuth related to the Services, the Site or WPAuth or its business (“Feedback”) shall become WPAuth’s property without any compensation or other consideration payable to you by WPAuth, and you do so of your own free will and volition. WPAuth may or may not, in its sole discretion, use or incorporate the Feedback in whatever form or derivative WPAuth may decide into the Site, its software, services, documentation, business or other products, or any future versions or derivatives of the foregoing. You hereby assign all rights on a worldwide basis in perpetuity to WPAuth in any Feedback and, as applicable, waive any moral rights. WPAuth owns any test results, data information and other output generated by your use of the Site and/or the Services during the term of this Agreement. The following are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of WPAuth, LLC or its Affiliates: WPAuth™. All custom graphics, icons, logos and service names are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of WPAuth, LLC or its Affiliates. All other trademarks or service marks are property of their respective owners. Nothing in these Terms of Use grants you any right to use any trademark, service mark, logo, and/or the name of WPAuth, LLC or its Affiliates. ## Confidential Information You agree to safeguard, keep secret and not to disclose to any third party, any Confidential Information acquired, learned or provided from WPAuth during the term of this Agreement or following the expiration or termination of this Agreement. “Confidential Information” means any information marked confidential or that ought reasonably to be considered confidential under the circumstances and includes, without limitation, any business plans, customer lists, operation procedures, trade secrets, design formulas and programming code, know-how and processes, computer programs and inventions, discoveries, and improvements of any kinds. ## Plugin License WPAuth WordPress plugins are licensed under the GNU general public license (https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html) version 2.0 or later. ## Disclaimer of Warranties YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT FORMING PART OF OR RELATED TO THE SITE, INCLUDING ANY CONTENT YOU UPLOAD OR SUBMIT AND ANY THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE AND CONTENT, ARE AT YOUR SOLE RESPONSIBILITY AND RISK. THE SITE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. WPAUTH EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE SITE, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, PERFORMANCE, SYSTEM INTEGRATION, QUIET ENJOYMENT, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WPAUTH DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY THAT THE SITE OR ANY CONTENT, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE AND CONTENT, WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE SITE OR THE SERVERS THAT MAKES THE SITE AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. YOU AGREE THAT, FROM TIME TO TIME, WPAUTH MAY REMOVE THE SITE FOR INDEFINITE PERIODS OF TIME WITHOUT NOTICE TO YOU. YOUR ACCESS AND USE OF THE SITE MAY BE INTERRUPTED FROM TIME TO TIME FOR ANY OF SEVERAL REASONS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE MALFUNCTION OF EQUIPMENT, PERIODIC UPDATING, MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR OF THE SITE OR OTHER ACTIONS THAT WPAUTH, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, MAY ELECT TO TAKE. WPAUTH MAKES NO GUARANTEE REGARDING: (A) THE SECURITY OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOU INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO YOUR API; OR (B) THE COMPATIBILITY OF YOUR SOFTWARE, HARDWARE OR CONTENT WITH THE SITE. WPAUTH IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF, OR FOR THE FAILINGS OF, ANY THIRD-PARTY PROVIDER OF ANY CONTENT, SERVICE, NETWORK, SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS, HOSTING SERVICES UTILIZED BY WPAUTH, TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROVIDERS, CONTENT PROVIDED BY OTHER USERS, OR ANY SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE NOT PROVIDED BY WPAUTH. YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT YOUR CONTENT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE SITE. WPAUTH DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY UNAUTHORIZED USE OF YOUR CONTENT BY THIRD PARTIES OR OTHER USERS OF THE SITE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING YOUR CONTENT. ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE USE OF THE SITE IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK AND YOU WILL BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR OTHER DEVICE OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, OBTAINED BY YOU FROM WPAUTH OR THROUGH OR FROM THE SITE SHALL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT. THE SITE IS OFFERED AND CONTROLLED BY WPAUTH FROM ITS FACILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. WPAUTH MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS THAT THE SITE IS APPROPRIATE OR AVAILABLE FOR USE IN OTHER LOCATIONS. THOSE WHO ACCESS OR USE THE SITE FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS DO SO AT THEIR OWN VOLITION AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE WITH LOCAL LAW. ## Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Compliance Disclaimer (“WCAG Disclaimer”) YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT WPAUTH DO NOT WARRANTY, ASSURE AND/OR GUARANTEE THAT ITS SOFTWARE IS OR SHALL EVER BE COMPLIANT WITH THE WEB CONTENT ACCESSIBILITY GUIDELINES PURSUANT TO WCAG 2.0, WCAG 2.1, AND/OR ANY SUCCESSOR LAWS OR GUIDELINES (COLLECTIVELY, “WCAG COMPLIANCE”). YOU FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT WPAUTH DOES NOT WARRANTY, ASSURE AND/OR GUARANTEE THAT ITS SOFTWARE, CODING, AND/OR PHP PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE CAN BE MODIFIED TO MEET WCAG COMPLIANCE. BY USING AND/OR DOWNLOADING WPAUTH YOU EXPRESSLY ACCEPT WPAUTH AS-IS AND AGREE TO BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE AND SOLELY LIABLE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR WEBSITE AND/OR YOUR INTENDED USE OF WPAUTH MEETS WCAG COMPLIANCE AND ANY OTHER ACCESSIBILITY REGULATIONS, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, WHICH MAY CHANGE FROM TIME-TO-TIME. YOU FURTHER AGREE TO TEST WPAUTH AND ALL OF ITS FUNCTIONALITY AND FEATURES ON YOUR WEBSITE LOCALLY PRIOR TO ALLOWING WPAUTH TO BECOME LIVE TO THE PUBLIC IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO MEET WCAG COMPLIANCE. FURTHER, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REMAIN INFORMED ON ALL ISSUES AND REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO WCAG COMPLIANCE. BY CHOOSING TO DOWNLOAD, INSTALL AND/OR OTHERWISE USE WPAUTH ON YOUR WEBSITE, A THIRD-PARTY WEBSITE, AND/OR ANY OTHER ONLINE PLATFORM YOU HEREBY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH WEBSITE(S) AND/OR ONLINE PLATFORM(S), INCLUDING ALL PAGES AND FEATURES HAVE BEEN TESTED BY YOU AND MEET WCAG COMPLIANCE. IN NO EVENT SHALL WPAUTH (INCLUDING ANY OF ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES, PRINCIPALS, AGENTS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, MEMBERS, PARTNERS, EMPLOYEES, ASSOCIATES, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, SUBSIDIARIES, LICENSEES AND/OR OWNERS) BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY THIRD-PARTY CLAIMING THROUGH YOU OR ON YOUR BEHALF FOR ANY FAILURE TO MEET WCAG COMPLIANCE. YOU AGREE TO TAKE ALL RESPONSIBILITY RELATED TO MEETING WCAG COMPLIANCE. IN THE EVENT THERE ARE ANY CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE TERMS CONTAINED IN THIS WCAG DISCLAIMER AND ANY OTHER TERMS OF SERVICE ON THIS SITE, THEN THE TERMS HEREIN SHALL CONTROL AS TO AN INCONSISTENCIES. ## Support Support for plugins sold and distributed by WPAuth, LLC is only available for those who have an active, paid support license. Support, updates and plugin downloads are granted for one year after the original purchase based on the license that you have purchased. After one year is completed, the purchaser must renew their license in order to continue receiving support, updates, and access to download plugin files for the items purchased. Support for WPAuth plugins is provided as long as WPAuth is actively in development. Should any one of the following occur, WPAuth, LLC will no longer be responsible for providing support for WPAuth plugins: 1. WPAuth plugins are no longer actively developed as viable products under WPAuth, LLC. 2. WPAuth or the parent company is purchased or bought out by another company. 3. WordPress is no longer actively developed. While we attempt to provide the best support possible for our plugins, we do not guarantee that any particular support query can or will be answered to the extent that the inquirer is completely satisfied. ## License Holders Only a license holder is permitted to request support or access support resources. If any attempt is made by another party other than the license holder to access support in a manner not specified, we reserve the right to suspend indefinitely the license key without notice or consent. Re-posting content from any portion of this site, including support forum and documentation materials, is strictly prohibited. If any attempt is made to re-post content in a manner specified above, we reserve the right to suspend indefinitely the license key without notice or consent. Sharing or Reselling your license key is not allowed. If we discover a violation of this rule, we reserve the right to immediately suspend the account without notice, indefinitely. ## Inactive License If your license becomes inactive and is otherwise no longer valid, (a) WPAuth will no longer be obligated to provide you the Services, (b) your account will no longer be accessible by you to download plugin files, create new forms or edit existing forms, templates or derivatives of templates that you may have built using the Site, (c) you will immediately stop using Services, and (c) all licenses and other rights granted to you under the Agreement will immediately cease. WPAuth will not be liable to you or any third party for termination of this Agreement or any termination or suspension of your use of the Services. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOUR CONTENT MAY BE DELETED FROM YOUR ACCOUNT UPON YOUR LICENSE BECOMING INACTIVE. THIS CONTENT CANNOT BE RECOVERED ONCE DELETED. IF YOUR LICENSE IS NOT ACTIVE, WPAUTH WILL NOT STORE CONTENT ON YOUR BEHALF. ## Limitation of Liability / Exclusion of Consequential and Related Damages NEITHER PARTY’S LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY SINGLE INCIDENT ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT WILL EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU HEREUNDER IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE INCIDENT, PROVIDED THAT IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY’S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY YOU HEREUNDER. THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS WILL APPLY WHETHER AN ACTION IS IN CONTRACT OR TORT AND REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY. HOWEVER, THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS WILL NOT LIMIT YOUR PAYMENT OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE “FEES” SECTION OF THE AGREEMENT. IN NO EVENT WILL EITHER PARTY HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, REVENUES OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, COVER OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, WHETHER AN ACTION IS IN CONTRACT OR TORT AND REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY, EVEN IF A PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE FOREGOING DISCLAIMER WILL NOT APPLY TO THE EXTENT PROHIBITED BY LAW. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS SHALL ALSO APPLY WITH RESPECT TO ANY DAMAGES INCURRED BY REASON OF ANY CONTENT OR SERVICES PROVIDED ON ANY THIRD PARTY SITES OR OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY ANY THIRD PARTIES OTHER THAN WPAUTH AND RECEIVED BY YOU THROUGH OR ADVERTISED ON THE SITE OR RECEIVED BY YOU ON ANY THIRD PARTY SITES. YOU ALSO AGREE THAT WPAUTH WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS THE RESULT OF ANY INTERACTIONS OR DEALINGS WITH ADVERTISERS OR AS THE RESULT OF THE PRESENCE OF SUCH ADVERTISERS ON THE SITE. WPAuth reserves the right to modify, suspend or discontinue the Site and/or Services, or any portion thereof, with or without notice at any time and for any reason, including, but not limited to, a failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement. WPAuth shall have no liability whatsoever for any damages, liabilities, losses or any other consequences that you may incur as a result of any such modification, suspension or discontinuance. ## Indemnity You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WPAuth, and its subsidiaries, affiliates, co-branders, all third-party advertisers, technology providers, service providers or other partners, and each of their respective officers, directors, agents, shareholders, employees and representatives, from and against any third party claim, demand, loss, damage, cost, or liability (including, reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Site, including but not limited to in relation to: (a) your use, non-use or misuse of, or connection to the Site, the Services and any Content, including without limitation your Content and any third party Content, forming part of the Site; (b) your breach or alleged breach of this Agreement; and (c) your violation of any rights, including intellectual property rights, of a third party. WPAuth reserves the right, at your expense, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter for which you are required to indemnify WPAuth and you agree to cooperate with WPAuth’s defense of these claims. You agree not to settle any matter without the prior written consent of WPAuth. WPAuth will use reasonable efforts to notify you of any such claim, action or proceeding upon becoming aware of it. ## Automatic Renewal Unless you notify WPAuth, LLC before the end of the applicable subscription period that you want to cancel your renewal, your subscription will automatically renew and you authorize us to collect the then-applicable annual or monthly subscription for such Renewal using any credit card or other payment medium we have on record for you. A subscription can be cancelled at any time in the Account area and its Billing section of your dashboard. ## Cancellation and Termination If you wish to cancel your Subscription, you can do so by logging into your account and proceeding with this option through the billing section menu. If you are unable to find this option within the billing section or if you have questions or need assistance, please contact Support and they can assist you with the cancellation process. You will remain liable for all charges accrued on your account up to the time that you downgrade or cancel your Subscription, provided however that if you cancel your Subscription within the first fourteen (14) days of opening your WPAuth Account, you will receive a refund of your Subscription fee. Upon cancellation of your Subscription, WPAuth is under no obligation to maintain or store your account information or Content. WPAuth may, at its option, either delete your information and Content immediately or retain it (in full or in part) in accordance with WPAuth’s processes and practices. WPAuth reserves the right at any time, and without cost, charge or liability, to terminate this Agreement at its sole discretion for any reason, including, but not limited to, a failure to comply with the terms of this Agreement. In addition, WPAuth may, in its sole discretion, at any time, temporarily or permanently suspend access to your account, Subscription or Services for any violation or suspected violation of this Agreement. WPAuth also reserves the right to deny access to anyone, including, but not limited to those users who use proxy servers and/or IP addresses residing in certain geographical areas outside of Canada and the United States. WPAuth reserves the right to terminate any portion of the Site at any time, for any reason, with or without notice. ## Refund Policy The WPAuth no-risk money back guarantee offers that, if at any time within the first 14 days of opening your paid Account you decide that WPAuth is not for you, then just let our awesome support team know (we make it easy!). We will stop your Subscription and issue you a refund. Your request for a refund must be received within 24 business hours of the 14 days of the date and time of opening your paid Account. While some refunds may be instant, refund credit can take up to 5 – 10 business days to show up in your credit card statement. If adequate notice is not received and your credit card is subsequently charged, you will not receive a refund. Renewals are non-refundable. ## Discount Policy On occasion, WPAuth may offer purchase incentives in the form of subscription discount codes. Discount codes are applied on an introductory basis, meaning that are only applied for the first term of the subscription selected. Discount codes do not perpetuate with the life of the subscription. After your initial term has passed, subscriptions will be charged the regular price. ## Agreement to Governing Law and Jurisdiction If there is any dispute between you and WPAuth about or involving this Agreement, the Site or the Services, you hereby agree that the dispute shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. You hereby agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida, with respect to any claim, proceeding or action relating to or otherwise arising out of this Agreement, the Site or the Services, howsoever arising, provided always that WPAuth may seek and obtain injunctive relief in any jurisdiction. ## Severability If any portion of this Agreement is deemed unlawful, void or unenforceable by any arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction, this Agreement as a whole shall not be deemed unlawful, void or unenforceable, but only that portion of this Agreement that is unlawful, void or unenforceable shall be stricken from this Agreement. ## Legal Remedies You agree that this Agreement is specifically enforceable by injunctive relief and other equitable remedies without proof of monetary damages. You agree that if WPAuth does not exercise or enforce any legal right or remedy which is contained in the Agreement (or which WPAuth has the benefit of under any applicable law), this will not be taken to be a formal waiver of WPAuth’s rights and that those rights or remedies will still be available to WPAuth. ## Surviving Provisions The sections of “Intellectual Property Rights”, “Confidential Information”, “Disclaimer of Warranties”, “Limitation of Liability/Exclusion of Consequential and Related Damages”, “Indemnity” and “Agreement to Governing Law and Jurisdiction”, “Severability”, “Legal Remedies”, and any other provisions that by their nature are intended to survive will survive any actual or purported termination of your account or termination or expiration of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect. ## Manner of Giving Notice Except as otherwise specified in this Agreement, all notices, permissions and approvals hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given upon: (i) personal delivery, (ii) the second business day after mailing, (iii) the second business day after sending by confirmed facsimile, or (iv) the first business day after sending by email. Billing-related notices to you shall be addressed to the relevant billing contact designated by you. All other notices to you shall be addressed to the relevant contact designated by you. ## Miscellaneous The WordPress® trademark is the intellectual property of the WordPress Foundation. Uses of the WordPress®, names in this website are for identification purposes only and do not imply an endorsement by WordPress Foundation. WPAuth is not endorsed or owned by, or affiliated with, the WordPress Foundation. --- ### [About](https://wp-pdf.com/about/) **Published:** November 7, 2024 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** # About PDF Embedder Welcome! We’re thrilled that you decided to check out PDF Embedder and PDF Thumbnails, the world’s best WordPress plugin for PDF documents. Since WP-PDF was founded in 2015, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of customers (like YOU) grow their businesses. Our strength is in bringing you powerful features that are easy to use. And the numbers prove it: PDF Embedder is used on 300,000+ websites… and we’re growing! With PDF Embedder Premium by your side, you have access to a ton of new very powerful and unique features that will help you work, manage and display all the various PDF documents you have. ## Our Awesome Team We’re proud to be a global and diverse team! The PDF Embedder team is made up of incredible people who are dedicated to your success. We’re proud to be part of the Awesome Motive family. Want to join us? [We’re hiring!](https://awesomemotive.com/careers/) ## Get In Touch If you have questions, [reach out to our trusted advisors](https://wp-pdf.com/contact/) in the PDF Embedder support team. We’ll get you on the right track! --- ### [Contact](https://wp-pdf.com/contact/) **Published:** February 5, 2015 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** Please remember that we do provide support for PDF Embedder Lite on the [WordPress.org support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/pdf-embedder/). Have a pre-sales question or general question about how our site / service works? Our Standard Support Hours are 9am – 5pm ET, Monday through Friday. While we may respond to tickets outside of this support window, that is not the norm. Thank you for your patience, and we’ll respond to any additional questions you may have as soon as possible. --- ### [Blog](https://wp-pdf.com/blog/) **Published:** February 5, 2015 **Author:** Slava Abakumov --- ### [Changelog - Thumbnails](https://wp-pdf.com/changelog/thumbnails/) **Published:** November 7, 2024 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** # Changelog [PDF Embedder Premium](/changelog/) [PDF Thumbnails Premium](/changelog/thumbnails/) ### Version 1.5.1 October 3, 2024 - Fixed: Prevent various PHP errors from appearing when processing plugin updates. --- ### Version 1.5.0 September 10, 2024 - IMPORTANT: The minimum WordPress version is now WordPress v5.8. - IMPORTANT: The minimum PHP version is now PHP v7.2. - Changed: Tested with the latest WordPress v6.6. - Changed: Additional messaging inside the plugin admin area to help users with the plugin setup. - Fixed: Review and make translatable a lot of the user-facing strings of the plugin. - Fixed: A lot of security-related improvements have been introduced in both PHP and JS files. - Fixed: Code has been refactored to improve readability, security and performance. - Fixed: Do not regenerate PDF files thumbnails if they already exist. - Fixed: Support secured PDF files that were uploaded with PDF Embedder and its Secure feature enabled. --- ### [PDF Thumbnails](https://wp-pdf.com/thumbnails/) **Published:** February 16, 2016 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** # **Automatically Create Thumbnails from PDFs** Our PDF Thumbnails plugin automatically generates fixed image versions of all PDF files in your Media Library, to use on your site as you wish. *Note: the PDF Thumbnails plugin creates a single image of the first page of your PDF document.* You can use them as featured images in posts containing an embedded version of the PDF, or as a visual clickable link to download the PDF directly. It also displays the thumbnail as the ‘icon’ for the PDF in the Media Library, making it easy for authors to locate the PDFs they need to insert in a post. ## Details of PDF Thumbnails: - Automatically creates image version of the **first page of any newly uploaded PDF** - Tool to generate thumbnails for all existing PDFs - Generates a range of different image sizes - Use thumbnails as featured images in your posts - Works with Secure PDFs - Uses the same Javascript technology as our PDF Embedder plugin, so doesn’t require any special image modules to be installed PDF Thumbnails is the perfect companion to any of our PDF Embedder plugins, or can be used standalone! ![PDF Thumbnail Demo](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Sample-Page-Turner-pdf-image.png) ## PDF Thumbnails Premium Our PDF Thumbnails plugin for WordPress provides instant images from the first page of your uploaded PDF files. - 1 site – $39.00 - 5 sites – $59.00 - 100 sites – $99.00 Purchase [Checkout](https://wp-pdf.com/checkout/) Added to cart We offer a 14-day, no-hassle, money-back guarantee. \* Special introductory pricing, all renewals are at full price. ### **Trusted by over 300,000 Businesses** Our plugins are trusted by thousands of organizations from small businesses to NASDAQ listed corporations, universities, and government organizations ![northforkrancheria](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/northforkrancheria-273x300.png)![PORT-WASHINGTON-NY-POLICE-NY](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/PORT-WASHINGTON-NY-POLICE-NY-738x1024.jpg)![Ohio](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ohio-1024x1024.png)![Seal_of_Camden_New_Jersey](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Seal_of_Camden_New_Jersey.png)![suncityfire-logo](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/suncityfire-logo.png)![Sandoval-County-Logo-Cutout](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Sandoval-County-Logo-Cutout.png)![George-Mason-University](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/George-Mason-University-1024x666.png) ### **This plugin is the best** I have been using the PDF Embedder plugin on my client’s website for 2 years already. He has some PDF documents that he needs to showcase on his website and this plugin is a great solution for this. It’s the best plugin for displaying PDF documents on WordPress websites. *– Andrej* ### **Exactly what I needed** After trying multiple PDF plugins, it was **easy to select PDF Embedder**. It is extremely easy to use and works every time. What it displays is an image of the actual PDF with Scroll thru the doc, select a page, open in its own container, and print. I subsequently went to the reasonably priced Pro version in order to have a download option. Please keep up the great work. Thanks.. – *gmadden33* ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/wppeggy.png) We have used this on our multilingual sites for years. We did upgrade it to the paid version after only a few months of use. For a small price, it was worth it for users to be able to download the PDFs right from the toolbar in the displayed PDF. *– WP Peggy* ![Martin Schoel](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Martin-Schoel-wp.jpg) Works Flawlessly. Great Value!! I was looking around for a while and tested several plugins for PDF embedding. This is hands down the best one. No shoddy coding, no spammy stuff. PDF Embedder is the real deal! Thanks for a solid plugin guys. *– Martin Schoel* ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Hampton-Roads-Ship-Model-Society.png) Great way to display PDFs. I have many PDF files that I would rather display in a post instead of provide a link. The information is more immediately available to the reader and the page looks better. This plugin works well. Thanks for the plugin. *– Hampton Roads Ship Model Societ*y --- ### [Docs](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/) **Published:** November 7, 2024 **Author:** Slava Abakumov --- ## Documentation ### [Using PDF Embedder with Elementor Pages](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-pdf-embedder-with-elementor-pages/) **Published:** May 20, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to use the PDF Embedder Widget in Elementor to embed your PDF Files. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Elementor Widget requires a [Premium plan](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock the PDF Embedder Elementor Widget and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) Are you looking to use PDF Embedder on pages built with the Elementor page builder? You can achieve this with the PDF Embedder widget, which integrates directly with the Elementor editor, giving you a dedicated panel to configure every embed setting. This guide covers how to add the PDF Embedder widget in Elementor and walks through each setting in the widget panel. - [Adding the PDF Embedder Widget](#aioseo-adding-the-pdf-embedder-widget-10) - [Configuring the Widget Settings](#aioseo-configuring-the-widget-settings-17) - [PDF File](#aioseo-pdf-file-19) - [Width & Height](#aioseo-width-height-21) - [Toolbar](#aioseo-toolbar-24) - [Actions](#aioseo-actions-29) - [Pages](#aioseo-pages-35) - [Scrolling](#aioseo-scrolling-40) - [Zoom](#aioseo-zoom-46) - [Mobile](#aioseo-mobile-50) - [Watermark](#aioseo-watermark-52) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-64) - [Do the widget settings override my global plugin settings?](#aioseo-do-the-widget-settings-override-my-global-plugin-settings-66) --- ## Adding the PDF Embedder Widget To get started, open the page you want to edit in Elementor. In the widget panel on the left, search for “PDF Embedder” and drag the widget into your layout. ![Screenshot of the PDF Embedder widget tile in Elementor ](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pdf-embedder-elementor-widget-light-1024x584.webp)The widget is added to your content area, and the **Edit PDF Embedder** panel opens on the left. ![a screenshot of pdf embedder elementor widget upload](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pdf-embedder-elementor-widget-upload-pdf-1024x335.webp)Once a PDF is selected, a live preview of the embed renders directly in the Elementor canvas. This lets you see how the PDF viewer will appear in the front end without leaving the editor or publishing the page first. ![pdf embedder elementor preview](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pdf-embedder-elementor-preview-light-1024x640.webp)## Configuring the Widget Settings After you have uploaded the PDF, the next step is to customize the viewer settings. When editing the PDF Embedder widget, you should see the setting tabs on the left panel. Below is a list of the tabs and the settings under each tab: ### PDF File The **PDF File** tab allows you to select the PDF you want to embed. Click the upload icon to open the WordPress Media Library, where you can upload a new file or choose an existing one. ### Width & Height The **Width & Height** tab allows you to set the dimensions of the embed. Both fields default to `max`, which fills the available width of the Elementor column the widget sits in. Enter a pixel value in either field to fix the dimension. Setting a fixed height may cut off the document vertically if the value is smaller than the natural height of the PDF at the given width. ### Toolbar The **Toolbar** tab controls how the navigation toolbar behaves. You can configure the following: - **Location**: Sets where the toolbar appears relative to the viewer. Options are `top`, `bottom`, `both`, or `none`. The default is `bottom`. - **Fixed**: When on, the toolbar stays visible at all times. When off, it appears only when the user hovers over or touches the viewer. The default is off. ### Actions The **Actions** tab allows you to configure interactive behaviors within the viewer. You can configure the following: - **Download button**: Toggles the download icon in the toolbar. On by default for the standard Premium version; off by default for the Secure version. - **External links**: When on, hyperlinks inside the PDF open in a new browser tab. The default is on. - **Disable right click**: When on, right-clicking on the viewer is blocked. This prevents users from accessing browser context menu options such as “Save Image As”. This setting applies only to Secure embeds. ### Pages The **Pages** tab is where you configure page navigation options. You can configure the following: - **Starting page**: Sets which page the PDF opens on. Leave blank or set to `1` to start at the beginning of the PDF file. - **Page text box**: When on, the page number displayed in the toolbar is always an editable field, letting users type a page number to jump to directly. When off, users must click the page number to activate the field. ### Scrolling The **Scrolling** tab allows you to configure how users move through the document. You can configure the following: - **Continuous scroll**: When on, users scroll through all pages using the mouse wheel, touch gestures, or click-and-drag. When off, users navigate using the **Prev** and **Next** buttons only. Continuous scroll is a Premium feature; it is not available in the Free version. - **Scrollbars**: Forces a permanent scrollbar inside the viewer. Options are `vertical`, `horizontal`, `both`, or `none`. The default is `none`. Most sites do not need this setting, as the viewer already supports mouse and touch panning. - **Scroll to top**: When on, the browser scrolls to the top of the embed area each time the user changes pages. The default is off. ### Zoom The **Zoom** tab allows you to set the opening zoom level for the PDF. In this tab, you can enter a percentage value to start the document at a specific zoom, or choose from the preset options: auto, page-actual, page-fit, or page-width. The default is page-fit, which scales the document to fit the viewer’s width. You can also set a separate zoom level for full-screen view using the full-screen zoom field. ### Mobile The **Mobile** is where you can set the breakpoint below which the viewer switches to mobile mode. You can configure the **Mobile width,** which is the pixel width threshold at which the viewer swaps from the full interactive embed to a thumbnail with a **View in Full Screen** button. The default is `500`. Set this to `0` to always show the interactive viewer regardless of screen width. You can also configure the text shown on the button; this is set to **View in Full Screen** by default. ### Watermark The **Watermark** tab allows you to add dynamic text over the pages of the PDF. The **Watermark text** is where you can enter the text to display. Use smart tags to include viewer details: `{fullname}`, `{username}`, or `{email}`. Logged-out users see “Not logged in” in place of these values. The remaining fields control the visual appearance of the watermark: - **Horizontal alignment**: `left`, `center`, or `right` - **Horizontal offset (%)**: distance from the aligned edge (0–100) - **Vertical offset (%)**: distance from the top of the document (0–100) - **Font size (pt)**: size of the watermark text - **Font color**: hex color value - **Opacity (%)**: transparency of the watermark (0 is invisible, 100 is fully opaque) - **Rotation (degrees)**: positive values rotate clockwise, negative values rotate counterclockwise - **Even pages only**: when checked, the watermark appears on pages 2, 4, 6, 8, and so on ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about the PDF Embedder Elementor widget. ### Do the widget settings override my global plugin settings? Yes. Any value set in the widget panel applies to that embed only and overrides the corresponding global default in **Settings > PDF Embedder**. Leave a field blank or at its default to inherit the global setting. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Troubleshooting the Failed to Fetch Error](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/failed-to-fetch/) **Published:** December 14, 2017 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Understand the 'Failed to fetch' error and how to resolve it when using our in PDF Embedder Premium plugin. **Content:** Seeing a “Failed to fetch” error when a PDF should be loading? This error means the URL pointing to your PDF is on a different domain than the page trying to display it. Browsers block these cross-domain requests for security reasons, so both your page and your PDF file must sit on exactly the same domain. This guide covers the known causes of the ‘Failed to Fetch’ error in the PDF Embedder viewer and walks through how to fix each one. - [Domain and Protocol Mismatches](#aioseo-domain-and-protocol-mismatches-4) - [Checking Your WordPress URL Settings](#aioseo-checking-your-wordpress-url-settings-11) - [Checking for CDN or Offload Plugins](#aioseo-checking-for-cdn-or-offload-plugins-16) - [Checking for Ad Blockers](#aioseo-checking-for-ad-blockers-19) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-22) - [Why does the error only happen after I upgraded to Premium?](#aioseo-why-does-the-error-only-happen-after-i-upgraded-to-premium-24) --- ## Domain and Protocol Mismatches The most frequent trigger is a mismatch between the page URL and the PDF file URL. These count as different domains even when they look almost identical: - `https://www.example.com` (page) and `https://example.com` (PDF) - `https://example.com` (page) and `http://example.com` (PDF) For example, if a visitor loads `http://www.example.com/my-page/` and the shortcode references `http://example.com/wp-content/uploads/document.pdf` the browser treats those as different origins and blocks the request. SSL mismatches cause the same problem. If your WordPress admin panel runs on HTTPS but your front end still serves pages over HTTP (or vice versa), the browser refuses to load the PDF. ## Checking Your WordPress URL Settings Head to **Settings > General** in your WordPress dashboard and check two fields: **WordPress Address (URL)** and **Site Address (URL)**. Both must match exactly, including the protocol (http or https). If you recently added an SSL certificate, make sure both fields start with `https://` and not `http://`. Files uploaded while the URL was set to `http://` will have `http://` in their stored paths and will fail to load once the site moves to `https://`. > Our PDF Embedder Premium plugin requires the PDF file URL to be on HTTPS. If the error appeared after upgrading from the PDF Embedder Lite plugin, this is the most likely cause. You shoud ensure that your PDF URLs use `https://`. ## Checking for CDN or Offload Plugins Some performance or content-delivery plugins offload uploaded files to a separate subdomain or external service (for example, `media.example.com`). If your PDFs are being served from a different domain than your pages, PDF Embedder cannot fetch them. Check your active plugins for any that offload media files, and either disable that behaviour for PDFs or configure CORS on the external domain. If your PDFs are hosted on Amazon S3 or a similar service, see our [Hosting PDFs on Other Services](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/hosting-pdfs-on-other-services-such-as-amazon-s3/) guide. ## Checking for Ad Blockers Some browser ad blockers intercept PDF requests and block them entirely. In the browser console (open with **F12 > Console**), this appears as `net::ERR_BLOCKED_BY_CLIENT`. If you see that error, rename the PDF file so it does not contain words commonly flagged by ad blockers (for example, “ad”, “banner”, or “promo”). Then update the shortcode to reference the renamed file. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed some common questions about the Failed to Fetch error. ### Why does the error only happen after I upgraded to Premium? Our PDF Embedder Premium plugin requires the PDF file to be served over HTTPS. If your WordPress Address was set to `http://` when you uploaded your PDFs, those files were stored with an HTTP URL. After upgrading, you would need to update **Settings > General** so both URL fields use `https://`, then re-upload the affected PDFs or search and replace the URLs in the database. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Hosting PDFs on Amazon S3 or CloudFront](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/hosting-pdfs-on-other-services-such-as-amazon-s3/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to use PDF Embedder to serve PDFs hosted on Amazon S3 and other cloud services. **Content:** Want to host your PDFs on Amazon S3 or serve them through CloudFront and embed them on your WordPress site? Browsers block JavaScript from fetching files hosted on a different domain by default. This security policy is called CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing), and without the right configuration on your storage service, your remotely hosted PDFs will not load. This guide covers how to configure CORS on Amazon S3(and other cloud services), set up header forwarding in CloudFront, and fix common CDN-related errors that prevent PDFs from loading. - [Configuring CORS on Amazon S3](#aioseo-configuring-cors-on-amazon-s3-4) - [Using CloudFront with S3](#aioseo-using-cloudfront-with-s3-24) - [Using CloudFront Standalone](#aioseo-using-cloudfront-standalone-35) - [CDN-Specific Issues](#aioseo-cdn-specific-issues-40) - [GoDaddy CDN](#aioseo-godaddy-cdn-41) - [WP Engine CDN](#aioseo-wp-engine-cdn-44) - [Referrer policy error](#aioseo-referrer-policy-error-48) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-55) - [Can I embed a PDF that is hosted on someone else's server?](#) - [Can I use other services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Azure?](#) --- ## Configuring CORS on Amazon S3 To allow your WordPress site to load PDFs from an S3 bucket, enable CORS on that bucket: 1. Go to the AWS console and open the S3 configuration area. 2. Select the bucket storing your PDFs. 3. Click the **Properties** tab. 4. Under **Permissions**, click **Add CORS Configuration**. #### XML configuration (standard accounts) AWS provides a default XML configuration that permits access from any origin: ``` * GET 3000 Authorisation Code language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` To restrict access to your own WordPress domain, replace `*` with your site’s URLs: ``` http://example.com https://example.com https://www.example.com GET HEAD 3000 Authorization Code language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` #### JSON configuration (newer S3 accounts) Newer AWS accounts may require JSON instead of XML. The open-access version: ``` [ { "AllowedHeaders": [], "AllowedMethods": ["GET"], "AllowedOrigins": ["*"], "ExposeHeaders": [] } ] Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` To restrict access to your domain: ``` [ { "AllowedHeaders": [], "AllowedMethods": ["GET"], "AllowedOrigins": ["https://example.com"], "ExposeHeaders": [] } ] Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` > **Important:** Do not include a trailing slash in the `AllowedOrigins` value. `https://example.com/` will cause an error. Use `https://example.com` without the slash. ## Using CloudFront with S3 If you use CloudFront as a CDN for your S3 bucket, enable header forwarding in the CloudFront distribution: 1. In the AWS console, select the CloudFront distribution paired with your S3 bucket. 2. Go to **Distribution Settings > Behaviors**. 3. Click the behavior and select **Edit** (repeat for each behavior if you have more than one). 4. Change the **Forward Headers** dropdown to **Whitelist**. 5. Select **Origin** in the left-hand list and click **Add**. 6. Click **Yes, Edit** to save. CloudFront takes approximately 30 minutes to propagate the change. ## Using CloudFront Standalone CloudFront can serve PDFs directly from your WordPress server without S3, using your site as a Custom Origin. Two steps are required. **Step 1:** Add the Access-Control-Allow-Origin header to your WordPress site. Add the following to your `.htaccess` file on Apache: ``` Header set Access-Control-Allow-Origin "*" Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` **Step 2:** Configure CloudFront to forward the Origin header. Edit your CloudFront distribution behavior, set **Forward Headers** to **Whitelist**, and add **Origin** to the whitelist. After saving, invalidate the CloudFront cache or wait for it to refresh automatically. ## CDN-Specific Issues ### GoDaddy CDN If your site uses the GoDaddy CDN, you may see a `No Access-Control-Allow-Origin` error in the browser console. GoDaddy routes document requests through `secureservercdn.net`, which blocks cross-origin access. Set up a CORS rule for the CDN using the S3 configuration steps above. If you do not need the CDN, disabling it in your GoDaddy hosting settings resolves the error without any CORS configuration. Contact GoDaddy support if you need help with either option. ### WP Engine CDN WP Engine routes media through `netdna-cdn.com`, which can trigger `No Access-Control-Allow-Origin` errors. After setting up CORS, contact WP Engine support and ask them to add a Post Processing rule that keeps `.pdf` requests on your own domain. The rule follows this pattern: ``` #https?://examplecdn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/(.*).(pdf)# => https://example.com/$1.$2; Code language: PHP (php) ``` If you also see an `Invalid PDF Structure` or `Failed to Fetch` error after setting up CORS, the Post Processing rule is the fix. ### Referrer policy error If the browser console shows the following error and the viewer is stuck on loading: ``` Failed to set referrer policy: The value '' is not one of 'no-referrer', 'no-referrer-when-downgrade'... Code language: PHP (php) ``` Add this line to your `.htaccess` file: ``` Header set Access-Control-Allow-Origin "*" Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` > PDF Embedder Secure, when in secure mode, only supports PDFs stored directly on your WordPress server in the `securepdfs` folder. Hosting those files on S3 or another CDN is not supported in secure mode. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about embedding PDFs from external storage services. ### Can I embed a PDF that is hosted on someone else’s server? It depends on that server’s CORS configuration. Sites built to distribute public information (government, education, and similar) often have CORS enabled. Private domains typically do not. If you do not control the server, contact the content owner to ask whether cross-origin access is permitted. ### Can I use other services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Azure? PDF Embedder works with any service that has correct CORS permissions configured. Setup steps vary by platform: - [Google Cloud Storage CORS documentation](https://docs.cloud.google.com/storage/docs/cross-origin) - [OneDrive CORS documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/onedrive/developer/rest-api/concepts/working-with-cors?view=odsp-graph-online) - [Azure Storage CORS documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/storageservices/cross-origin-resource-sharing--cors--support-for-the-azure-storage-services) - [DigitalOcean Spaces CORS documentation](https://docs.digitalocean.com/products/spaces/how-to/configure-cors/) For Dropbox, see our [Embedding PDFs from Dropbox](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-pdfs-from-dropbox/) guide . **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Downloading the Plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Are you looking to retrieve your PDF Embedder Premium plugin file? Follow this guide to access your account and download the plugin file easily. **Content:** Need to get your PDF Embedder Premium plugin file? After purchase, you receive a download link by email, but that link expires after about a week. Your account is the permanent home for your plugin files, and you can download from there at any time. This guide shows you how to download the PDF Embedder Premium plugin from your account. - [Steps to download](#aioseo-steps-to-download-4) - [Fixing a ZIP File That Unzipped Automatically](#aioseo-fixing-a-zip-file-that-unzipped-automatically-11) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-18) - [My download link in the purchase email has expired. What do I do?](#aioseo-my-download-link-in-the-purchase-email-has-expired-what-do-i-do-20) - [I can't see the download button on my downloads tab](#aioseo-i-cant-see-the-download-button-on-my-downloads-tab-22) --- ## Steps to download To get started, you first need to [access your PDF Embedder account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/). Once you are logged in, head to the [**Downloads** tab](https://wp-pdf.com/account/downloads/) to see a list of your active subscriptions. Click the **Download** button next to your active license to download the plugin file. ![a screenshot of the pdf embedder premium plugin download button](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-plugin-download-1024x202.webp)Your browser saves a ZIP file of the PDF Embedder Premium plugin to your computer. > **Note:** The **Download** button is only available when your subscription is active. If you do not see the button, check that your license has not expired. ## Fixing a ZIP File That Unzipped Automatically On some systems, particularly Mac with Safari, the ZIP file unzips automatically on download and appears as a regular folder. WordPress requires a zipped file for plugin installation, so you need to re-zip it before uploading. **On Mac with Safari:** Go to **Safari > Preferences > General** and uncheck **Open “Safe” Files After Downloading**. Then download the plugin file again. For general guidance on zipping and unzipping files, refer to the help documentation for your operating system: - [Windows support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows/Experience/Storage-FileManagement/zip-and-unzip-files) - [Mac support](https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlp2528/mac) ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about downloading PDF Embedder. ### My download link in the purchase email has expired. What do I do? [Access your PDF Embedder ](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/)[account ](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/)and download the latest plugin file from the **Downloads** section. Purchase email links expire after about a week, but your account always has the current version available. ### I can’t see the download button on my downloads tab Please note that the **Download** button is only active on accounts with an active subscription. If you susbcription has expired, you need to renew your license to restore access to plugin downloads and updates. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Translating Viewer Toolbar and Buttons](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/translating-the-viewer-toolbar-and-buttons/) **Published:** June 14, 2022 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to translate the PDF Embedder viewer toolbar in WordPress using POEdit. Step-by-step guide to localize your multilingual site effectively. **Content:** Running a multilingual WordPress site? The PDF Embedder viewer toolbar displays in English by default, but the plugin is fully translation-ready. A `.pot` template file is included with the plugin, and you can use it to create a translation for any language. This guide walks through creating a translation file using [POEdit](https://poedit.com/), naming and uploading it correctly, and confirming the translated strings appear in your embedded viewer. - [What you need](#aioseo-what-you-need-4) - [Locating the Translation Template](#aioseo-locating-the-translation-template-9) - [Creating Your Translation in POEdit](#aioseo-creating-your-translation-in-poedit-14) - [Uploading the Translation Files](#aioseo-uploading-the-translation-files-24) - [Verifying the Translation](#aioseo-verifying-the-translation-28) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-31) - [Do I need to re-translate after plugin updates?](#aioseo-do-i-need-to-re-translate-after-plugin-updates-33) - [Can I use a translation plugin instead of POEdit?](#aioseo-can-i-use-a-translation-plugin-instead-of-poedit-35) - [Does this work with PDF Embedder Premium?](#aioseo-does-this-work-with-pdf-embedder-premium-37) --- ## What you need - [POEdit](https://poedit.com/) (free) — a desktop app for editing WordPress translation files - FTP or file manager access to your server’s plugin directory - Confirm your WordPress site language is set under **Settings > General > Site Language** ## Locating the Translation Template The plugin includes a translation template file at: ``` /wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/lang/pdf-embedder.pot ``` Download this file to your computer. It contains all the translatable strings from the plugin, including toolbar labels and button tooltips. ![filedirectory.png](https://d33v4339jhl8k0.cloudfront.net/inline/69782/c1974a3fcf43a586011597053a9ef2d16edef7a0/635c1832d496e4bdad17514316790f76c4b624d7/d87eeff714711377de7f70c48eb5b679.png)Location of lang folder in plugin folders## Creating Your Translation in POEdit 1. Open POEdit and choose **Create new translation**. 2. Open the `pdf-embedder.pot` template file. 3. Select your target language when prompted. 4. Translate each string in the editor. The source English text appears on the left; enter your translation on the right. 5. Save the file. POEdit automatically generates two files: a `.po` source file and a compiled `.mo` binary file. Name your files using the WordPress language code format: ``` pdf-embedder-xx_XX.po pdf-embedder-xx_XX.mo Code language: CSS (css) ``` Replace `xx_XX` with the language code matching your WordPress **Site Language** setting (for example, `fr_FR` for French or `de_DE` for German). ## Uploading the Translation Files Upload both the `.po` and `.mo` files to the `/lang/` folder inside the plugin directory: ``` /wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/lang/ ``` Both files must be present for the translation to work. The `.po` file defines the translated strings; the `.mo` file is the compiled version the plugin actually reads at runtime. ## Verifying the Translation Flush any caching plugins or server-side caches on your site, then reload a page that contains an embedded PDF. The toolbar labels and button tooltips now appear in your translated language. If the translation does not appear, confirm that the filename matches your WordPress **Site Language** code exactly, and that both the `.po` and `.mo` files were uploaded to the correct `/lang/` directory. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about translating the PDF viewer. ### Do I need to re-translate after plugin updates? Plugin updates can add new translatable strings. After updating, open your `.po` file in POEdit, update the template reference, and translate any new strings before re-uploading. ### Can I use a translation plugin instead of POEdit? Translation plugins like Loco Translate can manage WordPress `.po` and `.mo` files directly from the WordPress admin, which is a good alternative to the manual file process described here. ### Does this work with PDF Embedder Premium? Yes. The translation process is the same for both the free and Premium versions. Premium has its own plugin directory and `/lang/` folder, so you would need a separate translation file for it. **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Upgrading Your License](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) **Published:** October 7, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Upgrade your PDF Embedder license in a few simple steps from your account. Learn how to move from Basic, Plus, or Pro to a higher plan with pro-rated pricing. **Content:** Want access to features available on a higher license plan? Upgrading your PDF Embedder license takes just a few steps from inside your account, and your existing subscription carries over to the new plan. This guide walks you through upgrading from your current license plan(Basic, Plus, and Pro) to a higher plan. - [How To Upgrade](#aioseo-how-to-upgrade-4) - [Handling Secure PDFs After Upgrading to Pro or Elite](#aioseo-handling-secure-pdfs-after-upgrading-to-pro-or-elite-12) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-15) - [I do not see an Upgrade button. What should I do?](#aioseo-i-do-not-see-an-upgrade-button-what-should-i-do-17) - [What happens to my current subscription when I upgrade?](#aioseo-what-happens-to-my-current-subscription-when-i-upgrade-19) --- ## How To Upgrade To get started, you’ll first need to [log in to your WP-PDF account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/). Once you’re logged in, go ahead and click on the **Downloads** tab to see your current license details. ![a screenshot of the downloads tab in wp-pdf account](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/WP-PDF-account-downloads-tab-1024x240.webp)From here, click the **Upgrade** button next to the current license you want to upgrade. ![a screenshot of the upgrade button in wp-pdf account](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/WP-PDF-License-Upgrade-button-1024x246.webp)This will take you to a page with all the plans and the pro-rated upgrade cost. Select the plan you want to upgrade to and complete the checkout. After upgrading, download the new plugin ZIP file from your account and install it on your WordPress site. The new plan’s plugin file replaces the previous version. ## Handling Secure PDFs After Upgrading to Pro or Elite If you upgraded to a Pro or Elite license and plan to use the Secure PDFs feature, your existing PDFs need to be re-uploaded so they are stored in the new `/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/` folder. Any shortcodes or blocks pointing to those files also need updating with the new URLs. You can see more details in our [Upgrading Your Site to the Pro Version](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/upgrading-to-pdf-embedder-premium/) guide. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about upgrading a PDF Embedder license. ### I do not see an Upgrade button. What should I do? The **Upgrade** button only appears on active subscriptions. If your license has expired, renew it first, then return to the **Downloads** section to upgrade. ### What happens to my current subscription when I upgrade? Your existing subscription is applied toward the cost of the new plan on a pro-rated basis. The upgrade page shows the exact amount due before you confirm. Technically, the subscription plan you are upgrading from is being cancelled, and the new subscription you have upgraded to is created. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Configuring PDF Embedder Secure Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/secure-instructions/) **Published:** July 11, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to use PDF Embedder Secure PDFs features with these setup instructions. Secure your PDFs and disable right-click for added protection. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Secure is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock PDF Embedder Secure and other powerful features. Are you looking to protect your PDF files from being directly downloaded or accessed by URL? PDF Embedder comes with a **Secure** **feature** that you can use to enable advanced document protection, disable right-click menus, and configure encrypted caching. This guide walks you through the PDF Secure settings in our PDF Embedder Premium plugin and explains what each option does. - [How it Works](#aioseo-how-it-works-11) - [Enabling secure settings](#aioseo-enabling-secure-settings-13) - [Migrating existing PDFs after upgrading](#aioseo-migrating-existing-pdfs-after-upgrading-17) - [Disabling right-click](#aioseo-disabling-right-click-20) - [Caching encrypted PDFs](#aioseo-caching-encrypted-pdfs-23) - [Attachment pages for secure PDFs](#aioseo-attachment-pages-for-secure-pdfs-26) - [Non-standard server configurations](#aioseo-non-standard-server-configurations-29) --- > Before you get started, if you are using any caching tools on the site, ensure you exclude the PDF Embedder plugins from those tools as described in our [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) guide. ## How it Works When the **Secure PDFs** option is active, uploaded PDF files are stored in a protected directory (`wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/`) rather than the standard media uploads folder. Files in this directory are not directly accessible by URL. The plugin uses a server-side method to deliver the file contents to the embedded viewer without exposing the raw file path. ## Enabling secure settings To start securing your PDFs, you need to enable the secure option by heading to **Settings > PDF Embedder > Secure** in your WordPress admin. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PDF-Embedder-Secure-Option-1024x320.webp)The **Secure PDFs** checkbox is on by default. With it checked, every PDF uploaded after this point is stored in the `/securepdfs/` directory. If you turn it off, subsequent uploads are stored in the standard location and served without protection. ### Migrating existing PDFs after upgrading If you recently upgraded to a Pro or Elite license and plan to use the Secure PDFs feature for existing PDFs, the PDFs need to be re-uploaded so they are stored in the new `/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/` folder. Any shortcodes or blocks pointing to those files also need updating with the new URLs. You can see more details in our [Upgrading Your Site to the Pro Version](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/upgrading-to-pdf-embedder-premium/) guide. ## Disabling right-click Check **Disable Right Click** to prevent users from right-clicking on the viewer. Some browsers include a “Save Image As” option in the right-click menu, which could allow users to save individual rendered pages. This setting applies globally to all secure embeds. To override it for a specific embed, add `disablerightclick="on"` or `disablerightclick="off"` to the shortcode. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PDF-Embedder-Disable-Right-Click-1024x104.webp)## Caching encrypted PDFs Before a secure PDF is delivered to the browser, the plugin encrypts it. This process takes time. Enabling **Cache encrypted PDFs** stores the encrypted version alongside the original file so that subsequent views can be served from cache without re-encrypting. The cache is on by default. If the source PDF is changed, the plugin re-encrypts and updates the cache automatically. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PDF-Embedder-Secure-Cache-1024x80.webp)## Attachment pages for secure PDFs By default, [attachment pages](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/auto-generate-a-wordpress-page-to-embed-the-pdf/) are not generated for PDFs stored in secure mode. You can check the **Auto-generate Attachment Pages for Secure PDFs** option to enable WordPress attachment pages for files stored in the secure folder. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PDF-Embedder-Attchment-Pages-1024x85.webp)## Non-standard server configurations If your web server does not use Apache or an Apache-compatible server (such as OpenLiteSpeed or LiteSpeed), you may need to manually configure your server to block direct access to the `/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/` directory. See the following server-specific guides: - [Serving protected files under Nginx](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-protected-files-under-nginx/) - [Serving protected files under Caddy](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-protected-pdf-files-under-caddy/) **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [PDF SEO and Indexing](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/pdf-seo-and-indexing/) **Published:** April 24, 2026 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** This guide explains the process of PDF indexing by search engines and shares best practices to improve your embedded PDFs' SEO effectiveness. **Content:** Will Google and other search engines index the content of PDFs embedded with PDF Embedder? In most cases, yes, search engines treat text-based PDFs much like any other web page. This guide explains how PDF indexing works and what you can do to give your embedded PDFs strong SEO. - [How Search Engines Index PDFs](#aioseo-how-search-engines-index-pdfs-4) - [Optimizing PDF Metadata for SEO](#aioseo-optimizing-pdf-metadata-for-seo-8) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-faq-13) - [Do secure PDFs get indexed by search engines?](#aioseo-do-secure-pdfs-get-indexed-by-search-engines-15) --- ## How Search Engines Index PDFs Search engine bots crawl and index PDF content when the file is accessible via a URL and its content is text-based. PDFs uploaded to your WordPress Media Library remain accessible to crawlers in the same way as any other uploaded file. Embedding a PDF with PDF Embedder does not prevent it from being indexed. You can easily verify which PDF files from your site are indexed by searching for this string: ``` site:example.com filetype:pdfCode language: CSS (css) ``` Replace `example.com` with your domain. In search results Google or Bing will show you all indexed PDF files. Links within a PDF are also crawled. Note that clickable links inside embedded PDFs are a Premium-only feature — the free version renders links as non-interactive. A useful overview of how Google handles PDF content is available here: [Google: We Index PDFs Just Like Any Other Web Page](https://bracadia.com/tech-archive/google-pdf-indexing/) ## Optimizing PDF Metadata for SEO To give your PDFs strong SEO signals, set the **Title**, **Author**, and **Subject** fields in the document’s properties before uploading the file into your site. **In Microsoft Word:** Go to **File > Info** and edit the document properties. When exporting, use **File > Export > Create PDF/XPS** rather than printing to PDF. The print method flattens content and removes hyperlinks. If your PDF contains hyperlinks, save the source document as a Word 97-2003 document (`.doc`) file before exporting. The `.docx` format can negatively affect link behavior during PDF export. **In Adobe Acrobat:** Open **File > Properties** and edit the **Description** tab to set the title, author, and subject fields. ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about PDF SEO and indexing. ### Do secure PDFs get indexed by search engines? No. PDFs stored in the `/securepdfs/` folder are protected from direct URL access, which also blocks search engine crawlers. If SEO indexing matters for a document, use a standard non-secure embed. ### Why do I see my secure PDFs indexed in Google? Make sure that the URL to the Secured PDF actually has the `/securepdfs/` in its URL. You can see that in your Media library. If you expect them to be secured but they are indexed – that means they have been uploaded not to the `/securepdfs/` folder. In this case you will need to reupload them (make sure Secure PDF option is enabled), and embed again. If you are using Apache and Apache-compatible web servers (that support `.htaccess` file rules) – you should be protecting your files from being indexed within that folder automatically. But we also have some rules to show you what needs to be done if you do not use Apache on your site. Just open the PDF Embedder Settings > Secure page in your site admin area, and if you see a notice about [Nginx](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-protected-files-under-nginx/) or [Caddy](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-protected-pdf-files-under-caddy/), follow the link to configure your server properly. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Checking for Plugin Conflicts](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/checking-for-plugin-conflicts/) **Published:** April 24, 2026 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Get your PDF Embedder working smoothly! Learn to isolate conflicts by testing plugins and themes with this easy step-by-step troubleshooting guide. **Content:** Is your PDF Embedder viewer not displaying correctly, and you suspect another plugin or your theme might be the cause? Isolating a conflict is a straightforward process. A few targeted tests will usually identify the source. This guide explains how to test for plugin and theme conflicts on your WordPress site. - [Getting Started](#aioseo-getting-started-4) - [Testing for a Plugin Conflict](#aioseo-testing-for-a-plugin-conflict-6) - [Testing for a Theme Conflict](#aioseo-testing-for-a-theme-conflict-13) - [After Identifying the Conflict](#aioseo-after-identifying-the-conflict-20) - [Contact the Plugin or Theme’s Support Team](#1-contact-the-plugin-or-themes-support-team) - [Let Our Team Know What You’ve Found](#2-let-our-team-know-what-youve-found) --- ## Getting Started Before you get started, if possible, set up a [staging environment](https://wpforms.com/docs/how-to-test-for-theme-or-plugin-conflicts/) or a local copy of your site to run these tests. Deactivating plugins and switching themes on a live site can temporarily affect how it appears to visitors. ## Testing for a Plugin Conflict 1. Deactivate all plugins on your site except for the free PDF Embedder plugin and our PDF Embedder Premium plugin (if you have it installed). 2. Check whether the PDF embed displays correctly with only those plugins active. 3. If the embed works, reactivate your other plugins one at a time. 4. After each plugin reactivation, reload the page with the embedded PDF and check if the problem persists. 5. If the issue reappears, the plugin you just reactivated is the likely cause. ## Testing for a Theme Conflict If deactivating all other plugins does not resolve the issue, the problem may be in your active theme. 1. With all other plugins still deactivated, switch your active theme to a default WordPress theme such as **Twenty Twenty-Four**. 2. Check whether the embed displays correctly. 3. If it does, your original theme is contributing to the conflict. Contact your theme developer with the details, or apply any necessary fixes using a child theme. ## After Identifying the Conflict > The best way to avoid theme or plugin conflicts is to only install high-quality ones on your site. For more information on how to evaluate these components, check out WPBeginner’s guides to picking the best possible [theme](https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-themes/selecting-the-perfect-theme-for-wordpress/) and [plugins](https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-choose-the-best-wordpress-plugin/). ### Contact the Plugin or Theme’s Support Team It’s important to let the team for the product that’s experiencing the issue know what you’ve found. In many cases, the support team or author will be familiar with the problem already, and may even have a solution to share with you. ### Let Our Team Know What You’ve Found We really appreciate you taking the time to [let us know](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-can-i-obtain-support/) about any problems you encounter and any solutions you’ve learned of. That way, our support team can share what you’ve found with others who are encountering the same issue. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to fix issues with third-party code, such as themes or other plugins. As mentioned above, you’ll need to contact the support team for the conflicting plugin or theme to do that. If you would like to look into alternative plugins or themes you can use instead of the one(s) causing the conflict with PDF Embedder, consider looking through WPBeginner’s [plugin](https://www.wpbeginner.com/category/plugins/) and [theme](https://www.wpbeginner.com/category/wp-themes/) archives. In some cases, we may also be able to provide recommendations to help you find a suitable alternative. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Generating an Invoice](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/can-i-get-a-formal-invoice/) **Published:** January 24, 2020 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Easily create invoices with all the needed information in just a few clicks. **Content:** Need a formal invoice for a PDF Embedder purchase? Every payment on your account has a downloadable invoice you can generate yourself, with the option to add custom details like a VAT number before downloading. This guide walks you through generating and downloading an invoice from your PDF Embedder account. To get started, you’ll first need to [log in to your WP-PDF account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/). Then click on the **Billing** tab to open up a list of all your previous payments. ![a screenshot of the billing tab in WP-PDF account page](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-billing-tab-1024x207.webp)From here, click on the **Generate Invoice** link next to the transaction that you’d like to generate an invoice for. ![a screenshot of the link to generate invoice in WP-PDF Account](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/generate-pdf-embedder-invoice-1024x213.webp)A panel opens where you can add optional billing details, such as: - Company name - Billing Address (2 lines) - City - Zip / Postal Code - Country - County / State - Phone - **Tax / VAT Number**. Add the details as needed, then click the **Save Billing Details & Generate Invoice** button to generate your invoice. ![a screenshot of the option to save and generate invoice in WP-PDF Account](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/pdf-embedder-save-invoice-details-729x1024.webp)> **Note:** The **Generate Invoice** link is not available for refunded payments. In such cases, you can only generate an invoice for the the refund transaction. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Accessing Your Account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to access your PDF Embedder account easily with our friendly guide. Find out how to log in, recover your password, and manage your settings smoothly. **Content:** Not sure how to get into your PDF Embedder account? Whether you need to download the plugin, check your license key, or manage your billing details, everything starts with logging in to your account at wp-pdf.com. This guide walks you through how to access your PDF Embedder account and what to do if you need to reset your password. - [Logging Into Your Account](#aioseo-logging-into-your-account-4) - [Recovering a Lost Password](#aioseo-recovering-a-lost-password-7) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-13) - [I did not receive a password reset email. What should I do?](#aioseo-i-did-not-receive-a-password-reset-email-what-should-i-do-15) - [Which email address do I use to log in?](#aioseo-which-email-address-do-i-use-to-log-in-17) --- ## **Logging Into Your Account** First, visit the [WP-PDF login page](https://wp-pdf.com/login/) or click the **Account** link in the main navigation on [our website](https://wp-pdf.com/). Here, you’ll need to enter the email address associated with your account and your account password to **Log In**. ![a screenshot of wp-pdf login page](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-login-1024x759.webp)## **Recovering a Lost Password** If you do not remember or do not have your password, you need to click the ‘**Forgot your password?**‘ link on the login page. ![a screenshot of wp-pdf forgot password link](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-reset-password-link-1024x825.webp)This will open the password reset page, where you can enter the account email address (unless changed, this should be the email used when purchasing the plugin). Add the email address and click on the **Reset Password** button. ![a screenshot of wp-pdf password reset page](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-reset-password-page-1024x586.webp)You will receive an email with a link to set a new password. Follow that link to create your new password. Once done, return to [the login page](https://wp-pdf.com/login/) to sign in. ## **Frequently Asked Questions** Below, we’ve addressed the most common questions about accessing a PDF Embedder account. ### Which email address do I use? Use the email address you provided at checkout. If you have updated the email address on your profile, use the updated email. ### I did not receive a password reset email. What should I do? We recommend checking your spam or junk folder first. If the email is not there, you can [contact support](https://wp-pdf.com/contact/) so the team can assist you. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Updating Your Account Details](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/updating-your-account-details/) **Published:** April 14, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Clear instructions on editing your PDF Embedder account profile, including tips on managing your email address and password updates. **Content:** Do you need to change the name, email, or address on your PDF Embedder account? All of your profile details are editable from within your account, including your password. This guide shows you how to update your account profile information. To get started, you will first need to [access your account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/). Once you are logged in, click the **Profile** tab to open the profile page. ![a screenshot of the WP-PDF profile tab on the account page.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-reset-profile-page-1024x199.webp)On this page, you can update any of the following fields as needed: - **First Name** and **Last Name** - **Email Address** - **Billing Address** - **Password** Click **Save Changes** when finished. ![a screenshot of the WP-PDF profile fields in the profile tab.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-reset-profile-page-fields-1024x845.webp)> **Note:** Your account username is the email address you used when you first registered. Even if you update the **Email Address** field, your original email remains a valid username for logging in. You can use either the original or the updated email to access your account. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about updating PDF Embedder account details. ### My email does not work to log in. What should I do? Try logging in with both your original email and your updated email, as both are accepted. See our guide on accessing your account or [contact support](https://wp-pdf.com/contact/). **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Updating Your Billing Details](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/updating-your-billing-details/) **Published:** April 14, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Need to switch your payment method in WP-PDF? This professional guide explains the best ways to modify your billing information for your PDF Embedder subscription, with detailed instructions for both Stripe and PayPal. **Content:** Need to switch to a new card or update your payment method before your next renewal? How you update billing details depends on whether your subscription was processed through Stripe or PayPal. This guide covers both payment methods so you can update your billing information without disrupting your subscription. - [Stripe Subscriptions](#aioseo-stripe-subscriptions-4) - [PayPal Subscriptions](#aioseo-paypal-subscriptions-10) - [Option 1: Update Billing Details Within PayPal](#aioseo-option-1-update-billing-details-within-paypal-12) - [Option 2: Switch From Current Payment Method](#aioseo-option-2-switch-from-current-payment-method-15) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-24) - [Can I update my billing details mid-subscription?](#aioseo-can-i-update-my-billing-details-mid-subscription-26) - [Will cancelling my subscription to switch from PayPal affect my access?](#aioseo-will-cancelling-my-subscription-to-switch-from-paypal-affect-my-access-28) --- ## Stripe Subscriptions Before you get started, you need to [access your account first](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/). After logging in, click the **Billing** tab. This will open the billing page, which lists the payment history and your subscriptions ![a screenshot of the billing tab in WP-PDF account page](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-billing-tab-1024x207.webp)Scroll down to the **Subscriptions** section and click on the **Update Payment Method** link. You will then see a **secure form** where you can enter the new billing information and save it. ## PayPal Subscriptions Because PayPal handles subscriptions through its own secure “Billing Agreement” system, updating payment details directly from your PDF Embedder account dashboard is not available for PayPal subscriptions. If you used PayPal to subscribe to PDF Embedder, you can update your billing details using one of the following options, depending on the update you want to make: ### **Option 1: Update Billing Details Within PayPal** If you want to continue using your current PayPal account, you can update your payment method and credit card information from within PayPal. You can follow this guide from PayPal’s site showing [**how to update your debit or credit card on PayPal**](https://www.paypal.com/uk/cshelp/article/how-do-i-update-my-debit-or-credit-card-on-paypal-help157?Z3JncnB0=). ### Option 2: **Switch From Current Payment Method** If you want to switch to a different PayPal account or avoid using PayPal entirely for future renewals, below are the steps for the best approach, 1. First, you will need to **cancel the auto-renewal** on your current subscription. This is what stops your current subscription to PayPal from renewing on its own. If your license has not expired yet, it remains active until the end of the current subscription period. 2. When your renewal period approaches, you will receive a reminder email with a renewal link. At that point, you can use the renewal links in the email or renew directly from your account. - Since the subscription is already cancelled, renewing the license manually in this way will give you an option to choose a payment method at checkout. > **Note:** In case your account is on grandfathered pricing, if you cancel the subscription to switch payment methods, the new subscription will be charged at current pricing. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about updating billing details. ### Can I update my billing details mid-subscription? Yes, for Stripe subscriptions. Log in, go to **Billing**, and click **Update Payment Method** under the Subscriptions section. Changes made will take effect at the next billing cycle. ### Will cancelling my subscription to switch from PayPal affect my access? No. Cancelling auto-renewal does not cut off access immediately. Your license stays active until the end of the current paid period, giving you time to set up a new subscription with your preferred payment method. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Cancelling Your Subscription](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/cancelling-your-subscription/) **Published:** April 14, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Are you looking to cancel your PDF Embedder subscription? This guide shows how to turn off auto-renewal and explains what to expect after your license ends. **Content:** Looking to stop your PDF Embedder subscription from renewing automatically? Whether you no longer want to use our plugin or wish to renew your license manually, you can easily manage your subscription from your account. This guide explains how to cancel the auto-renewal on your PDF Embedder subscription and what to expect after cancellation. - [How to Cancel](#aioseo-how-to-cancel-4) - [What Happens After the Subscription Expires](#aioseo-what-happens-after-the-subscription-expires-12) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-19) - [Can I get a refund?](#aioseo-can-i-get-a-refund-21) - [Can I downgrade my license instead of canceling?](#aioseo-can-i-downgrade-my-license-instead-of-canceling-23) --- ## How to Cancel To cancel your subscription, you’ll first need to [access your account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/). Next, click on the **Billing** tab. This page will display all of your previous license payments and all of your active subscriptions. ![a screenshot of the billing tab in WP-PDF account page](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-billing-tab-1024x207.webp)To cancel auto-renewal on any license, scroll down to the **Subscriptions** section, then select **Cancel** in the far right column next to the subscription you want to cancel. ![a screenshot of the subscription cancellation option in WP-PDF account page](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wp-pdf-cancel-subscription-1024x256.webp)This cancels the automatic renewal only. Your license remains active and fully functional until the current subscription period ends. > **Note:** At the end of your subscription year, if you receive automated emails about the subscription expiring and the option for manual renewal, you can ignore the emails if you don’t intend to renew. ## What Happens After the Subscription Expires If your license subscription expires and is not renewed, the **PDF Embedder** plugin will continue to function on your site as long as it remains installed and activated. An expired license does not “break” your existing embeds or deactivate the plugin. However, several key services will change: **Updates stop**: You will no longer receive plugin updates. This is the most critical change, as updates ensure the plugin remains compatible with the latest versions of WordPress and PHP. Running outdated software can eventually lead to security vulnerabilities or layout conflicts as the rest of your website evolves. **Premium Support Ends.** Access to our dedicated email support team is reserved for customers with an active subscription. If you encounter a technical issue or need assistance with a configuration after your license expires, you will not be eligible for premium support. **Access to Downloads.** Once a license has expired, you may lose the ability to download the Premium plugin file from your account dashboard. The download button is only available for customers with an active subscription. Keeping a plugin on an outdated version for an extended period is not recommended, since updates include security patches and compatibility fixes. That said, a short gap between expiry and renewal is generally not a serious concern. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about cancelling a PDF Embedder subscription. ### Can I get a refund? Customers who are within our 14-day No-Risk Double-Guarantee window may ask for a refund for their PDF Embedder subscription. Please note that our money-back guarantee only applies to new purchases. Renewals are non-refundable as per our [terms of service](https://wp-pdf.com/terms/). ### Can I downgrade my license instead of canceling? Yes, you can absolutely downgrade your license instead of canceling it. This can be a good alternative if you want to continue using PDF Embedder but no longer need some of the features from our higher license levels. [Get in touch with our support team](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-can-i-obtain-support/), and we’ll be happy to help. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Transferring Your License or Account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/transferring-your-license-or-account/) **Published:** April 14, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to easily hand over your PDF Embedder subscription to a client or a new owner. This guide covers how to update account ownership details or transition to a new license without losing your embedded PDFs. **Content:** Do you need to hand over your PDF Embedder account and active subscription to a client or another team member? Instead of canceling and repurchasing, you can seamlessly transfer ownership by updating the account profile and billing details. This guide covers the two available options for transferring a PDF Embedder account to a new owner. - [Option 1: Update the Account Details](#aioseo-option-1-update-the-account-details-4) - [Update Account and Billing Profiles](#aioseo-update-account-and-billing-profiles-6) - [Granting Access to the New Owner](#aioseo-granting-access-to-the-new-owner-9) - [Option 2: Creating a New Account and License](#aioseo-option-2-creating-a-new-account-and-license-15) - [Managing the Existing Subscription](#aioseo-managing-the-existing-subscription-17) - [Registering the New Owner](#aioseo-registering-the-new-owner-20) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-23) - [Will my PDFs stop working on the site during the transfer](#aioseo-will-my-pdfs-stop-working-on-the-site-during-the-transfer-25) - [Which option should I choose?](#aioseo-which-option-should-i-choose-28) --- ## Option 1: Update the Account Details This option keeps the existing subscription intact and hands it over by updating the account information. ### Update Account and Billing Profiles The first step is to replace your existing information with the new owner’s details to ensure they have full control over the license. You can begin by **[updating your account details](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/updating-your-account-details/)** with the new owner’s name and email address. Once the profile is updated, you must also **[update the billing details](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/updating-your-billing-details/)** to the new owner’s payment method, ensuring that future renewals are processed correctly. ### Granting Access to the New Owner After the email address on the account has been changed, the new owner can take full control of the login credentials. You may provide them with the current password, or they can choose to set their own by using the **[forgotten password ](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://wp-pdf.com/account/%3Faction%3Dlostpassword)**option on the login page. This will allow the new owner to create a unique private password associated with their updated account. The new owner can verify their access and billing information to complete the transfer. > **Note:** The account username is always the email address used at original registration and cannot be changed. After updating the profile email, the new owner can log in with either the original email or the updated one. Do not try to create a new account using the original email address; it is already registered in the system and a second account cannot use it. ## Option 2: Creating a New Account and License This option creates a clean break and gives the new owner their own account. With this approach, no payment or personal data is shared between the two parties. ### Managing the Existing Subscription The first step with this option is to **[cancel the current subscription](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/cancelling-your-subscription/)** to prevent future charges on the payment method linked to the current account. The existing license will remain fully active until the end of the current billing period, so there is no immediate urgency to move the license. You will receive a reminder email approximately one month before the expiration date. ### Registering the New Owner After the renewal reminder email, the new owner should visit our **[pricing page](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/)** to purchase their own license with their own details. After the new owner completes their purchase and receives a license key, they can finalize the process by **[verifying the license key](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/in-the-premium-version-there-is-nowhere-to-enter-the-license-key/)** within the WordPress dashboard. This replaces the old credentials with the new subscription. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about transferring a PDF Embedder license. ### Will my PDFs stop working on the site during the transfer No. Your embedded PDFs will continue to function normally throughout the process. The plugin settings and embedded files on your WordPress site will remain intact. ### Which option should I choose? Option 1 is faster and keeps the existing subscription pricing. Option 2 gives the new owner a completely separate account, which is cleaner if you want a full handover. If the current subscription is grandfathered at a lower rate, note that Option 2 requires a new purchase at current pricing. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Configuring Microsoft IIS for PDF Embedder Secure](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-microsoft-iis-for-pdf-embedder-secure/) **Published:** April 24, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to configure Microsoft IIS to work correctly with PDF Embedder Secure. **Content:** Are your secure PDFs still accessible by anyone who has the direct file URL, even with PDF Embedder Secure active? On servers running Microsoft IIS, this happens because IIS does not use the `.htaccess` rules that protect these files on Apache. This guide shows you how to configure IIS’s URL Rewrite module to block direct access to your secure PDF files, matching the protection PDF Embedder Secure applies automatically on Apache and Nginx servers. - [Why IIS Needs Additional Configuration](#aioseo-why-iis-needs-additional-configuration-4) - [Requirement: URL Rewrite Module](#aioseo-requirement-url-rewrite-module-7) - [Adding the Rewrite Rule](#aioseo-adding-the-rewrite-rule-9) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-13) - [Do I need to restart IIS after adding this rule?](#aioseo-do-i-need-to-restart-iis-after-adding-this-rule-15) - [Why does the rule allow requests from 127.0.0.1?](#aioseo-why-does-the-rule-allow-requests-from-127-0-0-1-17) --- ## Why IIS Needs Additional Configuration PDF Embedder Secure stores protected files in `wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/` and relies on server-level rules to stop visitors from bypassing the plugin and loading a PDF directly by URL. On Apache, this protection ships through an `.htaccess` file. On Nginx, it requires a rule added to the server block. IIS does not read `.htaccess` files, so neither of those rules has any effect on an IIS server. Without an equivalent rule in your `web.config` file, any secure PDF remains reachable at its direct URL, regardless of your PDF Embedder Secure settings. ## Requirement: URL Rewrite Module Adding the rule below requires the IIS **URL Rewrite** module. This module ships as standard on most IIS installations that host WordPress sites. If your rewrite rules stop working after adding the configuration, confirm the module is installed before troubleshooting further. ## Adding the Rewrite Rule ``` Code language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` This rule blocks direct requests to any `.pdf` file inside `wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/`, except requests originating from `127.0.0.1` (localhost). Files with other extensions, such as images or audio, are unaffected. Place this `web.config` file in your WordPress root directory. If a `web.config` file already exists there, merge the `` section into it instead of replacing the file. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed some of the most common questions regarding IIS configuration for PDF Embedder Secure. ### Do I need to restart IIS after adding this rule? IIS picks up `web.config` changes automatically. A restart is not required, but recycling the application pool clears any cached configuration if the rule does not appear to take effect immediately. ### Why does the rule allow requests from 127.0.0.1? The plugin serves secure PDFs internally through localhost requests. Excluding `127.0.0.1` from the block lets PDF Embedder Secure continue serving files to visitors through the plugin while direct external requests are still denied. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [How best to add multiple PDFs to a single page or post](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-best-to-add-multiple-pdfs-to-a-single-page-or-post/) **Published:** March 5, 2018 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Get comprehensive guidance on embedding PDFs with thumbnails in WordPress, and explore the integration of the Thumbnails plugin with PDF Embedder, including tips for ensuring a professional, organized display. **Content:** Want to showcase multiple PDFs on a single page without a long vertical list? A grid of thumbnail images gives readers a visual way to browse your documents and click through to the one they need. This guide shows you how to display a grid of PDF thumbnails on a page or post using the PDF Thumbnails plugin alongside PDF Embedder. Before you get started, install and activate the PDF Thumbnails plugin in addition to the PDF Embedder plugin. The PDF Thumbnails plugin generates the thumbnail image for each PDF; the grid layout itself is built directly in the WordPress editor rather than through a plugin setting. - [Adding a PDF Thumbnail to the Grid](#aioseo-adding-a-pdf-thumbnail-to-the-grid-5) - [Configuring the Image Block Settings](#aioseo-configuring-the-image-block-settings-8) --- ## Adding a PDF Thumbnail to the Grid With both plugins active, add an **Image** block to your page or post and select the PDF you want to include in the grid. If you’re running WordPress 5 with Gutenberg 4.6.1, use the **Classic Editor** block instead. ## Configuring the Image Block Settings Set the following options on the image block: - **Link To**: [Attachment Page](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/auto-generate-a-wordpress-page-to-embed-the-pdf/) - **Media**: Thumbnail - **Alignment**: Left Left alignment makes each thumbnail float next to the next one, forming a grid as you add more PDFs. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/image.png)Configured correctly, the block inserts code into the page similar to this: ``` Code language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` The link points to the PDF’s attachment page, and the image tag displays the generated thumbnail at 150×150 pixels. Repeat these steps for each PDF you want in the grid. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/image-1.png)Depending on your theme, you may need to add CSS to adjust margins or spacing so the thumbnails line up in a full grid. > If you’re using PDF Embedder Secure, enable automatic generation of [attachment pages](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/auto-generate-a-wordpress-page-to-embed-the-pdf/) in the Secure settings first. This method works with both our PDF Embedder Premium plugin and PDF Embedder Secure. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [How to Center the PDF](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-to-center-the-pdf/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** This technical guide explains two reliable methods to center PDFs, depending on your WordPress theme. **Content:** Is your PDF sitting to the left of the page instead of centered where you want it? This is a common result of how PDF Embedder sizes the viewer, and it’s fixable with a small CSS adjustment. This guide explains why your PDF may not be centered by default and covers two ways to center it, depending on your theme. - [Why Your PDF Isn't Centered by Default](#aioseo-why-your-pdf-isnt-centered-by-default-4) - [Centering the PDF with CSS](#aioseo-centering-the-pdf-with-css-7) - [Adding the CSS to Your Site](#aioseo-adding-the-css-to-your-site-10) - [Classic Themes](#aioseo-classic-themes-12) - [Block Themes](#aioseo-block-themes-14) --- ## Why Your PDF Isn’t Centered by Default The plugin displays your PDF at maximum width by default, filling the available area on the page. If you set a fixed width smaller than the available area, the PDF is left-justified within the main content area of your page instead of centering automatically. ## Centering the PDF with CSS ``` div.pdfemb-viewer { margin: 0px auto !important; } Code language: CSS (css) ``` This rule targets `div.pdfemb-viewer`, the container PDF Embedder wraps around your PDF viewer. Centering depends on your theme’s existing CSS and layout, so this snippet may need adjusting to work with your theme; if it doesn’t center the PDF on its own, ask your web designer to review your theme’s styles and confirm what needs to target `div.pdfemb-viewer`. ## Adding the CSS to Your Site The method you use depends on whether your theme is a classic theme or a block theme. ### Classic Themes You can add the CSS above through **Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS**. ### Block Themes For themes that support the Block Editor, wrap the PDF Embedder block in a **Group** block and configure the **Group** block to center all content inside it. This centers the PDF without editing any CSS. **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Embedding Your First PDF](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/embedding-your-first-pdf/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Quickly add PDFs to your posts or pages with PDF Embedder. Get step-by-step directions for Gutenberg, Classic Editor, and various page builders. **Content:** Ready to display a PDF on one of your pages or posts? There are two main ways to embed your PDFs with PDF Embedder on your site. The exact steps depend on which WordPress editor you use, but both paths get you to the same result in under a minute. This guide covers how to embed your first PDF using the PDF Embedder plugin in the Block Editor (Gutenberg), the Classic Editor, and most page builders. - [Using the Block Editor (Gutenberg)](#aioseo-using-the-block-editor-gutenberg-4) - [Using the Classic Editor or Page Builders](#aioseo-using-the-classic-editor-or-page-builders-15) - [Locating the PDF File URL](#aioseo-locating-the-pdf-file-url-17) - [Inserting the Shortcode into Your Page](#aioseo-inserting-the-shortcode-into-your-page-23) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-34) - [Can I change the size of the PDF viewer?](#aioseo-can-i-change-the-size-of-the-pdf-viewer-36) - [Will my embedded PDF work with a caching plugin installed?](#aioseo-will-my-embedded-pdf-work-with-a-caching-plugin-installed-38) --- ## Using the Block Editor (Gutenberg) First, head to your WordPress dashboard and choose edit for the post or page where you want the PDF to appear. Once you’ve opened the page editor, you can add a new block by clicking the **(+) Add Block** icon in the upper left corner. ![a screenshot of the option to add blocks to WordPress pages](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-add-new-block-1024x121.webp)Search for “PDF Embedder”, and select the **PDF Embedder** block from the results. ![a screenshot of the PDF Embedder blocks to WordPress blocks list](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/add-pdf-embedder-block.webp)This will add the **PDF Embedder** block to the page editor. Next, click on the **Media** **Library** button inside the block. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-block-media-button-1-1024x316.webp)From here, upload the PDF file you want to embed or choose an existing one from your Media Library, then click **Select**. ![a screenshot of the media library with the file select option](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-block-select-pdf-1024x440.webp)A placeholder will appear in the editor showing the embedded PDF URL. The actual PDF viewer renders in the front end once you preview or publish the page. ## Using the Classic Editor or Page Builders When using the Classic Editor or module-based layout builders, the most reliable way to insert a document is via the **[PDF Embedder shortcode](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/)**. This method bypasses the proprietary restrictions used by many third-party editors to restrict access to the media gallery from the editor. ### Locating the PDF File URL To get started, you need to navigate to WordPress Dashboard > Media > Library and locate the PDF you wish to embed. > You can keep your **WordPress Media Library** open in a separate browser tab for easy access to your PDF file links. Click on the PDF file to show the attachment details panel and copy the file URL from the URL field. ![a screenshot of the attachment details panel in WordPress with the option to copy the file URL](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/copy-file-url-1-1024x422.webp)### Inserting the Shortcode into Your Page Once you have the URL, you can place it into your editor using a text-based module. 1. Open your page in the Classic Editor or your preferred Page Builder. - For page builders, you need to add a module that supports shortcodes (such as **ShortCode**, **Text Editor**, **HTML**, or **Code** module). 2. Manually enter the following shortcode structure: `[pdf-embedder url="PASTE_URL_HERE"]` 3. Replace **`PASTE_URL_HERE`** with the link you copied from your Media Library. Here is an example shortcode: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://yoursite.com/uploads/document.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` You can check our shortcode attributes page to see you how you can include additional attributes in the shortcode. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions from users setting up their first embedded PDF. ### Can I change the size of the PDF viewer? Yes. You can customize the viewer size using shortcode attributes or by adjusting the PDF Embedder block settings. ### Will my embedded PDF work with a caching plugin installed? PDF Embedder is compatible with most caching plugins. However, we recommend adjusting your caching settings as shown in our [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) guide. **Documentation Categories:** Getting Started --- ### [Speeding up Slow PDF Loading](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/pdf-files-are-slow-and-how-to-optimize-a-pdf-file-to-render-it-faster/) **Published:** January 13, 2024 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn practical strategies to improve PDF rendering speed, including file compression, image resampling, and optimal PDF creation practices. **Content:** Are your embedded PDFs taking too long to load? Loading speed depends primarily on file size and per-page complexity. PDF Embedder only loads and renders the pages currently visible, so a 100-page document is not inherently slower than a 10-page one. The file size and how the PDF was built are what matter. This guide covers the most effective ways to speed up PDF loading, from basic file compression through server and plugin settings for secure delivery. - [Compressing the PDF File](#aioseo-compressing-the-pdf-file-4) - [PDF Optimization Techniques](#aioseo-pdf-optimization-techniques-7) - [Avoiding Multiple PDFs on a Single Page](#aioseo-avoiding-multiple-pdfs-on-a-single-page-16) - [Speeding Up Secure PDF Loading](#aioseo-speeding-up-secure-pdf-loading-18) --- ## Compressing the PDF File The fastest fix in most cases is reducing the file size before uploading. Start with a free compression service such as [iLovePDF](https://www.ilovepdf.com/compress_pdf), which consistently delivers significant file size reductions without visible quality loss. Smaller files download faster and use less memory, which matters especially for mobile visitors on slower connections. For more control over compression settings, Adobe’s [Optimize a PDF](https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/desktop/create-documents/optimize-pdfs/advance-size-reduction.html) guide covers the full set of options available in Acrobat. ## PDF Optimization Techniques Beyond compression, several decisions made when the PDF was originally created directly affect rendering speed: - **Reduce image resolution.** 150 dpi is enough for screen display, including high-density mobile screens. Higher resolutions add file weight without visible benefit. - **Use JPEG encoding for color images.** For color photos in RGB colorspace, JPEG encoding produces smaller files than alternatives like PNG or uncompressed TIFF. - **Flatten transparency and effects.** Transitions, masking, and layered compositions are expensive to render. Flatten transparency when exporting. - **Watch out for poor-quality PDF generators.** LibreOffice, for example, converts vector elements it does not understand into small raster images, which inflates file size. Where possible, use a tool that produces web-optimized or linearized PDF output. - **Enable linearization.** If your export tool offers a web-optimized or linearized output option, turn it on. Linearization allows the first page to start rendering while the rest of the file downloads. - **Fix corrupted PDFs.** Files that do not conform to the PDF32000 specification can cause rendering slowdowns and failures. ## Avoiding Multiple PDFs on a Single Page Loading multiple PDF viewers on a single page significantly increases load time and memory usage. If you need to display several documents on one page, see our guide on [How Best to Add Multiple PDFs to a Single Page or Post](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-best-to-add-multiple-pdfs-to-a-single-page-or-post/) for approaches that keep performance manageable. ## Speeding Up Secure PDF Loading **PDF Embedder Secure feature is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock the PDF Embedder Secure and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) Secure PDFs load more slowly than standard PDFs because encryption adds processing overhead, and the full file must be encrypted before transmission; it cannot be streamed in chunks. The larger the file, the longer this takes. Several options reduce the impact: - **Compress the PDF first.** Reducing file size has a direct effect on encryption time. [iLovePDF](https://www.ilovepdf.com/compress_pdf) and [Smallpdf](https://smallpdf.com/) are both effective free options. - **Enable caching for encrypted PDFs.** Go to **Settings > PDF Embedder > Secure** and check **Cache Encrypted PDFs**. With this enabled, the file is only encrypted on the first request. Every subsequent visitor receives the cached encrypted version, bypassing the encryption step entirely. - **Upgrade your server resources.** If the site consistently serves large secure PDFs to many users, increasing server memory or processing capacity reduces encryption time. Contact your hosting provider to discuss upgrade options. - **Consider non-secure mode for low-risk documents.** If encryption is not critical for a specific document, upload it in standard mode. The trade-off is the loss of access control and download protection, but load times return to normal. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) **Published:** July 2, 2018 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to configure your caching and minifying settings to work well with the PDF Embedder plugins **Content:** Do you have caching or minification enabled on your site? Using plugins to minify and/or cache the scripts running on your site has been known to create issues with the PDF Embedder functionality, causing the PDF viewer to break, show a blank space, or throw JavaScript errors. This is a known compatibility issue. The fix is to exclude the PDF Embedder scripts from those tools. This guide highlights the common caching plugins, explains script paths to exclude, and covers the specific configuration needed for Hummingbird and WordPress.com’s Page Optimize tool. - [Which Caching to Check](#aioseo-which-caching-to-check-4) - [Why Caching Causes Problems](#aioseo-why-caching-causes-problems-8) - [Script Paths to Exclude](#aioseo-script-paths-to-exclude-11) - [Free version](#aioseo-free-version-13) - [Premium version](#aioseo-premium-version-15) - [Hummingbird](#aioseo-hummingbird-20) - [Option 1: Enqueue the worker script manually](#aioseo-option-1-enqueue-the-worker-script-manually-22) - [Option 2: Disable URL query strings](#aioseo-option-2-disable-url-query-strings-28) - [Option 3: Exclude the scripts from the page cache](#aioseo-option-3-exclude-the-scripts-from-the-page-cache-30) - [WordPress.com Page Optimize](#aioseo-wordpress-com-page-optimize-32) --- ### Which Caching to Check Here are some of the plugins that are known to cause issues if configured incorrectly: Plugin NamePlugin URLWP Super Cachehttps://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-super-cache/W3 Total Cachehttps://wordpress.org/plugins/w3-total-cache/WP Rockethttps://wp-rocket.me/Autoptimizehttps://wordpress.org/plugins/autoptimize/Jetpack Boosthttps://wordpress.org/plugins/jetpack-boost/LiteSpeed Cachehttps://wordpress.org/plugins/litespeed-cache/WP-Optimizehttps://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-optimize/WP Fastest Cachehttps://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-fastest-cache/Page Optimizehttps://wordpress.org/plugins/page-optimize/Airlifthttps://airlift.net/Some themes also allow you to configure caching/minifying of JavaScript files. So you should look for relevant options in your theme settings area. ## Why Caching Causes Problems PDF Embedder’s JavaScript files have versioned filenames. When a caching or minifying plugin combines, renames, or serves a stale cached copy of these scripts, the viewer cannot initialize correctly. Excluding the PDF Embedder scripts tells your caching plugin to leave them alone and serve them directly. The PDF Embedder plugin scripts are already minified, so excluding them has no impact on site performance. ## Script Paths to Exclude Add the following paths to the exclusion list in your caching or minifying plugin. ### Free version ``` /wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/js/all-pdfemb-basic-4.6.24.min.js /wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/js/pdfjs/pdf-5.0.1.min.js /wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/js/pdfjs/pdf-5.0.1.worker.min.js ``` ### Premium version ``` /wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium/assets/js/pdf-viewer.min.js /wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium/assets/js/pdf-worker.min.js ``` If you upgraded from an older version (v4.x, v5.0.x, or v5.1.x), your plugin folder may use a different name, such as `PDFEmbedder-premium-secure`. Check your `/wp-content/plugins/` directory via FTP or your host’s file manager to confirm the correct folder name before adding the paths. After adding exclusions, flush your cache and do a hard reload in your browser. Each caching plugin has its own interface for exclusions; refer to that plugin’s documentation for where to enter these paths. ## Hummingbird If you use the Hummingbird plugin and the viewer is broken, try the following options in order. ### Option 1: Enqueue the worker script manually Add the following code to your site, adjusting the version number in the file path to match your installed version: ``` wp_enqueue_script( 'pdf-embedder-worker', plugins_url( 'pdf-embedder/js/pdfjs/pdf-4.6.4.worker.min.js'), array(), false, false ); Code language: PHP (php) ``` Add this code using one of the following methods: **Method 1 – WPCode (recommended):** Install the free [WPCode plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/code-snippets/), go to **Code Snippets > Add Snippet**, paste the code, and activate it. **Method 2 – functions.php:** Add the code to your active theme’s `functions.php` file. ### Option 2: Disable URL query strings In Hummingbird, go to **Advanced Tools > General Settings** and disable the **URL Query Strings** option. ### Option 3: Exclude the scripts from the page cache In Hummingbird’s page cache settings, add the PDF Embedder script paths listed above to the exclusions list. After making this change, flush the Hummingbird cache. ## WordPress.com Page Optimize WordPress.com uses the Page Optimize tool rather than a standard third-party caching plugin, and it requires a different exclusion method. Instead of file paths, Page Optimize uses `data-handle` attribute values. Add the following handles to its exclusions for both JavaScript and CSS: - `pdfemb_embed_pdf_js` - `pdfemb_pdfjs_js` Find these by viewing the source of a page where you have an embed. The handles appear in the `` tags. Enter them into Page Optimize’s exclusion field. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Serving Protected Files under Nginx](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-protected-files-under-nginx/) **Published:** February 26, 2019 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Learn how to configure NGINX server to ensure the security of your /securepdfs/ folder for PDF Embedder Secure feature. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Secure is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock PDF Embedder Secure feature and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) Running the PDF Embedder Secure feature on an Nginx server? PDF Embedder protects files in the `/securepdfs/` directory by making an edit to the `.htaccess` file. However, Nginx does not process `.htaccess`. Without a manual configuration change, those access controls do nothing, and your secure PDFs remain directly downloadable. This guide covers how to add the required Nginx location block to enforce PDF Embedder Secure’s access rules, including separate instructions for Kinsta hosting. - [Why Nginx Needs Extra Configuration](#aioseo-why-nginx-needs-extra-configuration-9) - [Configuring a Standard Nginx Server](#aioseo-configuring-a-standard-nginx-server-11) - [Configuring Nginx on Kinsta](#aioseo-configuring-nginx-on-kinsta-17) - [Flywheel Hosting](#aioseo-flywheel-hosting-23) - [Verifying the Configuration](#aioseo-verifying-the-configuration-25) --- ## Why Nginx Needs Extra Configuration PDF Embedder Secure ships a `.htaccess` file that blocks direct requests to the `/securepdfs/` directory. Apache reads and applies this file automatically. Nginx has no equivalent mechanism and does not read `.htaccess` at all. The same rules must be written directly into the Nginx server block configuration. ## Configuring a Standard Nginx Server Add the following location block inside the `server {}` block of your Nginx configuration file: ``` location ~ ^/(wp-content/uploads/securepdfs) { allow 127.0.0.1; deny all; proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:6776; return 403; location ~ "\.(jpg|png|gif|mp3|ogg)$" { allow all; } } Code language: Nginx (nginx) ``` This block returns a 403 error for all direct requests to the `securepdfs` directory, except for image and audio files. Requests from localhost (`127.0.0.1`) are forwarded to the PDF Embedder proxy on port 6776, which handles permission validation and file delivery. After saving the file, reload Nginx for the change to take effect. ## Configuring Nginx on Kinsta Kinsta uses a customised Nginx setup. The same location block applies, but two conditions must be met: 1. Confirm with Kinsta support that your site’s localhost IP is `127.0.0.1`. If their configuration uses a different address, the block will not work as written. 2. Place the block at the **top** of the `server {}` block, before any other location directives. This gives the rule priority over other patterns that could match the same path. ### SCREENSHOT ## Flywheel Hosting Flywheel runs Nginx under the hood. Follow the standard configuration steps above. If you do not have direct access to the Nginx configuration file, contact Flywheel support and provide them with the location block to add on your behalf. ## Verifying the Configuration After applying the configuration, test that direct access is blocked. Copy the PDF URL from your shortcode or block: ``` https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/2015/01/file.pdfCode language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` Paste it directly into a browser. A 403 error confirms the block is working. If the PDF loads, check that the location block is inside the correct `server {}` block and that Nginx has been reloaded. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Customizing PDF Viewer Styles](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/hiding-the-embedders-border-or-changing-colorstyles/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to customize the PDF Viewer styling using custom CSS to match your website theme. **Content:** Want the PDF viewer to blend into your site’s design? PDF Embedder’s viewer is fully stylable: you can change the toolbar color, hide the border, remove the toolbar entirely, center the viewer, or float content alongside it. All of these customizations use CSS or PHP snippets that you add to your site. This guide covers the most common style adjustments and how the free and Premium versions handle CSS differently. - [Free vs. Premium: how styles are injected](#aioseo-free-vs-premium-how-styles-are-injected-4) - [Centering the viewer](#aioseo-centering-the-viewer-14) - [Wrapping content alongside the viewer](#aioseo-wrapping-content-alongside-the-viewer-19) - [Changing the toolbar background color](#aioseo-changing-the-toolbar-background-color-26) - [Changing the viewer border color](#aioseo-changing-the-viewer-border-color-29) - [Hiding the viewer border](#aioseo-hiding-the-viewer-border-31) - [Hiding the toolbar with CSS](#aioseo-hiding-the-toolbar-with-css-33) - [Fixing fullscreen display inside frames (LearnPress and similar)](#aioseo-fixing-fullscreen-display-inside-frames-learnpress-and-similar-37) - [Styling the "View in Fullscreen" button](#aioseo-styling-the-view-in-fullscreen-button-40) - [Positioning the watermark at the top of the page](#aioseo-positioning-the-watermark-at-the-top-of-the-page-44) --- ## Free vs. Premium: how styles are injected The approach for adding custom styles differs between the free and Premium versions. Premium loads the PDF inside an ``, so styles must be injected inside that iframe, not at the page level. Use the correct hook for your version: ``` /* FREE version — injects styles on the page */ add_action( 'wp_footer', static function() { ?> /* Your custom CSS here */ /* Your custom CSS here */ .pdfemb-viewer .pdfemb-toolbar { background-color: red; } #wppdf-iframe-body .toolbarViewer { background-color: red; } **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Preventing Automatic Shortcode Insertion](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/stop-the-pdf-embedder-shortcode-being-inserted-into-posts-automatically/) **Published:** August 2, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to keep the PDF Embedder shortcode from being inserted automatically when you insert a PDF into a page from your media library. **Content:** When you insert a PDF from the Media Library into a post, PDF Embedder automatically places a `[pdf-embedder]` shortcode in the editor. That default behaviour works well for most use cases, but there are situations where you want a plain link instead. This guide explains when and why to disable automatic shortcode insertion, and how to add the PHP filter that switches the default back to WordPress’s standard link behaviour. - [Why disable automatic shortcode insertion?](#aioseo-why-disable-automatic-shortcode-insertion-4) - [Adding the override filter](#aioseo-adding-the-override-filter-10) - [What this does not affect](#aioseo-what-this-does-not-affect-17) --- ## Why disable automatic shortcode insertion? Two common scenarios call for this change: - You want the Media Library to insert a direct file link by default, and only use the shortcode when you add it manually. - Another plugin uses the Media Library to select files (such as a form plugin or gallery builder) and the `[pdf-embedder]` shortcode breaks its insertion logic. In both cases, disabling automatic insertion stops PDF Embedder from intercepting the Media Library’s default output. ## Adding the override filter Add the following PHP snippet to your site. It hooks into `pdfemb_override_send_to_editor` and returns the standard WordPress HTML link instead of the shortcode. ``` add_filter('pdfemb_override_send_to_editor', 'my_pdfemb_override_send_to_editor', 10, 4); function my_pdfemb_override_send_to_editor($shortcode, $html, $id, $attachment) { return $html; } Code language: PHP (php) ``` Add this code using one of the following methods: **Using WPCode (recommended):** Install the free [WPCode plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-headers-and-footers/), go to **Code Snippets > Add Snippet**, paste the code, and activate it. **Adding to the functions.php:** Add the code to your active theme’s `functions.php` file. Once active, selecting a PDF from the Media Library inserts a standard `` link to the file. To embed a PDF using the viewer, add the shortcode manually or use the PDF Embedder block. ## What this does not affect This filter only changes the behaviour of the **Insert into post** action in the classic Media Library modal. It does not affect: - PDFs already embedded via shortcode elsewhere on your site - The PDF Embedder block in the Gutenberg editor - Shortcodes you type or paste manually **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Overwriting PDF Embedder Settings With PHP](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/can-i-write-php-code-to-change-the-shortcode-parameters/) **Published:** July 26, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Discover how to override default PDF embed settings in WordPress using PHP code for a personalized touch. **Content:** Need to override a global setting for PDFs on your site without editing the embeds individually? PDF Embedder provides PHP filter hooks that let you override shortcode and block attributes programmatically. This guide covers the two available filters: one for standard shortcode and block embeds, and one specifically for attachment page embeds. - [How Attribute Overrides Work](#aioseo-how-attribute-overrides-work-4) - [Overriding Attributes for Standard Shortcodes and Blocks](#aioseo-overriding-attributes-for-standard-shortcodes-and-blocks-7) - [Overriding Attributes for Attachment Pages](#aioseo-overriding-attributes-for-attachment-pages-14) - [Applying Conditional Overrides Based on URL](#aioseo-applying-conditional-overrides-based-on-url-18) --- ## How Attribute Overrides Work PDF Embedder resolves display settings in this order: global plugin settings first, then any attributes set directly on the shortcode or block. The PHP filters described here run after that resolution, giving you a final opportunity to override any attribute before the viewer renders. You can also inspect the `$atts['url']` value inside the filter function to apply rules selectively, for example, to apply different settings to PDFs with a specific filename pattern. ## Overriding Attributes for Standard Shortcodes and Blocks Use the `pdfemb_filter_shortcode_attrs` filter to modify attributes on any standard `[pdf-embedder]` shortcode or PDF Embedder block. This works in both the free and Premium versions. ``` add_filter( 'pdfemb_filter_shortcode_attrs', 'pdfemb_docs_change_sc_atts', 10, 1 ); function pdfemb_docs_change_sc_atts( $atts ) { $atts['pagetextbox'] = 'on'; return $atts; } Code language: PHP (php) ``` This example forces the `pagetextbox` attribute to `on` for every embed. Use this approach for parameters that have no global setting in **Settings > PDF Embedder**. Add this code using one of the following methods: **Using WPCode (recommended):** Install the free [WPCode plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-headers-and-footers/), go to **Code Snippets > Add Snippet**, paste the code, and activate it. **Adding to functions.php:** Add the code to your active theme’s `functions.php` file. ## Overriding Attributes for Attachment Pages Attachment pages load differently from standard embeds and use a separate filter: `pdfemb_premium_viewer_render_atts`. The function body is identical; only the filter name changes. ``` add_filter( 'pdfemb_premium_viewer_render_atts', 'pdfemb_docs_change_attpages_atts', 10, 1 ); function pdfemb_docs_change_attpages_atts( $atts ) { $atts['pagetextbox'] = 'on'; return $atts; } Code language: PHP (php) ``` If you need the same override to apply to both standard embeds and attachment pages, add both filters using separate function names. ## Applying Conditional Overrides Based on URL Both filters receive the full `$atts` array, which includes `$atts['url']`. Use this to apply overrides only to specific PDFs: ``` add_filter( 'pdfemb_filter_shortcode_attrs', 'pdfemb_docs_change_sc_atts', 10, 1 ); function pdfemb_docs_change_sc_atts( $atts ) { // Only apply to PDFs with 'annual-report' in the filename if ( strpos( $atts['url'], 'annual-report' ) !== false ) { $atts['download'] = 'off'; } return $atts; } Code language: PHP (php) ``` This pattern lets different PDF files follow different rules without requiring multiple shortcodes or block configurations. **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Including Attachment Pages in Search](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-to-include-attachment-pages-in-search-results/) **Published:** August 16, 2022 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to include the PDF Embedder attachment pages to your site search results **Content:** Want visitors to find your PDF documents through your site’s search? By default, WordPress excludes attachment pages from search results, which means PDFs uploaded to your Media Library are invisible to the built-in search function. This guide shows how to add a small PHP snippet that tells WordPress to include attachment pages (and your embedded PDFs) in search results. - [Adding the search inclusion code](#aioseo-adding-the-search-inclusion-code-4) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-14) - [Will this affect search performance?](#aioseo-will-this-affect-search-performance-16) - [Can I limit results to PDFs only?](#aioseo-can-i-limit-results-to-pdfs-only-18) - [Do I need PDF Embedder Premium for this to work?](#aioseo-do-i-need-pdf-embedder-premium-for-this-to-work-20) --- ## Adding the search inclusion code Add the following PHP snippet to your site. It hooks into WordPress’s query builder and adds `attachment` to the list of post types searched, alongside standard posts. ``` function attachment_search( $query ) { if ( $query->is_search ) { $query->set( 'post_type', array( 'post', 'attachment' ) ); $query->set( 'post_status', array( 'publish', 'inherit' ) ); } return $query; } add_filter( 'pre_get_posts', 'attachment_search' ); Code language: PHP (php) ``` The snippet modifies the main WordPress search query before it runs. Setting `post_type` to include both `post` and `attachment` tells WordPress to return attachment records alongside standard posts. Setting `post_status` to include `inherit` covers attachments, which use that status rather than `publish`. You can add this code using one of the following methods: **Using WPCode (recommended):** Install the free [WPCode plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-headers-and-footers/), go to **Code Snippets > Add Snippet**, paste the code, and activate it. **Add to functions.php:** Add the code to your active theme’s `functions.php` file. Once active, WordPress includes attachment pages in search results. Visitors searching for terms that appear in your PDF file names or attachment page titles will see those pages in the results. > This snippet applies to the main site search query. If your theme uses a custom search implementation or a search plugin, results may vary. Test after adding the code to confirm attachment pages appear as expected. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about including attachment pages in search. ### Will this affect search performance? Including attachments expands what the search query returns, so on sites with very large media libraries there can be a minor impact. For most sites, the difference is not noticeable. ### Can I limit results to PDFs only? The snippet above includes all attachment types. To restrict results to PDFs only, a more targeted query modification is needed. That goes beyond standard plugin configuration and requires custom development. ### Do I need PDF Embedder Premium for this to work? No. The PHP snippet works independently of your PDF Embedder license and applies to any attachment in your Media Library, including PDFs embedded with the free plugin. **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Using the PDF Embedder Block](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/) **Published:** February 27, 2017 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Learn how to embed your PDFs and customize the PDF Embedder block settings. **Content:** Are you looking to embed a PDF directly in the WordPress Block Editor? The PDF Embedder block integrates with the Gutenberg editor so you can insert, preview, and configure a PDF embed without writing any shortcode manually. This guide covers how to add the PDF Embedder block, select a PDF from the Media Library, and configure per-embed settings using the block sidebar. - [Adding the PDF Embedder Block](#aioseo-adding-the-pdf-embedder-block-4) - [Selecting the PDF](#aioseo-selecting-the-pdf-7) - [Configuring the Block Settings](#aioseo-configuring-the-block-settings-12) - [Width and Height](#aioseo-width-and-height-18) - [Toolbar](#aioseo-toolbar-21) - [Actions Tab](#aioseo-actions-tab-24) - [Pages and Scrolling](#aioseo-pages-and-scrolling-32) - [Zoom Options](#aioseo-zoom-options-35) - [Mobile Options](#aioseo-mobile-options-38) - [Watermarks](#aioseo-watermarks-41) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-44) - [Does the block work with the Classic Editor plugin?](#aioseo-does-the-block-work-with-the-classic-editor-plugin-46) --- ## Adding the PDF Embedder Block Open the post or page you want to edit in the Block Editor. Click the **+** icon to open the block inserter, then search for “PDF Embedder” and select it. The block is inserted into your content. ![a screenshot of the PDF Embedder blocks to WordPress blocks list](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/add-pdf-embedder-block.webp)## Selecting the PDF After inserting the block, click on the **Media** **Library** button inside the PDF Embedder block you added. ![a screenshot of the media library option in the PDF Embedder block](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-block-media-button-1024x256.webp)The WordPress Media Library should open, where you can upload a new PDF or select an existing one. Once a file is selected, the block updates to show the embedded PDF URL in the editor. ## Configuring the Block Settings With the block selected, the right-hand sidebar shows settings for that specific embed. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Editor-1024x631.webp)Any values set here override the global defaults configured in **WordPress > Settings > PDF Embedder**. Similar to the global settings, not all the block settings are available with the free version of PDF Embedder. In the sidebar, you can customize the following settings: ### Width and Height Set fixed pixel dimensions for this embed, or leave blank to use the global defaults. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Width-1024x366.webp)### Toolbar Choose where the toolbar appears and toggle whether the toolbar stays visible at all times or appears only on hover. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Toolbar-1024x260.webp)### Actions Tab In this tab, you can enable or disable: - The download button - The option to track views and downloads for this embed - The search button - Opening links in a new tab ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Actions-1024x382.webp)### Pages and Scrolling In this tab, you can set the start page and scrolling settings. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Scrolling-1024x434.webp)### Zoom Options Adjust the default zoom and full-screen zoom options. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Zoom-1024x326.webp)### Mobile Options Specify the mobile full-screen width and the full-screen button text. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Mobile-1024x346.webp)### Watermarks In this tab, you can add and customize a watermark specific to this PDF Embed. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/PDF-Embedder-Block-Watermark-1.webp)## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about using the PDF Embedder block. ### Does the block work with the Classic Editor plugin? No. The PDF Embedder block requires the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg). If you use the Classic Editor plugin, please use the [**PDF Embedder shortcode**](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-the-pdf-embedder-shortcode/). **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Changing button icons](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/changing-button-icons/) **Published:** August 16, 2022 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to customize the PDF Embedder icons in the toolbar to match your preferred styling **Content:** Want the PDF viewer toolbar icons to match your site’s visual style? The default toolbar icons are PNG files stored in the plugin’s `/img/` directory, and you can swap any of them out by uploading replacement images and pointing the relevant CSS selectors to the new file paths. This guide covers which CSS selectors control each toolbar button icon, how to override them with custom images, and how to handle the full-screen minimize button as a special case. - [How button icons work](#aioseo-how-button-icons-work-4) - [Replacing standard toolbar button icons](#aioseo-replacing-standard-toolbar-button-icons-6) - [Replacing the full-screen minimize button icon](#aioseo-replacing-the-full-screen-minimize-button-icon-10) - [Hiding the full-screen button entirely](#aioseo-hiding-the-full-screen-button-entirely-14) - [Adding custom CSS to your site](#aioseo-adding-custom-css-to-your-site-17) --- ## How button icons work Each toolbar button pulls its icon from a PNG file in the plugin’s `/img/` directory using a CSS `content: url()` declaration. To replace an icon, upload your replacement image to the WordPress Media Library, then override the corresponding CSS selector with the new URL. ## Replacing standard toolbar button icons The CSS selectors for each button are listed below. For each one, replace the `url()` value with the URL of your uploaded image. ``` /* DOWNLOAD BUTTON IMAGE CSS */ div.pdfemb-toolbar button.pdfemb-download::before { content: url(../img/toolbarButton-download.png); } /* ZOOM OUT BUTTON IMAGE CSS */ div.pdfemb-toolbar button.pdfemb-zoomout::before { content: url(../img/toolbarButton-zoomOut.png); } /* ZOOM IN BUTTON IMAGE CSS */ div.pdfemb-toolbar button.pdfemb-zoomin::before { content: url(../img/toolbarButton-zoomIn.png); } /* PREV PAGE BUTTON IMAGE CSS */ div.pdfemb-toolbar button.pdfemb-prev::before { content: url(../img/toolbarButton-pageUp.png); } /* NEXT PAGE BUTTON IMAGE CSS */ div.pdfemb-toolbar button.pdfemb-next::before { content: url(../img/toolbarButton-pageDown.png); } /* FULLSCREEN BUTTON IMAGE CSS */ div.pdfemb-toolbar button.pdfemb-fs::before { content: url(../img/toolbarButton-presentationMode.png); } Code language: CSS (css) ``` Swap only the selectors you need to change. Leave the rest untouched. ## Replacing the full-screen minimize button icon The minimize button (shown inside fullscreen mode) uses a separate selector. Upload your icon image to the Media Library, copy its URL, and substitute it in the snippet below: ``` /* CHANGE FS MINIMIZE BUTTON ICON */ div.pdfemb-toolbar button.pdfemb-toggled::before { content: url(https://example.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/xxxx/xx/toolbarButton-presentationMode_minimize.png) !important; } Code language: CSS (css) ``` Replace the URL in the `content` value with the full URL of your uploaded image file. ## Hiding the full-screen button entirely If you want to remove the full-screen button rather than swap its icon, use this CSS. The media query targets mobile widths so users on small screens can still exit full screen if they enter it: ``` /* HIDE FULL-SCREEN BUTTON */ @media only screen and (max-width:380px) { button.pdfemb-fs {display: none !important;} } Code language: CSS (css) ``` ## Adding custom CSS to your site Add any of the above snippets using one of these methods: - **Classic themes:** Go to **Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS** and paste the CSS there. - **Block themes:** Use a custom CSS plugin, or add styles via the **Styles** panel in the Site Editor. - **Child theme:** Add the rules to your child theme’s `style.css` file. **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Smart Tags for Watermarks](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/smart-tags-for-watermarks/) **Published:** November 21, 2024 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Explore how to user and register new custom dynamic smart tags in PDF Viewer using the provided API and code snippets. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Watermarks is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock PDF Embedder watermarks and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) Want to make your PDF watermarks more personal and dynamic? Instead of a static text watermark, PDF Embedder lets you display live user data (the viewer’s name, username, or email address) directly on every page of your PDF with smart tags. This guide covers the built-in smart tags available in the watermark feature and how to register custom smart tags using WordPress filter hooks. - [Built-in watermark smart tags](#aioseo-built-in-watermark-smart-tags-10) - [Registering Custom Smart Tags](#aioseo-registering-custom-smart-tags-18) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-faq-28) - [Can I register multiple custom tags?](#aioseo-can-i-register-multiple-custom-tags-30) --- ## Built-in watermark smart tags PDF Embedder includes three smart tags ready to use out of the box: - `{fullname}`: displays the viewer’s full name - `{username}`: displays the viewer’s WordPress username - `{email}`: displays the viewer’s email address Add any of these tags to your watermark text in **Settings > PDF Embedder > Watermarks**, or pass them through the `watermark` attribute in your [PDF Embedder shortcode](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-the-pdf-embedder-shortcode/). When a visitor is not logged in, the plugin replaces each tag value with the text “Not logged in” rather than leaving the watermark blank. ## Registering Custom Smart Tags The plugin exposes a two-filter API for adding your own dynamic tags. Both filters must be registered and maintain matching array order, because the plugin pairs tag names to their replacement values by position. ``` add_filter( 'pdfemb_watermark_var_names', static function( $var_names ) { $var_names[] = '{year}'; return $var_names; }, 11 ); add_filter( 'pdfemb_watermark_var_values', static function( $var_values ) { $var_values[] = date( 'Y' ); return $var_values; }, 11 ); Code language: PHP (php) ``` The first filter, `pdfemb_watermark_var_names`, registers the tag string. The second, `pdfemb_watermark_var_values`, returns the replacement value. In this example, `{year}` outputs the current four-digit year. Add this code using one of the following methods: **Using WPCode (recommended):** Install the free [WPCode plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-headers-and-footers/), go to **Code Snippets > Add Snippet**, paste the code, and activate it. **Adding to functions.php:** Add the code to your active theme’s `functions.php` file. Once added, the custom tag is available alongside the built-in tags. Use it in the watermark settings field or in the `watermark` shortcode attribute. > **Important:** The plugin matches tag names to values by array position. Do not reorder items in either array or the wrong values will be substituted. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about watermark smart tags. ### Can I register multiple custom tags? Yes. Add each tag name to the `pdfemb_watermark_var_names` array and its corresponding value to the `pdfemb_watermark_var_values` array, keeping the order identical across both filters. **Documentation Categories:** Advanced Solutions --- ### [Hyperlinks aren't working](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/hyperlinks-arent-working-premium-version/) **Published:** July 18, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Discover why PDF hyperlinks might not work in your PDF Embedder Viewer and learn the steps to preserve link functionality during PDF creation and export. **Content:** Are the hyperlinks in your embedded PDF not working or appearing as plain text instead of clickable links? Link support in PDF Embedder requires our PDF Embedder Premium plugin; if you are on the free version, links will not activate. If you are already on Premium and links are still broken, the issue is almost always how the PDF was created, not a plugin setting. This guide covers why PDF links break and how to fix them based on the application you used to create the document. - [Understanding Why PDF Links Break](#aioseo-understanding-why-pdf-links-break-4) - [Fixing Links in Microsoft Word](#aioseo-fixing-links-in-microsoft-word-9) - [Fixing Links on Mac with Pages](#aioseo-fixing-links-on-mac-with-pages-19) - [Using Canva](#aioseo-using-canva-27) - [What Does Not Work](#aioseo-what-does-not-work-29) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-31) - [My links show as plain text URLs in the PDF viewer. Can I fix this without going back to the source document?](#aioseo-my-links-show-as-plain-text-urls-in-the-pdf-viewer-can-i-fix-this-without-going-back-to-the-source-document-33) - [Does hyperlink support work with the free version of the plugin?](#aioseo-does-hyperlink-support-work-with-the-free-version-of-the-plugin-35) --- **PDF Embedder Hyperlinks is a [Premium plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock hyperlinks in PDF Embedder and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) ## Understanding Why PDF Links Break The PDF format has a specific data structure for hyperlinks. PDF Embedder only activates links that are defined as proper hyperlink annotations in the PDF file; it does not guess based on URL-like strings in the text. Some PDF creation tools export text that looks like a URL without creating an actual link object in the file. Other viewers, such as browser-native PDF readers, detect URL patterns and make them clickable regardless, which is why a link might work in one viewer but not another. The fix is to ensure hyperlinks are created correctly in the source document before the PDF is exported. > Every hyperlink in the source document must include the full protocol (`http://` or **`https://`**) as part of the address. A link to `example.com` without a protocol is not recognized as a hyperlink by the PDF Embedder scripts. ## Fixing Links in Microsoft Word Word’s default `.docx` format does not reliably export hyperlinks to PDF. Use this process instead: 1. Save the Word document as **Word 97-2003 Document (.doc)**instead of the default `.docx`. 2. With the file saved as `.doc`, go to **File > Export** and export as PDF. Use **Export** rather than **Print to PDF**. Export retains all formatting, including links. Printing flattens the document and strips the links. The same `.doc` export method works for other Microsoft Office formats: - **Excel**: save as `.xls` (not `.xlsx`) before exporting to PDF - **PowerPoint**: save as `.ppt` (not `.pptx`) before exporting to PDF ## Fixing Links on Mac with Pages On macOS, use the Pages app to export the `.doc` file: 1. Open the `.doc` file in Pages. 2. Go to **File > Export To > PDF**. 3. Select **Electronic Distribution** instead of **Best for Printing**. The Electronic Distribution option preserves link data in the exported file. Best for Printing flattens the document and removes links. For Excel on Mac, convert the spreadsheet to a Word table first, then export from Word using the `.doc` process above. ## Using Canva Canva supports hyperlink export. Make sure links are added using Canva’s built-in link tool rather than typed as plain text, and export using the **PDF with links** option. ## What Does Not Work PDFs created in **LibreOffice** will not have working links in PDF Embedder. LibreOffice does not export hyperlinks in a format the plugin recognizes. Use Microsoft Word, Pages, or another tool that properly embeds link annotations in the PDF output. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about hyperlinks in embedded PDFs. ### My links show as plain text URLs in the PDF viewer. Can I fix this without going back to the source document? In some cases, yes. Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat and check whether the links are defined as proper link annotations. If they are plain text, the most reliable fix is to recreate them in the source document using the steps above. Acrobat also has a tool under **Edit > Links > Add or Edit Web or Document Links** that lets you add link annotations to existing text directly in the PDF; this avoids returning to the source application entirely. ### Does hyperlink support work with the free version of the plugin? Hyperlinks are only supported in our PDF Embedder Premium plugin. The free version does not activate links. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Plugin Installation and Update Issues](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/the-download-doesnt-seem-to-be-a-zip-file/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to troubleshoot issues with installing or updating your PDF Embedder plugin **Content:** Running into an error when installing or updating PDF Embedder? Installation problems almost always fall into one of three categories discussed in this guide. - [Safari unzips the ZIP file automatically](#aioseo-safari-unzips-the-zip-file-automatically-3) - [Error: "The download doesn't seem to be a ZIP file"](#aioseo-error-the-download-doesnt-seem-to-be-a-zip-file-12) - [Required: Free Plugin Missing](#aioseo-required-free-plugin-missing-14) - [Update failed: File Permissions Error](#aioseo-update-failed-file-permissions-error-17) --- ## Safari unzips the ZIP file automatically When downloading the plugin ZIP on a Mac using Safari, Safari may automatically unzip the file, leaving you with a folder instead of a ZIP archive. WordPress requires the ZIP to install a plugin, so the upload will fail. **To fix this:** 1. Open **Safari > Preferences > General**. 2. Uncheck **Open “safe” files after downloading**. 3. Go back to your account on WP-PDF.com and [download the plugin file](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin/) again. The file will now download as a `.zip` archive ready for WordPress. If you already have the unzipped folder, right-click it on your Mac and select **Compress** to recreate the ZIP without re-downloading. ## Error: “The download doesn’t seem to be a ZIP file” This WordPress error during plugin upload is caused by the same Safari issue above — the file has already been extracted. Follow the steps above to re-download with the correct setting enabled, then retry the installation. ## Required: Free Plugin Missing Our PDF Embedder Premium plugin requires the free PDF Embedder plugin to be installed and activated on the same site. Without it, the Premium plugin will not work. You will need to install the free version for the Premium to work well. ## Update failed: File Permissions Error If automatic updates fail with a permissions error, the web server does not have write access to the plugin directory. Your hosting provider is best placed to fix the underlying permissions issue. You can also update the plugin manually by downloading the plugin file and then [installing it on your site](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/installing-pdf-embedder-premium/). Re-entering your license key should not be necessary after a manual reinstall. > **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [License Issues](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/license-issues/) **Published:** May 13, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to resolve common issues with license activation for WP PDF subscriptions. **Content:** Is your license showing as invalid, or is the license status not updating after activation? License errors in PDF Embedder usually fall into a few predictable categories. This guide covers the two most common error states: `INVALID_ITEM_ID` and `SITE_INACTIVE`. - [INVALID\_ITEM\_ID error](#aioseo-invalid_item_id-error-4) - [Wrong license key](#aioseo-wrong-license-key-6) - [Cached or corrupted plugin files](#aioseo-cached-or-corrupted-plugin-files-12) - [SITE\_INACTIVE error](#aioseo-site_inactive-error-21) --- ## INVALID\_ITEM\_ID error This error appears when the license key does not match a valid purchase or when the wrong key has been entered for the installed plugin. ### Wrong license key PDF Embedder Premium and PDF Thumbnails Premium are separate products with separate license keys. If you have purchased both, make sure each key is entered in the correct plugin’s license field: - PDF Embedder Premium key goes in **Settings > PDF Embedder > License** - PDF Thumbnails key goes in the PDF Thumbnails settings Remove the existing key, then re-enter the correct one. For a step-by-step walkthrough on locating your license key, see [Downloading the Plugin or Upgrading the License](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/). ### Cached or corrupted plugin files A caching plugin or corrupted files can prevent the license status from updating even after entering the right key. If the status does not update within a few minutes, try the following: 1. Deactivate and delete the PDF Embedder Premium plugin. Your embedded PDFs are not affected; they display as shortcode text until you reinstall, then return to normal once the plugin is active again. 2. Re-download the latest ZIP from your [account on WP-PDF.com](https://wp-pdf.com/account/) and reinstall it. 3. Re-enter your license key in **Settings > PDF Embedder > License**. Also, exclude PDF Embedder assets from your caching plugin as described in [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) to prevent the issue from recurring. ## SITE\_INACTIVE error This error indicates the site has not been registered against the license, or that a cached state is blocking the activation from reflecting on the site. After activating the license key, caching can delay the status update by up to 24 to 48 hours. The plugin continues functioning normally during this period; the license display does not affect PDF embedding or any other plugin feature. Only automatic updates are tied to the license status. If the error persists beyond 48 hours, contact support with your license key and site URL. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [PDF Does Not Load](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/pdf-doesnt-appear-at-all-just-a-blank-line-or-hangs-on-loading/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to troubleshoot issues with PDF not loading in PDF Embedder viewer **Content:** Is the PDF viewer not displaying, showing a blank space, a plain link, or hanging on “Loading…”? This guide covers the most common causes and how to work through each one. - [Before you get started](#aioseo-before-you-get-started-4) - [Plugin or theme conflict](#aioseo-plugin-or-theme-conflict-7) - [Downgrading from a plan that included Secure PDFs](#aioseo-downgrading-from-a-plan-that-included-secure-pdfs-21) - [PDF file issues on mobile](#aioseo-pdf-file-issues-on-mobile-25) - [Still not loading?](#aioseo-still-not-loading-27) --- ## Before you get started Before you get started, if you are using any caching tools on the site, ensure you exclude the PDF Embedder plugins from those tools, as shown in our [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) guide. Caching conflicts are one of the most frequent causes of the PDF failing to load, and resolving the cache exclusion often fixes the issue on its own. Below are known causes and their resolutions to this issue. ## Plugin or theme conflict The most common cause is a JavaScript conflict with another plugin or theme. **Step 1: Deactivate all other plugins** In **Plugins > Installed Plugins**, deactivate everything except PDF Embedder. Also, switch to a default WordPress theme such as Twenty Twenty-Three. Reload the page containing the PDF. If it loads, re-activate each plugin one at a time, reloading the page after each, until the PDF stops loading. That last plugin is the conflict. **Step 2: Check the browser console for errors** Open your browser’s developer tools (in Chrome: **View > Developer > JavaScript Console**). Reload the page. Red error messages may point to the specific plugin or script causing the issue. Take a screenshot and send it to support if you need help reading the output. **Step 3: Check the network tab for missing files** In developer tools, open the **Network** tab. Reload the page, then type `pdfemb` in the filter box. The following files should appear: - `all-pdfemb-premium.min.js` (or `all-pdfemb-basic.min.js` for the free version) - `pdf.min.js` - `pdf.worker.min.js` If any are missing, something on the site is blocking PDF Embedder from loading its scripts, often a caching plugin, a security plugin with script restrictions, or a theme with aggressive script management. ## Downgrading from a plan that included Secure PDFs If a PDF was uploaded while a Pro or Elite license was active, it was stored in the `/securepdfs/` folder. That folder is only accessible through PDF Embedder’s secure delivery system. After a downgrade to a plan without the Secure PDFs feature, the viewer can no longer reach those files, and the PDF will not load. To fix this, you need to re-upload the affected PDFs. Without the Secure PDFs feature, new uploads go to the standard `/wp-content/uploads/` folder and load normally. You also need to update the shortcodes or blocks on each affected page to point to the new file URL. ## PDF file issues on mobile If the PDF loads on desktop but crashes or shows a blank page on mobile, see [Crashing or Blank Pages on Mobile Devices](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/crashing-or-blank-pages-on-mobile-devices/) for mobile-specific steps. ## Still not loading? Contact support and include a link to the page with the broken embed, any error messages from the browser console, and the name of your hosting provider. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Unexpected server response (204)](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/unexpected-server-response-204/) **Published:** July 18, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to work through an unexpected error 204 when working with PDF Embedder on your site. **Content:** Seeing an “Unexpected server response (204)” error where the PDF Embedder viewer should be loading? This is an uncommon error, and it almost always comes down to a browser extension (a download manager) intercepting the request PDF Embedder makes to fetch the file. This guide explains the issue and how to resolve it on your site. - [Understanding the Issue](#aioseo-understanding-the-issue-4) - [Resolving the Issue](#aioseo-resolving-the-issue-6) - [Step 1: Test in a different browser](#aioseo-step-1-test-in-a-different-browser-7) - [Step 2: Disable the download manager extension](#aioseo-step-2-disable-the-download-manager-extension-9) - [Step 3: Configure the download manager to ignore PDF requests](#aioseo-step-3-configure-the-download-manager-to-ignore-pdf-requests-11) --- ## Understanding the Issue Download manager extensions intercept file requests and attempt to handle them independently. When PDF Embedder requests the PDF from your server, the download manager can grab that request and return a 204 No Content response before the viewer receives the file. ## Resolving the Issue Below are the steps to resolve this issue: ### Step 1: Test in a different browser Open the page in a different browser, one without the download manager extension installed. If the PDF loads correctly, this confirms that the browser extension is the cause. ### Step 2: Disable the download manager extension Go to your browser’s extensions panel and disable the download manager. Reload the page and check whether the PDF displays. ### Step 3: Configure the download manager to ignore PDF requests If you want to keep the extension active, check its settings for an option to exclude certain file types or domains from interception. Configuring it to leave PDF file requests alone should resolve the conflict without disabling the extension entirely. If the error persists after disabling all extensions, contact support and include a link to the page where the error occurs. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Header Obscures Full Screen Viewer](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/menu-bar-header-obscures-full-screen-pdf/) **Published:** August 1, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to resolve the issue where the theme menu or header obscures the PDF Embedder full screen viewer **Content:** When you open an embedded PDF in full-screen mode, does your theme’s navigation bar or header appear on top of the viewer? This is usually a CSS stacking order conflict. Your theme’s header has a higher `z-index` than the PDF Embedder full-screen overlay, so it renders on top. This guide shares a small CSS snippet that is needed to fix it. - [Fixing the z-index conflict](#aioseo-fixing-the-z-index-conflict-4) - [Adding the CSS to your site](#aioseo-adding-the-css-to-your-site-8) --- ## Fixing the z-index conflict The PDF Embedder full-screen overlay uses the CSS class `.pdfemb-fsp-wrapper`. Add the following CSS to push it above your theme’s header: ``` .pdfemb-fsp-wrapper { z-index: 999999 !important; } Code language: CSS (css) ``` If the header still appears over the viewer after applying this, increase the number. Some themes use very high `z-index` values for sticky headers. Inspect the header element in your browser’s developer tools to see its current `z-index` value, then set `.pdfemb-fsp-wrapper` higher than that. ## Adding the CSS to your site **Method 1: WordPress Customizer (recommended for most users):** Go to **Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS**, paste the snippet, and click **Publish**. **Method 2: Child theme stylesheet:** Add the CSS to your child theme’s `style.css` file. Using a child theme prevents the change from being lost during theme updates. > **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Using the PDF Embedder Shortcode](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-the-pdf-embedder-shortcode/) **Published:** April 16, 2026 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Learn how to customize the PDF Embedder plugin with shortcode attributes for size, shape, toolbar, PDF title, scrollbars, and more. **Content:** Are you looking to use PDF Embedder with a shortcode? The PDF Embedder shortcode lets you embed PDFs and even override defaults for any individual embed by adding attributes directly to the shortcode. This guide covers available shortcode attributes for our PDF Embedder plugin, including sizing, toolbar behavior, navigation, watermarks, and more. - [Shortcode](#aioseo-shortcode-4) - [Size and shape](#aioseo-size-and-shape-9) - [Toolbar](#aioseo-toolbar-13) - [PDF title](#aioseo-pdf-title-18) - [Scrollbars](#aioseo-scrollbars-21) - [Continuous scrolling](#aioseo-continuous-scrolling-24) - [Download button](#aioseo-download-button-28) - [Mobile friendly](#aioseo-mobile-friendly-31) - [Starting page](#aioseo-starting-page-35) - [Page number text box](#aioseo-page-number-text-box-38) - [Zoom level](#aioseo-zoom-level-41) - [External links](#aioseo-external-links-52) - [Scroll to top](#aioseo-scroll-to-top-55) - [Watermark attributes](#aioseo-watermark-attributes-58) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-69) - [Do shortcode attributes work with the free version?](#aioseo-do-shortcode-attributes-work-with-the-free-version-71) - [Can I use these attributes in the Block Editor?](#aioseo-can-i-use-these-attributes-in-the-block-editor-73) --- ## Shortcode Inserting a PDF is as easy as uploading an image into a WordPress page. You can use the PDF Embedder shortcode without any attributes to embed your PDFs. This will use the global options set in the PDF Embedder settings. ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` If any attributes are added to this shortcode, they override the corresponding global setting for that embed only. ### Size and shape Using the width or height attributes with their values in pixels, you can set a custom size for your embed. ``` [pdf-embedder width="500" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` The default for both `width` and `height` is `max`, which fills the parent container. Setting a fixed height may cut off the document vertically. The viewer shrinks to fit if the parent container is narrower than the specified width. ### Toolbar Define the placement of the toolbar on the viewer using the toolbar attributes. The values can be `"top"`, `"bottom"`, `"both"`, or `"none"`. ``` [pdf-embedder toolbar="top" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` You can also modify the toolbar visibility using the **toolbarfixed** attribute. For example, use `toolbarfixed="on"` to keep the toolbar open at all times rather than only when the user hovers over the document. ``` [pdf-embedder toolbarfixed="on" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### PDF title The `title` attribute serves two purposes depending on your version. In the free version, it controls the link text displayed before the interactive viewer loads — helpful for search engines and users without JavaScript. In the Premium version, it becomes the accessible title of the `iframe` that renders the viewer, which screen readers announce to identify it. ``` [pdf-embedder title="Plan Summary" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Scrollbars To enable or disable the scroll bars, use the **`scrollbar`** attribute. The options for this are `"vertical"`, `"horizontal"`, `"both"`, or `"none"` ``` [pdf-embedder scrollbar="vertical" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Continuous scrolling Add `continousscroll="on"` to the shortcode to enable mouse/touch scrolling between pages. Or you can set the value to “off” to disable this. ``` [pdf-embedder continousscroll="on" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` When disabled, viewers are limited to navigating the pages only using the toolbar “Prev” (arrow up) and “Next” (arrow down) buttons. ### Download button This allows you to enable or disable the download button. The options include `download="on"` or `"off"`. ``` [pdf-embedder download="on" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Mobile friendly By default, if the embed area is narrower than 500 pixels, the document will appear as a thumbnail with a large ‘View in Full Screen’ button. This is designed especially for mobile devices, where it can be difficult to interact with a small area, but the same 500-pixel logic applies to any web browser. You can change the cut-off width (or eliminate it entirely) by adding a mobilewidth parameter: e.g. `mobilewidth="200"`, or `"0"` to always display the interactive document at any screen size. A ‘Full Screen’ button is always available on the toolbar, regardless. ``` [pdf-embedder mobilewidth="200" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Starting page You can optionally start on any page number in the PDF. For example, to open up on page 5: ``` [pdf-embedder page="5" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Page number text box You can ensure the ‘page number’ text box is always visible for the user to enter a page number to jump to by using `pagetextbox="on"`. If omitted or `"off"`, the user needs to click on the page number displayed in order for it to change into a text box. ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf" pagetextbox="on"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Zoom level Optionally specify the percentage zoom to start off the display. For example, for 50% zoom ``` [pdf-embedder zoom="50" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` To set a different zoom level for the full-screen view, add `fpzoom`: ``` [pdf-embedder zoom="50" fpzoom="75" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` You can also use other non-percentage values, for example: - `zoom="page-width"` - `zoom="auto"` - `zoom="page-actual"` - `zoom="page-fit"` ### External links Links to external websites will open up in a new window if the option is checked in the PDF Embedder settings. You can override this behavior for an individual embed by adding the `newwindow="on|off"` parameter to the shortcode ``` [pdf-embedder newwindow="off" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Scroll to top We also have the **`scrolltotop`** attribute that when set to `"on"` scrolls the browser window to the top of the embed area when the user changes pages. ``` [pdf-embedder scrolltotop="on" url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ### Watermark attributes We have watermark attributes to use with the shortcode, which you can use to set or override watermark behavior for a specific embed. - **`wm_halign`** — horizontal alignment: `"left"`, `"center"`, or `"right"` - **`wm_hoffset`** — horizontal offset percentage (0–100) - **`wm_voffset`** — vertical offset percentage (0–100) - **`wm_fontsize`** — font size in points - **`wm_fontcolor`** — color in hex format (e.g. `"#444444"`) - **`wm_opacity`** — opacity percentage (0–100) - **`wm_rotate`** — rotation in degrees - **`wm_evenpages`** — `true` to display the watermark on even pages only ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about shortcode attributes. ### Do shortcode attributes work with the free version? Only a subset of attributes work with the Free version: `url`, `width`, `height`, `toolbar`, and `toolbarfixed`. All other attributes require our PDF Embedder Premium plugin. ### Can I use these attributes in the Block Editor? When using the PDF Embedder block, the most common attributes are accessible through the block sidebar when using the Premium version. To use these attributes, switch to a Shortcode block and enter the PDF Embedder shortcode with attributes manually. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Download button opens PDF in a new tab](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/download-button-opens-pdf-in-a-new-tab/) **Published:** December 16, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to troubleshoot the download button opening the PDF file in a new tab. **Content:** This is a browser behaviour, not a plugin bug. Most modern browsers, Chrome in particular, are set to open PDFs in their built-in viewer rather than save them to disk. This guide explains what is happening and what options are available. - [Why the Issue Happens](#aioseo-why-the-issue-happens-4) - [How to Resolve](#aioseo-how-to-resolve-6) - [Change the PDF handling setting in your browser (personal browser only)](#aioseo-change-the-pdf-handling-setting-in-your-browser-personal-browser-only-7) - [Force PDF downloads for all visitors via server configuration](#aioseo-force-pdf-downloads-for-all-visitors-via-server-configuration-11) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-faq-19) - [The .htaccess change did not work. What else can I try?](#aioseo-the-htaccess-change-did-not-work-what-else-can-i-try-21) --- ## Why the Issue Happens Browsers like Chrome and Firefox have a built-in PDF viewer that intercepts PDF file requests. When a user clicks the viewer’s download button, the browser can open the file in its own viewer rather than triggering a save dialog. This is controlled at the browser level, not by WordPress or PDF Embedder. And ## How to Resolve ### Change the PDF handling setting in your browser If you are testing this on your own machine and want to change how your browser handles PDFs, the steps differ by browser. In most versions of Chrome, go to **Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Additional content settings > PDF documents** and enable **Download PDFs**. This only affects your own browser and does not change the behaviour for visitors to your site. ### Force PDF downloads for all visitors via server configuration The other option is to make PDFs download rather than open in a tab for all site visitors, and configure the server to send a `Content-Disposition: attachment` header with every PDF response. The configuration method depends on your server type. Ask your hosting provider if you are not sure which server your site runs on. **For Apache servers**, you could add the following to the `.htaccess` file in your site’s root folder (accessible via FTP or your host’s file manager): ``` ForceType application/octet-stream Header set Content-Disposition attachment Code language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` This tells the server to send all PDF files as generic binary downloads, which forces the browser to save them rather than open them inline. > This change affects all PDF files on your site. If you have PDFs that should open inline in other contexts, this will change that behaviour too. If you are not comfortable editing server files directly, ask your hosting provider to apply the configuration. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about PDF download behaviour. ### The .htaccess change did not work. What else can I try? Some hosts run Nginx or other servers that do not use `.htaccess`. The equivalent configuration needs to be applied at the server or virtual host level. Contact your hosting provider and ask them to set `Content-Disposition: attachment` for PDF files. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Homepage Displaying in PDF Embedder Viewer](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/homepage-displaying-in-pdf-embedder-viewer/) **Published:** May 11, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn to fix PDF Embedder viewer problems on your WordPress site where the homepage displays instead of the embedded PDF. **Content:** Is the PDF viewer displaying your site’s homepage instead of the embedded PDF? There are two different causes for this, and the fix depends on which one applies to your setup. This guide covers both the caching-related cause and the WordPress homepage setting cause. - [Caching or Minification Conflict](#aioseo-caching-or-minification-conflict-4) - [WordPress Homepage Setting](#aioseo-wordpress-homepage-setting-8) - [Using Your Custom Layout](#aioseo-using-your-custom-layout-18) --- ## Caching or Minification Conflict A caching or minification plugin interfering with PDF Embedder’s scripts can cause the viewer to load incorrectly, sometimes rendering the homepage in place of the PDF. Before you get started, if you are using any caching tools on the site, ensure you [exclude the PDF Embedder plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) from those tools. After excluding and flushing the cache, reload the page containing the PDF and check whether the issue is resolved. ## WordPress Homepage Setting If the caching fix does not help, or if you are not using a caching plugin, the problem may be in how WordPress is configured to serve your homepage. Head to **WordPress Dashboard > Settings > Reading** and check the **Your homepage display** setting. If the homepage is set directly to a custom theme layout (rather than a WordPress page), some themes bypass the standard WordPress page architecture. This can cause the PDF viewer to incorrectly resolve URLs back to the homepage. To confirm this is the cause: 1. Create a new blank page (**Pages > Add New**) and publish it. 2. Go to **Settings > Reading**, set **Your homepage displays** to **A static page**, and select your new page as the **Homepage**. 3. Reload the page containing the PDF and check whether it now displays correctly. If the PDF loads correctly after this change, the custom theme layout was the cause. ### Using Your Custom Layout If you want to keep your custom layout, we recommend that you apply it as a page template rather than setting it directly in the reading settings: 1. Create a WordPress page and assign your custom layout to it as a page template. This option is usually in the page editor’s right-hand sidebar under **Page Attributes** or **Template**. 2. Go to **Settings > Reading** and select that page as the homepage. This preserves your visual layout while giving WordPress the standard page structure the PDF viewer needs. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [API Version Does Not Match Worker Version](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/the-api-version-does-not-match-the-worker-version-error-on-update/) **Published:** August 22, 2018 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to resolve the 'API version does not match the Worker version' error after updating PDF Embedder by clearing cache and excluding updated plugin files. **Content:** After updating PDF Embedder, are you seeing the error “The API version does not match the Worker version”? This happens when a caching or minification plugin is still serving the old version of the plugin’s JavaScript files after an update. The viewer loads the new API alongside a cached worker from the previous version, and they no longer match. This guide explains how to clear the mismatch and stop it from happening on every future update. - [Resolving the error](#aioseo-resolving-the-error-4) - [Clear your site cache](#aioseo-clear-your-site-cache-5) - [Clear your browser cache](#aioseo-clear-your-browser-cache-7) - [Preventing the error on future updates](#aioseo-preventing-the-error-on-future-updates-13) - [No caching plugin installed?](#aioseo-no-caching-plugin-installed-34) --- ## Resolving the error ### Clear your site cache Open your caching plugin and purge all cached files. If your caching tool manages JavaScript optimisation separately (script combining or minification), clear that cache specifically. ### Clear your browser cache After clearing the server-side cache, do a hard reload in your browser: - **Windows/Linux:** `Ctrl + Shift + R` - **Mac:** `Cmd + Shift + R` The error should be gone after both layers are flushed. ## Preventing the error on future updates The error comes up because the caching plugin is aggregating or caching the plugin’s JavaScript files. Excluding those file paths from your cache prevents version mismatches on every future update. Add the following paths to your caching or minification plugin’s exclusion list: **Free version paths:** - `/wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/js/all-pdfemb-basic-4.6.24.min.js` - `/wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/js/pdfjs/pdf-4.6.4.min.js` - `/wp-content/plugins/pdf-embedder/js/pdfjs/pdf-4.6.4.worker.min.js` **Premium version paths:** - `/wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium/js/all-pdfemb-premium-5.0.2.min.js` - `/wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium/js/pdfjs/pdf-5.0.2.min.js` - `/wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium/js/pdfjs/pdf-5.0.2.worker.min.js` **Secure version paths:** - `/wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium-secure/js/all-pdfemb-premium-5.0.2.min.js` - `/wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium-secure/js/pdfjs/pdf-5.0.2.min.js` - `/wp-content/plugins/PDFEmbedder-premium-secure/js/pdfjs/pdf-5.0.2.worker.min.js` After adding the exclusions, flush the cache again and do a hard browser reload. > The version numbers in these paths change with each plugin update. For a permanent exclusion that does not need updating, use a pattern-based rule that matches the plugin folder path rather than specific filenames. See [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) for how to set that up. ## No caching plugin installed? If you are not using a caching plugin and the error still appears, the scripts are cached in the browser only. A hard reload (Step 2 above) is all that is needed. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [PDF not Secured, or 'Disable Right-Click' Not Working](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/pdf-is-not-in-secure-mode-or-disable-right-click-is-not-working/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to troubleshoot PDF Embedder Secure issues, such as right-click restrictions and file access, with our detailed step-by-step guide. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Secure is a [Premium plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock the PDF Embedder Secure Settings and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) Is the Disable Right Click option enabled, but right-clicking on the embedded PDF still shows the browser context menu? Or is the PDF Secure feature enabled, and the document is still accessible? This guide walks through how to troubleshoot these two issues. - [Confirming the Issue](#aioseo-confirming-the-issue-10) - [What to do if the /securepdfs/ file is directly accessible?](#aioseo-what-to-do-if-the-securepdfs-file-is-directly-accessible-16) --- ## Confirming the Issue Head to your WordPress media library and click on the PDF file. A secured icon should show in the media details panel. You can also copy the URL and open it in a new tab. - If the URL does **not** contain `/securepdfs/`: the file was not uploaded in secure mode. Re-upload it after confirming secure settings are active, as described in [Using PDF Embedder Secure Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/secure-instructions/). - If the URL **does** contain `/securepdfs/` and a 403 Unauthorized error is **not shown** when you open it in a new tab, then the file is not correctly secured on your server. - If the URL **does** contain `/securepdfs/` and a 403 Unauthorized error is **shown** when you open it in a new tab, then it confirms the file is protected correctly. ## What to do if the /securepdfs/ file is directly accessible? If pasting the `/securepdfs/` URL into a browser tab lets you view or download the PDF, the directory is not properly protected. On most Apache-based servers, the plugin handles this with an automatic `.htaccess` rule. On other server types, extra configuration is needed: - **Nginx:** See the [Nginx configuration Guide in Using PDF Embedder Secure Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/secure-instructions/). - **Caddy:** See the [Caddy config changes in Using PDF Embedder Secure Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/secure-instructions/). **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Not Loading in Tab Popup or Ajax Section](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/the-viewer-doesnt-display-at-all-or-at-wrong-size-when-inside-a-javascript-based-tab-or-ajax-page-transitions/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to troubleshoot and resolve PDF Embedder issues in tabbed and AJAX-enabled websites to ensure your PDFs load correctly every time. **Content:** Is the PDF viewer failing to display correctly inside a tabbed interface or a page with smooth AJAX transitions? This is a known limitation of how PDF Embedder initialises its viewer; the timing of when the embed calculates its dimensions can conflict with JavaScript-driven layout changes. This guide explains why the viewer breaks in these contexts and what to do about it. - [Why the viewer fails in tabs and AJAX transitions](#aioseo-why-the-viewer-fails-in-tabs-and-ajax-transitions-4) - [Fixing the tab display issue](#aioseo-fixing-the-tab-display-issue-7) - [Fixing AJAX page transition issues](#aioseo-fixing-ajax-page-transition-issues-18) --- ## Why the viewer fails in tabs and AJAX transitions PDF Embedder calculates the viewer’s dimensions when the page loads. If the embed is inside a tab that is closed at load time, the viewer measures against a hidden container, so its width and height are wrong when the tab opens. Resizing the browser window forces a recalculation, which is why the PDF sometimes snaps into the right size after a manual resize. AJAX page transitions are a different problem. When a visitor navigates using a smooth transition rather than a full page load, PDF Embedder’s initialisation scripts may not run again, leaving the embed broken or invisible. ## Fixing the tab display issue To trigger a resize event when a tab opens, modify your tab’s click handler to dispatch a `resize` event immediately after the tab becomes visible: ``` window.dispatchEvent(new Event('resize')); Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` In cases where the PDF only loads when the page is opened directly, you might need to ensure that all relevant plugin JavaScript files are loaded, and then fire this event to initialize the plugin after the new page content has been loaded: ``` jQuery('.pdfemb-viewer').pdfEmbedder();Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` If your tab system uses jQuery and a class like `div.tab-title` to control tabs, the following code re-initialises the viewer on tab click: ``` jQuery(document).ready(function($){ $(document).on('click', 'div.tab-title', function() { if (pdfemb_trans.cmap_url === "undefined") { var cmapURLis = ''; } else { var cmapURLis = pdfemb_trans.cmap_url; } $('.pdfemb-viewer').pdfEmbedder(cmapURLis); }); }); Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` You can add this code using one of the following methods: **Using WPCode (recommended):** Install the free [WPCode plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/code-snippets/), go to **Code Snippets > Add Snippet**, paste the code, and activate it. **Adding the code to your themefunctions.php:** Add the code to your active theme’s `functions.php` file. The selector `div.tab-title` is an example. Replace it with the selector that matches your tab plugin’s actual click target. ## Fixing AJAX page transition issues If your theme provides smooth AJAX page transitions, the PDF viewer may only load on a direct page load, not when visitors navigate via a transition. The root cause is that AJAX navigation bypasses the full page initialisation sequence that PDF Embedder relies on. The most reliable fix is to disable AJAX page transitions in your theme settings, if that option exists. If disabling transitions is not an option, a developer will need to hook into the theme’s transition completion event and manually re-trigger PDF Embedder’s scripts’ initialisation. The method varies depending on which theme or transition plugin is in use. > Custom JavaScript solutions for AJAX transitions are outside the scope of standard plugin support. The code examples above are a starting point for developers. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Resolving the 'View in Full Screen' overlay](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/i-see-the-view-in-full-screen-overlay-when-i-dont-want-it/) **Published:** August 4, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** This guide explains why the full-screen overlay shows on PDF Embedder container and offers steps to hide or style it for improved user experience. **Content:** Seeing a “View in Full Screen” button where you expect an inline PDF viewer? This overlay appears when the embed area is narrower than the set mobile width. The plugin treats narrow columns as unsuitable for inline interaction and shows the full-screen button instead, so visitors can open the PDF in a focused view. This guide covers how to disable the overlay, adjust when it triggers, and restyle it to fit your site’s design. - [Why the Overlay Appears](#aioseo-why-the-overlay-appears-4) - [Hiding the Overlay](#aioseo-hiding-the-overlay-7) - [Controlling When the Overlay Appears](#aioseo-controlling-when-the-overlay-appears-18) - [Styling the Overlay](#aioseo-styling-the-overlay-21) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-27) - [Does removing the threshold affect performance?](#aioseo-does-removing-the-threshold-affect-performance-29) --- ## Why the Overlay Appears When a PDF is embedded in a column, sidebar, or any container narrower than the configured **Mobile Width** value (default: 500 pixels), PDF Embedder replaces the inline viewer with a thumbnail and a large “View in Full Screen” button. This behaviour exists because interacting with a small embedded viewer on touch devices is difficult. The 500-pixel threshold applies in any browser, not just on mobile. If your layout places the PDF in a narrow column on desktop, the overlay will appear there too. ## Hiding the Overlay **PDF Embedder Mobile Settings is a [Premium plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock the PDF Embedder Mobile Settings and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) To disable the “View in Full Screen” overlay entirely, head to the [PDF Embedder mobile settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-pdf-embedder-mobile-settings/) and set **Mobile Width** to `0`, then click **Save Changes**. With Mobile Width set to `0`, the inline viewer always displays by default, regardless of screen width. The full-screen icon in the toolbar remains available, so visitors can still choose to open in full screen if they want to. To disable the overlay on specific embeds only, without changing the global setting, add `mobilewidth="0"` to the shortcode: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/document.pdf" mobilewidth="0"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ## Controlling When the Overlay Appears If you want to keep the overlay for narrow mobile views but stop it from triggering on wider screens, adjust the Mobile Width threshold. The default is 500 pixels. A value between 250 and 320 limits the overlay to small phone screens only. Head to [PDF Embedder mobile settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-pdf-embedder-mobile-settings/) and enter the width in pixels. The overlay appears only when the embed area drops below this value. ## Styling the Overlay The overlay’s appearance can be changed with CSS. Add the following custom CSS to your site and adjust the values to match your site’s design: ``` /* Change the overlay background colour */ div.pdfemb-inner-div-wantmobile { background-color: lightgray !important; opacity: 0.5; } /* Change the button style */ div.pdfemb-wantmobile-fsarea { -webkit-border-radius: 20px !important; -moz-border-radius: 20px !important; border-radius: 20px !important; border: 2px solid #363600 !important; background-color: #C5BDCF !important; -webkit-box-shadow: #B3B3B3 8px 8px 8px !important; -moz-box-shadow: #B3B3B3 8px 8px 8px !important; box-shadow: #B3B3B3 8px 8px 8px !important; color: black !important; font-family: sans-serif !important; letter-spacing: 2px !important; font-size: 16px !important; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; }Code language: CSS (css) ``` The values shown are the plugin’s defaults. The `!important` flag is required to override the plugin’s built-in styles. Here’s a detailed tutorial on how to add custom CSS like this to your site: . We recommend using the [WPCode](https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-headers-and-footers/) plugin to protect your code from updates and keep it easy to manage right within your WordPress admin area. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed some common questions about the full-screen overlay. ### Does removing the threshold affect performance? No. The inline viewer loads the same way whether it appears directly or after a visitor clicks the full-screen button. The overlay exists for usability, not performance. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Fixing Crashing or Blank Pages on Mobile](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/crashing-or-blank-pages-on-mobile-devices/) **Published:** August 16, 2022 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Troubleshoot issues with crashing and blank pages when using PDF Embedder on mobile devices. Our expert tips help you optimize PDFs for mobile effectively. **Content:** Is your PDF viewer crashing or showing blank pages when visitors open it on a phone or tablet? Mobile devices handle large or complex PDFs differently from desktop browsers. Limited memory and stricter rendering engines mean that certain PDF structures that display fine on desktops can fail completely on mobile. This guide covers the most common causes of mobile crashes and blank pages, and the steps to fix each one. - [Checking for Transparency and Layers](#aioseo-checking-for-transparency-and-layers-4) - [Reducing the File Size](#aioseo-reducing-the-file-size-7) - [Converting to PDF/A Format](#aioseo-converting-to-pdf-a-format-11) - [Checking Font Usage](#aioseo-checking-font-usage-18) - [Disabling Device Zoom](#aioseo-disabling-device-zoom-20) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-29) - [The PDF loads fine on some phones but not others. Why?](#aioseo-the-pdf-loads-fine-on-some-phones-but-not-others-why-31) - [Will saving as PDF/A change how the PDF looks?](#aioseo-will-saving-as-pdf-a-change-how-the-pdf-looks-33) --- ## Checking for Transparency and Layers Start by looking at how the PDF was originally created. Transparency effects, image layers, and compositing operations need to be flattened on export. If they are not, they can produce blank pages or render differently from how the document looks in the original application. Open the source document and flatten all transparency and layers before re-exporting as a PDF. In Adobe Acrobat, this option is under **Tools > Print Production > Flattener Preview**. ## Reducing the File Size Large PDF files can time out when requested from the server, which causes the viewer to crash or display a blank page, particularly on slower mobile connections. Compress the file using [iLovePDF](https://www.ilovepdf.com/compress_pdf) before uploading it to your site. This free service reliably produces significant compression without visible quality loss, and the reduced file size benefits all visitors regardless of device. After compressing, rename the file slightly(for example, appending `-v2` to the filename works well) so you can confirm the browser loads the revised version rather than a cached copy. Update the shortcode accordingly. ## Converting to PDF/A Format If reducing the file size does not fix the problem, try converting the PDF to PDF/A format using Adobe Acrobat DC: 1. Open the PDF in Acrobat DC. 2. Go to **File > Save As Other** and select **PDF/A**. 3. Upload the converted file to your site and update the embedded PDF URL. PDF/A is a standardized archival format that removes dependencies on external fonts, color profiles, and encryption settings, all of which can cause rendering failures on mobile devices. For background on the format, see [Adobe’s PDF/A overview](https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/pdf-x-pdf-a-pdf.html). ## Checking Font Usage Non-standard or partially embedded fonts can fail on mobile devices that do not have those fonts installed. Replace any unusual typefaces in the source document with widely supported fonts such as Arial or Helvetica, then re-export the PDF. ## Disabling Device Zoom **PDF Embedder Mobile Settings is a [Premium plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock the PDF Embedder Mobile Settings and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) If the PDF starts loading but then crashes or goes blank mid-render, the mobile browser may be adjusting the zoom level on the fly. When a browser applies its own zoom override during load, it can trigger a page reload, and if that reload interrupts the PDF load, the viewer fails to complete. Head to the [PDF Embedder mobile settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-pdf-embedder-mobile-settings/) and enable **Disable Device Zoom**, then click **Save Changes**. This stops the browser from overriding zoom and hands full control to the plugin. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed some common questions about mobile crashes and blank pages. ### The PDF loads fine on some phones but not others. Why? Older or lower-powered devices have less available memory and slower JavaScript engines. A PDF that loads on a current flagship phone may time out or crash on a mid-range or older device. Compressing the file and flattening any transparencies reduces the rendering load and improves compatibility across a wider range of devices. ### Will saving as PDF/A change how the PDF looks? In most cases, no. PDF/A flattens transparency effects and layers, which may slightly alter certain design elements, but standard text and image content remain unchanged. Test the converted file visually before publishing. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Problems on mobile devices](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/problems-on-mobile-devices/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Fix blurry PDFs, disappearing toolbars, and page crashes on mobile devices. Learn how to adjust the Mobile settings in PDF Embedder to optimize your WordPress PDFs. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Mobile Settings require a [Premium plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock the PDF Embedder Mobile Settings and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) Are you having issues with PDF Embedder behaving strangely on mobile? Mobile display issues usually come down to how the browser’s viewport and zoom settings interact with the plugin’s viewer. In most cases, a single setting change resolves the problem. This guide covers the common mobile display issues and how to work through each one. - [Disabling Device Zoom Setting](#aioseo-disabling-device-zoom-setting-9) - [Adjusting the Mobile Width Setting](#aioseo-adjusting-the-mobile-width-setting-17) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-22) - [Will disabling device zoom affect the rest of my site?](#aioseo-will-disabling-device-zoom-affect-the-rest-of-my-site-24) --- ## Disabling Device Zoom Setting The most common mobile issue is the browser applying its own zoom adjustments on top of the plugin’s viewer, which causes distortion, clipping, or the toolbar disappearing off-screen. Enabling the **Disable Device Zoom** option adds a viewport meta tag to every page on your site that stops the browser from overriding zoom and hands that control entirely to the plugin. You can enable this option in the **[PDF Embedder mobile settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-pdf-embedder-mobile-settings/)** and **Save Changes**. This adds the following HTML to the `` section of every page on your site: ``` Code language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` > If your theme already includes a `` tag, remove the theme’s version to avoid conflicts. Two viewport tags on the same page can produce unpredictable behaviour. ## Adjusting the Mobile Width Setting By default, PDF Embedder switches to a “View in Full Screen” overlay when the embed area is narrower than 500 pixels. This is intentional behaviour designed to make small-width embeds usable on mobile. If the overlay is appearing in situations where you want the inline viewer, adjust the **Mobile Width** setting. Go to the **[PDF Embedder mobile settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-pdf-embedder-mobile-settings/)** and change the **Mobile Width** value. Set it lower to make the inline viewer appear at narrower widths, or set it to `0` to always show the inline viewer regardless of screen width. To override this on a per-embed basis, add the `mobilewidth` attribute to the shortcode: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/document.pdf" mobilewidth="200"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` Other issues on mobile are [crashing or blank pages on mobile devices](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/crashing-or-blank-pages-on-mobile-devices/). ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed some common questions about mobile display problems. ### Will disabling device zoom affect the rest of my site? The setting adds a viewport meta tag to every page, which disables pinch-to-zoom across the entire site. For most sites, this is acceptable, but if you rely on native browser zoom for accessibility reasons, consider using the `mobilewidth="0"` shortcode attribute on individual embeds instead, which shows the full inline viewer without affecting the global zoom behaviour. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Fixing a Vertically Cut Off or Unscrollable Page](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/after-pdf-loads-the-page-is-cut-off-vertically-or-cannot-scroll/) **Published:** March 6, 2017 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn why certain WordPress themes cut off PDF embeds and how a straightforward CSS rule can fix the layout, ensuring full PDF visibility. **Content:** After your PDF loads, does the page below it get cut off or lose its scrollbar? This is a theme compatibility issue, not a problem with PDF Embedder itself. Some WordPress themes use JavaScript to calculate the height of every page element on load and then lock the layout. Because PDF Embedder adjusts the viewer height after the PDF finishes loading, the theme’s layout engine does not account for the change and clips the page. This guide explains why the problem occurs and provides a fix that resolves it without editing theme files. - [Understanding the Cause](#aioseo-understanding-the-cause-4) - [Applying the CSS Fix](#aioseo-applying-the-css-fix-7) --- ## Understanding the Cause PDF Embedder sets the viewer to an initial height, then expands it once the PDF loads and the actual page dimensions are known. Themes that calculate and lock the page height on initial load do not recalculate after the viewer resizes. The result is a page that appears truncated or loses its scrollbar once the PDF is fully rendered. This is a limitation of the theme, not a bug in the plugin. The CSS workaround below resolves it without touching any theme files. ## Applying the CSS Fix Rather than editing your theme, add a rule that reserves enough vertical space for the full-height PDF. Go to **Appearance > Customize > Additional CSS** and add the following: ``` .pdfemb-viewer { height: 2000px !important; } Code language: CSS (css) ``` The value `2000px` is a starting point. Adjust it to match the actual height of your tallest embedded PDF. Too low and the page still clips; too high and the viewer leaves empty space below the PDF content. If your site embeds PDFs of different heights across multiple pages, you can override the global rule on specific pages using a page-level Custom CSS block or a class added to the page template. If this workaround does not resolve the issue, [contact support](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-can-i-obtain-support/) with a link to the affected page. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Fixing Invalid PDF Structure Error](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/invalid-pdf-structure/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to resolve the "Invalid PDF Structure" error when embedding PDFs on your site with the PDF Embedder plugin **Content:** Seeing an “Invalid PDF Structure” error where a PDF should be displaying? This error typically occurs due to a server configuration problem. Either the encrypted PDF file isn’t being streamed correctly to the browser (often because gzip compression is being applied incorrectly to the file), or the decryption key stored in the browser is stale and no longer matches the server’s current key. This guide walks through the options to help you resolve the error in PDF Embedder. - [Reloading the Page](#aioseo-1-reloading-the-page-6) - [Clearing Your Cache](#aioseo-2-clearing-your-cache-8) - [Excluding PDF Embedder Scripts from Caching](#aioseo-3-excluding-pdf-embedder-scripts-from-caching-13) - [Checking for Gzip Compression on PDF Files](#aioseo-4-checking-for-gzip-compression-on-pdf-files-16) - [Testing with a Different PDF](#aioseo-5-testing-with-a-different-pdf-26) - [Edge Browser: Checking Hotlink Protection](#aioseo-6-edge-browser-checking-hotlink-protection-28) --- ## Reloading the Page Start here. The error can be a one-off caused by a temporary network hiccup or an expired browser state. Reload the page and check whether the PDF displays correctly. If it does, no further action is needed. ## Clearing Your Cache A stale cache can deliver an outdated or mismatched decryption key, producing this error. Clear the cache at two levels: 1. Purge all cached files through your caching plugin 2. Clear your browser cache, then do a hard reload: **Ctrl + Shift + R** on Windows, **Cmd + Shift + R** on Mac. ## Excluding PDF Embedder Scripts from Caching If the error returns on every page load, your caching or minification plugin is likely the culprit. PDF Embedder’s scripts are already minified, so excluding them costs nothing in load speed. Exclude PDF Embedder assets from all caching and minification rules on your site. After adding the exclusions, flush all caches, including any JS-specific caches, then reload the page. For the exact file paths to exclude based on which version of the plugin you are using, see our [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) guide. ## Checking for Gzip Compression on PDF Files If the error persists after clearing the cache and excluding scripts, gzip compression applied to PDF files at the server level is the likely cause. Gzip applied to an encrypted PDF corrupts the stream before it reaches the browser. Add an exception to your server configuration to exclude PDF files from gzip compression: **Apache or LiteSpeed (.htaccess):** ``` SetEnvIfNoCase Request_URI \.pdf$ no-gzip dont-vary Code language: HTML, XML (xml) ``` **Nginx:** ``` location ~* \.pdf$ { gzip off; } ``` **Caddy:** ``` @pdf path *.pdf encode @pdf {} Code language: CSS (css) ``` After adding the configuration, flush all caches and test again. If you are not comfortable editing server configuration files, contact your hosting provider and ask them to exclude PDF files from gzip compression. ## Testing with a Different PDF If none of the above steps work, embed a different PDF file and check whether the error persists. If the second file loads without error, the original PDF is likely corrupted. Open it in Adobe Acrobat and re-export it, or recreate it from the source document. ## Edge Browser: Checking Hotlink Protection If the error only appears in Microsoft Edge and not in other browsers, the web server may be redirecting PDF file requests to your homepage instead of serving the actual file. Test this by entering the PDF URL directly into the Edge address bar. If it redirects you to your homepage rather than downloading or displaying the file, the server is not serving it correctly. The most common cause is hotlink protection. Check your cPanel settings and either disable hotlink protection or configure it to allow direct URL access for PDF files. Once the server serves the file correctly, the error will not appear. If none of these steps resolve the error, [contact support](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-can-i-obtain-support/) with the URL of the page showing the error and the name of your hosting provider. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Obtaining Support for PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/how-can-i-obtain-support/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Facing issues with the PDF Embedder plugin? Seek help on the WordPress.org forum or email support with detailed information and screenshots. **Content:** Got a question that the documentation does not answer? Whether you are evaluating PDF Embedder for the first time or troubleshooting an issue on a live site, there are clear paths to get the help you need. This guide covers the support options available for both Lite and Premium users of PDF Embedder. - [Lite(Free) Users](#aioseo-litefree-users-4) - [Premium Users](#aioseo-premium-users-6) - [Getting the Fastest Response](#aioseo-getting-the-fastest-response-11) --- ## Lite(Free) Users If you are using the free version of PDF Embedder, support is available through the [plugin forum on WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/pdf-embedder/). Post your question there, and the community, along with the plugin team, can help. ## Premium Users Active Premium license holders have access to priority email support with faster response times. Submit a request directly from your [Account Support page](https://wp-pdf.com/account/support/). Currently, phone, live chat, and remote sessions are not available. Email support is the current channel for all Premium support inquiries. > *Standard support hours are 9am to 5pm ET, Monday through Friday.* > *Responses outside those hours are not guaranteed.* ## Getting the Fastest Response To help resolve your issue as quickly as possible, include the following when you submit a ticket: - A link to the page on your site where the problem is visible - Any relevant screenshots showing the issue - The version of PDF Embedder you are running The more context you provide upfront, the faster the support team can diagnose and resolve your issue. **Documentation Categories:** Presales & Support --- ### [Having Some Files Secure and Some Normal ](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/can-pdf-embedder-secure-embed-some-secure-pdfs-and-some-normal-embeds-on-the-same-site/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Learn how to switch between 'secure' and normal modes in PDF Embedder on the same site without purchasing an additional plan. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Secure feature is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** Unlock the PDF Embedder Secure and other powerful features. [Get PDF Embedder Pro](https://wp-pdf.com/secure/) Do you want to serve some PDFs with secure protection while keeping others as standard embeds on the same site? PDF Embedder allows you to have both instances on your site as needed. This guide explains how to switch between secure and normal upload modes, and how to control the download button independently per embed. - [Switching Between Secure and Normal Upload Modes](#aioseo-switching-between-secure-and-normal-upload-modes-8) - [Controlling the Download Button Per Embed](#aioseo-controlling-the-download-button-per-embed-15) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-faq-23) - [Does the download attribute change where the PDF is stored?](#aioseo-does-the-download-attribute-change-where-the-pdf-is-stored-25) ## Switching Between Secure and Normal Upload Modes The **Secure PDFs** option in **Settings > PDF Embedder > Secure** tab controls how subsequent PDF uploads are handled, depending on whether it is checked or unchecked when uploading the target file: - **Checked:** PDFs you upload are stored in the protected `/securepdfs/` folder and embedded with secure protection. - **Unchecked:** PDFs you upload go to the standard media uploads area, outside the `/securepdfs/` folder, and are embedded as normal without secure protection. Toggle this setting as needed before uploading your PDFs. PDFs already uploaded are not affected, and the setting applies to new uploads only. For a full explanation of the secure upload process, see [Using PDF Embedder Secure Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/secure-instructions/). ## Controlling the Download Button Per Embed You can also mix download button behavior across embeds. For example, showing the download button on normal PDFs but not on secure ones. Set the global default in the **Main Settings** tab under **Settings > PDF Embedder** using the **Download Button** checkbox. Set it to match whichever type makes up the majority of your PDFs. To override the global setting for a specific embed, add the `download` attribute to the shortcode: ``` [pdf-embedder url="..." download="on"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ``` [pdf-embedder url="..." download="off"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` Use `download="on"` to show the button even when the global setting has it off. Use `download="off"` to hide it even when the global setting has it on. If you use the **PDF Embedder** block in the Block Editor, a dedicated toggle for this option is in the **Actions** panel of the block sidebar; no shortcode editing needed. ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about mixing secure and normal embeds on the same site. ### Does the `download` attribute change where the PDF is stored? No. The `download` attribute only affects whether the download button appears in the viewer toolbar. Storage location is set at upload time by the **Secure PDFs** toggle — these are two independent settings. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Setting up fake worker failed Error on update](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/setting-up-fake-worker-failed-error-message/) **Published:** December 13, 2019 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn the cause and how to resolve the "Setting up fake worker failed" error when using our PDF Embedder plugin on your site. **Content:** Seeing a “*Setting up fake worker failed*” error after updating PDF Embedder? This error means a caching or minification plugin on your site has cached an older version of the plugin scripts that no longer matches the updated version. To resolve this you need to update the plugin, adjust caching settings, flush the cache, and reload. This guide walks through understanding the error and the necessary steps to help resolve the error. - [Checking the Plugin Version](#aioseo-checking-the-plugin-version-4) - [Adjusting your Caching Settings](#aioseo-adjusting-your-caching-settings-7) - [SiteGround Hosting](#aioseo-siteground-hosting-16) - [Adjusting SiteGround Speed Optimizer Settings](#aioseo-adjusting-siteground-speed-optimizer-settings-20) - [Purging SiteGround Cache Layers](#aioseo-purging-siteground-cache-layers-26) - [Advanced: Excluding PDF Embedder assets via PHP](#aioseo-advanced-excluding-pdf-embedder-assets-via-php-32) - [Flushing All Caches](#aioseo-flushing-all-caches-36) - [Clearing Your Browser Cache](#aioseo-clearing-your-browser-cache-38) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-45) - [Will disabling JS aggregation slow down my site?](#aioseo-will-disabling-js-aggregation-slow-down-my-site-47) - [The error keeps coming back after each plugin update. How do I prevent this?](#aioseo-the-error-keeps-coming-back-after-each-plugin-update-how-do-i-prevent-this-49) --- ## Checking the Plugin Version Before adjusting any cache settings, head to **Plugins > Installed Plugins** in your WordPress dashboard and confirm you’re running the [latest version of the plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/viewing-plugin-update-history-and-changelogs/). If the updated version is not showing on your site, you can update manually by [installing the premium plugin from your site](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/installing-pdf-embedder-premium/). ## Adjusting your Caching Settings The core cause of this error is a caching plugin that aggregates or inlines JavaScript files. When PDF Embedder’s worker scripts get merged with other scripts, the file structure that the plugin expects breaks down. To resolve the error, you need to locate and disable the JS aggregation setting in your caching plugin. Below are some common locations for some known plugins: **WP Rocket:** Go to **WP Rocket > File Optimization** and disable **Combine JavaScript files** (if present in your version). You sould also disable **Remove Query Strings from Static Resources** if that option exists. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/wprocket_setting.png) **W3 Total Cache:** Go to **W3 Total Cache > Browser Cache** and uncheck **Remove Query Strings From Static Resources**. **Autoptimize:** Disable the **Aggregate JS-files** option. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/AutoptimizeOptions.jpg) **Other caching plugins:** Look for any option related to aggregate JS, combine JS, or inline JS in the performance or optimization settings and disable it. ## SiteGround Hosting If you are hosted with SiteGround, the issue is almost certainly related to the **SiteGround Speed Optimizer** (formerly SG Optimizer) plugin. While SiteGround’s optimization tools are excellent for performance, their aggressive JavaScript combination and minification settings can sometimes break the connection between the PDF viewer and its background “worker” engine. Follow the steps below to resolve this conflict and get your PDFs displaying correctly again. ### Adjusting SiteGround Speed Optimizer Settings The “Fake worker” error usually occurs when the path to our script is altered or hidden. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to **Speed Optimizer > Frontend Optimization** and check the following: - **Disable “Combine JavaScript Files”:** This is the most common culprit. When multiple scripts are merged into one, the unique path required for the PDF worker script is often lost. Turn this setting **OFF**. - **Disable “Remove Query Strings from Static Resources”:** PDF Embedder uses query strings to identify specific script versions. Ensure this option is **unchecked**. - **Check Mobile Caching:** Navigate to the **Caching** tab. Ensure that your mobile caching settings are identical to your desktop settings. If they differ, you may find that the PDF works on a computer but fails on a phone or tablet. ### Purging SiteGround Cache Layers SiteGround uses multiple layers of caching (NGINX, Dynamic, and Memcached). After changing the settings above, you must refresh these layers to see the results: 1. Click the **Purge SG Cache** button in the WordPress top admin bar. 2. Alternatively, go to **Speed Optimizer > Caching** and click the **Purge All** button. 3. If you have the SiteGround/Cloudflare integration enabled, click the **Purge Cloudflare Cache** button found within the SiteGround Caching dashboard. ### Advanced: Excluding PDF Embedder assets via PHP If you prefer to keep JavaScript combination enabled for the rest of your site, you can manually exclude PDF Embedder by adding a filter to your theme’s `functions.php` file. This tells SiteGround to leave our scripts untouched while optimizing everything else. Add the following code snippet to your` site`: ``` /** * Exclude PDF Embedder from SiteGround JS/CSS Optimization */ // Exclude from JS Combination and Minification add_filter( 'sgo_javascript_combine_exclude', 'js_combine_exclude' ); add_filter( 'sgo_js_minify_exclude', 'js_minify_exclude' ); function js_combine_exclude( $exclude_list ) { $exclude_list[] = 'pdfemb_embed_pdf_js'; $exclude_list[] = 'pdfemb_pdf_js'; return $exclude_list; } // Exclude from CSS Combination and Minification add_filter( 'sgo_css_combine_exclude', 'css_combine_exclude' ); add_filter( 'sgo_css_minify_exclude', 'css_minify_exclude' ); function css_combine_exclude( $exclude_list ) { $exclude_list[] = 'pdfemb_embed_pdf_css'; return $exclude_list; } Code language: PHP (php) ``` ## Flushing All Caches Once you have adjusted your caching settings, it is essential to flush every layer of your cache to ensure the changes take effect. Begin by purging your caching plugin using the “Clear Cache” or “Purge All” button, and be sure to specifically clear the JS cache if your plugin manages script optimization separately. If the error message identifies a specific cached file path, you should manually delete that file through your host’s file manager if you have access. Finally, ensure that you also clear any server-side or theme-level caches to completely refresh the environment and resolve any lingering issues. ## Clearing Your Browser Cache Finally, clear your browser cache and do a hard reload: - **Windows:** `Ctrl + Shift + R` - **Mac:** `Cmd + Shift + R` The viewer should now load without the error. We also recommend going through our guide on [Using Caching and Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) to exclude required paths from your site’s cache and/or minifying plugin. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed some common questions about the fake worker error. ### Will disabling JS aggregation slow down my site? PDF Embedder’s scripts are already minified. Excluding them from JS aggregation has no impact on load speed. Caching plugins aggregate scripts to reduce HTTP requests, but since the plugin’s scripts must stay separate to function correctly, the exclusion costs nothing in practice. ### The error keeps coming back after each plugin update. How do I prevent this? The error typically appears once after an update because the cached version of the scripts no longer matches the new version. After applying the settings above and flushing the cache, the error should not return on future update. **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ### [Configuring PDF Embedder Mobile Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-pdf-embedder-mobile-settings/) **Published:** April 23, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Optimize your embedded PDFs for mobile users! Discover how to configure the PDF Embedder Mobile tab to control full-screen overlays and zoom settings for a seamless, responsive document viewing experience on any device. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Mobile Settings require a [Premium plan](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock PDF Embedder Mobile settings and other powerful features. Are you looking to customize how your embedded PDFs appear on mobile devices? PDF Embedder comes with a dedicated **Mobile** tab in the plugin settings where you can adjust the full-screen threshold and control device zoom behavior for smaller screens. This guide covers the mobile settings in our PDF Embedder Premium plugin and explains how to configure them both globally and on a per-embed basis. - [How mobile display works](#aioseo-how-mobile-display-works-9) - [Configuring the mobile width threshold](#aioseo-configuring-the-mobile-width-threshold-12) - [Disabling device zoom](#aioseo-disabling-device-zoom-18) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-21) - [Are the mobile settings available in the free version?](#aioseo-are-the-mobile-settings-available-in-the-free-version-23) - [Continuous scrolling is not working on mobile](#aioseo-continuous-scrolling-is-not-working-on-mobile-25) - [The toolbar disappears when I zoom on my phone. How do I fix that?](#aioseo-the-toolbar-disappears-when-i-zoom-on-my-phone-how-do-i-fix-that-27) --- ## How mobile display works When an embedded PDF viewer is narrower than a set pixel threshold, the plugin switches to a mobile-friendly mode. Instead of the full interactive viewer, the visitor sees a thumbnail of the first page with a large **View in Full Screen** button. Tapping that button opens the PDF in a focused full-screen view where the user can scroll and navigate without accidentally interacting with other page elements. A **Full Screen** button is always available in the toolbar, regardless of screen size, so users on any device can access this mode. ## Configuring the mobile width threshold To get started with this, head to your **Settings > PDF Embedder > Mobile** in your WordPress dashboard. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/PDF-Embedder-Mobile-settings-1024x489.webp)The **Mobile Width** field sets the pixel width below which the viewer switches to thumbnail mode. The default is `500`. You should change this value to match your preferred layout. If you don’t wish to show the ‘**View Full-Screen**‘ button, simply set the width to 0. > If the width is more than 0 and there is no ‘Fullscreen Text’ set, you might face issues with scrolling not working on devices within the set width ## Disabling device zoom The **Disable Device Zoom** setting prevents the browser from zooming the PDF viewer on mobile devices. This is off by default. You should enable it if you run into situations where the mobile browser zooms into the viewer unexpectedly, hiding the toolbar or distorting the display. This setting can also address quality issues that appear when device zoom is active. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about mobile viewer settings. ### Are the mobile settings available in the free version? No. The **Mobile** tab and all mobile-specific settings require any paid plan of our PDF Embedder Premium plugin. ### Continuous scrolling is not working on mobile One major cause is when the overlay is enabled without any Full-Screen text added. Change the mobile width to 0 or add the Full-Screen text in your PDF Embedder settings. ### The toolbar disappears when I zoom on my phone. How do I fix that? Turn on **Disable Device Zoom** in **Settings > PDF Embedder > Mobile**. This prevents the browser from zooming the viewer container and keeps the toolbar in view. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Using PDF Embedder with ACF](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-pdf-embedder-with-acf/) **Published:** April 24, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to use PDF Embedder with Advanced Custom Fields on your site. **Content:** Are you building a WordPress site with Advanced Custom Fields and want to display PDFs stored in an ACF field through PDF Embedder? ACF’s own support forums include a working example that covers exactly this. This guide points you to the recommended resource for integrating PDF Embedder with ACF. ## Embedding a PDF from an ACF Field Advanced Custom Fields has published an example covering how to load an embedded PDF into an ACF field in their support forums. That thread walks through the field setup and the template code needed to output the PDF Embedder shortcode dynamically. Find the full example here: [How to Embed PDF on Page — ACF Support Forums](https://support.advancedcustomfields.com/forums/topic/how-to-embed-pdf-on-page/) The approach works with both the free PDF Embedder plugin and our PDF Embedder Premium plugin. The shortcode output method is the same regardless of which version you use. Premium attributes such as `download="off"` or `width="max"` can be appended to the dynamically generated shortcode string in the same way as any other shortcode parameter. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Accessibility and Screen Readers with PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessibility-and-screen-readers-with-pdf-embedder/) **Published:** April 24, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Understand accessibility with PDF Embedder using screen readers or keyboard-only navigation options along with the limitations of the plugin. **Content:** Can visitors using screen readers or keyboard-only navigation access PDFs embedded with PDF Embedder? The viewer supports both input methods, with some practical limitations and a recommended approach for screen reader users. This guide explains the current state of accessibility in the PDF Embedder viewer and the best practices for screen reader support. - [Keyboard Navigation](#aioseo-keyboard-navigation-4) - [Screen Reader Support](#aioseo-screen-reader-support-6) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-faq-10) - [Does PDF Embedder meet WCAG accessibility standards?](#aioseo-does-pdf-embedder-meet-wcag-accessibility-standards-12) - [Does the secure viewer work with screen readers?](#aioseo-does-the-secure-viewer-work-with-screen-readers-14) --- ## Keyboard Navigation The embedded viewer is fully navigable by keyboard. Visitors who use keyboard-only navigation can move between pages and use full-screen mode using the standard keyboard shortcuts, the same ones available to mouse users. For the complete list, see [Keyboard Shortcuts for Full-Screen Mode](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/automatically-open-in-full-screen-mode/). ## Screen Reader Support Some screen readers can read content from the embedded viewer. The plugin has been used successfully with JAWS. For the most reliable screen reader experience, add a direct link to the PDF file below the embedded viewer. This gives screen readers a clean path to the original file, bypassing the viewer entirely. A standard WordPress link block or HTML anchor pointing to the PDF URL in your Media Library is all that is needed. Note that adding a direct link makes the original PDF file accessible via URL. This approach is not compatible with the secure PDF feature; if you have secure mode active, a direct link defeats its protection. If you need both accessibility and file protection simultaneously, there is no current solution that satisfies both requirements. ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about accessibility in PDF Embedder. ### Does PDF Embedder meet WCAG accessibility standards? The viewer supports keyboard navigation and has worked with some screen reader software, but it does not currently meet full [WCAG 2.1 compliance](https://wp-pdf.com/terms/#web-content-accessibility-guidelines-compliance-disclaimer-wcag-disclaimer). Accessibility improvements are planned for future versions. ### Does the secure viewer work with screen readers? Partially. Compatibility depends on the screen reader software and its ability to interact with the viewer. Adding a direct PDF link alongside the embed is the most reliable option for screen reader users, but this requires making the original file accessible. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Printing PDFs without allowing the Download](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/is-there-a-print-button/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Explore the reasons behind the absence of a direct 'print' button in the toolbar of our PDF Embedder plugin. **Content:** Is there a way to let visitors print an embedded PDF while preventing them from downloading it? This is a common request, but the way browsers handle printing makes it technically impossible to allow one without the other. This guide explains how this works in PDF Embedder and what your real options are. - [How Printing Works in PDF Embedder](#aioseo-how-printing-works-in-pdf-embedder-4) - [Why You Cannot Separate Print from Download](#aioseo-why-you-cannot-separate-print-from-download-7) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-faq-11) - [Does the secure viewer prevent printing?](#aioseo-does-the-secure-viewer-prevent-printing-13) - [Is a dedicated Print button planned?](#aioseo-is-a-dedicated-print-button-planned-15) --- ## How Printing Works in PDF Embedder No version of PDF Embedder includes a dedicated **Print** button in the embedded viewer toolbar. Printing is not a built-in toolbar action. Our PDF Embedder Premium plugin includes an optional **Download** button. A visitor who downloads the PDF can then open it in their default PDF reader and print from there. This button can be enabled globally for all PDF documents or on a per-file basis using the `download` shortcode attribute. ## Why You Cannot Separate Print from Download For a browser to print a document, it must first load the full file locally. Once the browser has the file, most browsers let the user save it as a PDF via “Print to PDF” rather than sending it to a physical printer. Enabling printing always makes the original file obtainable. This applies even to the secure viewer. The Pro and Elite plans make it difficult for users to obtain the original PDF via direct URL, but printing cannot be enabled while keeping downloads blocked. The two are inseparable at the browser level. Browser behavior also varies by user: some will be prompted to select a printer, others will see a save dialog. There is no way to force one behavior over another. ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about printing in PDF Embedder. ### Does the secure viewer prevent printing? No. If the download button is enabled, users can download and then print. Secure mode protects against direct URL access to the file, but does not restrict what a user does with a copy they have downloaded it through the viewer. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Configuring PDF Embedder viewer settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/configuring-pdf-embedder-viewer-settings/) **Published:** April 22, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to customize the PDF Embedder. Viewer on your site. This guide explores the global settings for your PDF Embedder viewer. **Content:** Are you looking to customize how your PDFs display across your WordPress site? Whether you want to adjust the viewer size, reposition the toolbar, or unlock advanced navigation options, PDF Embedder gives you full control over how embedded documents look and behave for your visitors. This guide walks you through the general viewer settings available in our PDF Embedder plugin, covering both global configuration and per-embed overrides. - [Configuring Size and Shape](#aioseo-configuring-size-and-shape-6) - [Configuring the Toolbar](#aioseo-configuring-the-toolbar-11) - [Premium Settings](#aioseo-interaction-and-navigation-settings-15) - [Interaction and Navigation Settings](#aioseo-interaction-and-navigation-settings-15) - [Continuous Scrolling](#aioseo-continuous-scrolling-18) - [Display Scrollbars](#aioseo-scrollbars-21) - [Scroll to Top](#aioseo-scroll-to-top-23) - [External Links](#aioseo-external-links-25) - [Search button](#aioseo-search-button-30) - [Performance and Tracking Settings](#aioseo-performance-and-tracking-settings-27) - [Download Button](#aioseo-download-button-30) - [Tracking Views and Downloads](#aioseo-tracking-views-and-downloads-32) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-34) - [Are continuous scrolling and scrollbars available in the free version?](#aioseo-are-continuous-scrolling-and-scrollbars-available-in-the-free-version-36) - [Why does my toolbar disappear when I'm not hovering?](#aioseo-why-does-my-toolbar-disappear-when-im-not-hovering-38) - [Can I override global settings for just one PDF?](#aioseo-can-i-override-global-settings-for-just-one-pdf-44) - [Is the download button available in the Free version?](#aioseo-is-the-download-button-available-in-the-free-version-46) --- To get started with the PDF Embedder general viewer settings, head to **Settings > PDF Embedder** in your WordPress admin. ![a screenshot of PDF Embedder general settings tab](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-general-settings-1024x226.webp)Changes made here apply site-wide as defaults. Any setting can be overridden on a per-file basis using shortcode attributes or the block sidebar options. ## Configuring Size and Shape ![a screenshot of PDF Embedder width and height global settings option](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-general-settings-viewer-size.webp)By default, both **Width** and **Height** are set to `max`, which means the viewer expands to fill the full width of its parent container. To set a fixed pixel width, enter a number in the **Width** field. For example, `500` renders the embed at 500 pixels wide. If the parent container is narrower than the value you enter, the viewer automatically scales down to fit. Height is calculated automatically based on the width, so the PDF displays at its natural proportions. If you set a fixed **Height** value (for example, `200`), the document may be cut off vertically. ## Configuring the Toolbar ![a screenshot of PDF Embedder global toolbar settings option](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/pdf-embedder-general-settings-viewer-toolbar.webp)**Toolbar Location** controls where the page navigation bar appears. The options are `top`, `bottom`, `both`, or `none`. The default is `bottom`. **Toolbar Visibility** controls whether the toolbar stays permanently on screen or only appears when a user hovers over the viewer. Set `toolbarfixed="on"` to keep it visible at all times. The default is `off` (hover only). Note that enabling this option increases the total height of the embedded area. ## Premium Settings > **Premium:** The following settings require PDF Embedder Premium plugin. ![a screenshot of PDF Embedder Premium general settings](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/PDF-Embedder-Premium-General-Settings-1024x513.webp)### Interaction and Navigation Settings > #### Continuous Scrolling By default, Premium users can scroll through all pages using the mouse wheel, touch, or click-and-drag. This is controlled by the **Continuous Scroll** setting, which is `on` by default for Premium installs. To disable it globally, turn off **Continuous Page Scrolling** in **Settings > PDF Embedder**. This will apply to all embedded PDFs using the global settings. #### Display Scrollbars This helps in making it obvious to users that more content is available on further pages. You can turn on **Display Scrollbars** to show permanent vertical or horizontal scrollbars inside the viewer. The default setting for this option is `none`. #### Scroll to Top When enabled, the browser window jumps to the top of the embed area each time a visitor changes pages. This option is set to **`off`** by default. #### External Links This setting controls whether hyperlinks inside your PDFs open in a new browser tab. This option is set to **`on`** by default. #### Search button When this is enabled, it adds a search icon to the toolbar so users can look up texts within the PDF. ### Performance and Tracking Settings #### Download Button Toggle the download icon in the toolbar with **Download Button**. The default is `on` for standard Premium installs and `off` for Secure installs. #### Tracking Views and Downloads Check the **Track Views and Downloads** option to record how many times each embedded PDF is viewed and downloaded on your site. When enabled, the plugin keeps a running total of views and downloads for each PDF. To see those totals, open the **Media Library**, click a PDF file to view the attachment details, and check the right-hand column to see the stats. This is a global-only setting with no per-embed override. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about general viewer settings. ### Are continuous scrolling and scrollbars available in the free version? No. Both require a PDF Embedder Premium plugin. Free version users navigate with the Prev and Next arrow buttons. ### Why does my toolbar disappear when I’m not hovering? That is the default behaviour. Set `toolbarfixed="on"` in the shortcode, or turn on **Toolbar Fixed** in the global settings, to keep the toolbar visible at all times. ### Can I override global settings for just one PDF? Yes. You can override the global settings by adding a related shortcode attribute or by modifying the PDF Embedder block settings for the file you have embedded. ### Is the download button available in the Free version? No. The download button is a Premium-only feature. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Forms Inside PDFs or Password Protected PDFs](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/does-the-plugin-support-forms-inside-pdfs-or-password-protected-pdfs/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Discover how PDF Embedder can display embedded PDFs with form fields intact for users to fill offline, but without the ability to save responses. **Content:** Are you trying to embed a PDF that contains fillable form fields, or one that requires a password to open? Both cases have specific limitations in PDF Embedder that are worth understanding before you proceed. This guide explains how PDF Embedder handles forms inside PDFs and what happens with password-protected files. - [Forms Inside PDFs](#aioseo-forms-inside-pdfs-4) - [Password-Protected PDFs](#aioseo-password-protected-pdfs-7) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-faq-11) - [Is there a workaround to support password-protected PDFs?](#aioseo-is-there-a-workaround-to-support-password-protected-pdfs-13) --- ## Forms Inside PDFs PDF Embedder renders form fields visually; a PDF with fillable fields will display in the embedded viewer without issue. However, users cannot type into those fields or submit responses through the embedded viewer. The form is view-only. If you need users to fill in a form, the recommended approach is for the user to download the embedded PDF so they can complete the form offline and then upload the final filled document to your site. ## Password-Protected PDFs PDF Embedder Lite and Premium do not support PDFs that require a password to open. If a PDF has password protection applied, the viewer cannot load it. If you need to restrict who can view a PDF, the recommended approach is to control access at the page level rather than at the file level. Our PDF Embedder Premium plugin on the **Pro** plan or higher lets you embed a PDF in a way that makes it difficult for users to obtain the original file. You can then restrict access to the WordPress page containing that embed using WordPress’s built-in page password feature or a membership plugin, so only authorized visitors can reach the page and view the document. For guidance on restricting PDF access to specific users, see [Displaying PDFs to Paying Users Only](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/display-pdfs-to-paying-users-only/). ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about forms and password protection in PDF Embedder. ### Is there a workaround to support password-protected PDFs? No workaround exists within PDF Embedder. Remove the password from the PDF before uploading it to WordPress, then control access at the page level if needed. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [PDF Embedder Fullscreen mode](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/automatically-open-in-full-screen-mode/) **Published:** June 7, 2017 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Understand the Fullscreen option in PDF Embedder and the shortcuts you can use. **Content:** **Requires:** PDF Embedder Premium **The Fullscreen option requires a [PDF Embedder](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/)** **[Premium plan](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock the PDF Embedder Fullscreen option and other powerful features. Want to give readers a distraction-free way to read your embedded PDFs, or let them navigate the document without leaving the page? Full-screen mode in our PDF Embedder Premium plugin opens the viewer to fill the browser window and supports keyboard-driven navigation. This guide covers the keyboard shortcuts available in full-screen mode and how to approximate an automatic full-screen experience for visitors. - [Keyboard Shortcuts in Full-Screen Mode](#aioseo-keyboard-shortcuts-in-full-screen-mode-10) - [Opening Full-Screen Mode Automatically](#aioseo-opening-full-screen-mode-automatically-16) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-faq-20) - [Can I disable the full-screen button from appearing?](#aioseo-can-i-disable-the-full-screen-button-from-appearing-22) --- ## Keyboard Shortcuts in Full-Screen Mode Once a reader enters full-screen mode by clicking the full-screen button in the viewer toolbar, the following keyboard shortcuts are available: - **Page Up** or **Page Down** (on Mac: **Cmd + Up** or **Cmd + Down**): move to the next or previous page - **Arrow keys**: pan around the current page - **Escape**: exit full-screen mode ## Opening Full-Screen Mode Automatically There is no setting to automatically open a PDF in full-screen mode when a page loads. The full-screen button must be clicked by the visitor. The closest alternative is to create a minimal page template in your theme, one without the standard header, navigation menu, and sidebars, so that the embedded PDF takes up most of the available width and height. This gives the effect of a near-full-screen view on page load, without requiring the visitor to click anything. Most WordPress themes include a “Full Width” or “No Sidebar” page template option that can serve this purpose. Check your theme documentation for the template options available. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about full-screen mode in PDF Embedder. ### Can I disable the full-screen button from appearing? The full-screen button appears in the toolbar for all Premium embeds. There is no built-in setting to hide it selectively, but the toolbar appearance can be adjusted through the global settings in **Settings > PDF Embedder**. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Display PDFs to paying users only](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/display-pdfs-to-paying-users-only/) **Published:** August 8, 2017 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to restrict PDF access to paying members only using PDF Embedder Pro with the help of S2Members, MemberPress or Easy Digital Downloads plugins. **Content:** Do you want to limit who can view or download PDFs on your WordPress site, whether that means logged-in members only or visitors who’ve paid for access? PDF Embedder handles the display and protection of the PDF itself, but access control depends on how you structure your site. This guide covers three approaches: selling direct PDF downloads, offering a preview before purchase, and restricting embedded PDFs to paying members only. - [Selling PDFs as Direct Downloads](#aioseo-selling-pdfs-as-direct-downloads-4) - [Offering a Preview Before Purchase](#aioseo-offering-a-preview-before-purchase-6) - [Restricting Viewing to Paying Members](#aioseo-restricting-viewing-to-paying-members-18) - [Showing PDFs Only to Logged-In Users (No Payment Required)](#aioseo-showing-pdfs-only-to-logged-in-users-no-payment-required-26) - [FAQ](#aioseo-faq-31) - [Can PDF Embedder control access permissions on its own?](#aioseo-can-pdf-embedder-control-access-permissions-on-its-own-33) - [Can a user still get the PDF even with secure mode on?](#aioseo-can-a-user-still-get-the-pdf-even-with-secure-mode-on-35) --- ## Selling PDFs as Direct Downloads If your goal is to sell a PDF as a downloadable file and deliver it only after payment, a dedicated digital sales plugin is the right tool. [Easy Digital Downloads](https://easydigitaldownloads.com/) stores files securely and generates a download link only once a user has completed a purchase. PDF Embedder is not required for this use case. ## Offering a Preview Before Purchase Some sites want visitors to preview a PDF before they commit to buying it, then restrict full access until payment is complete. To set this up, maintain two copies of the PDF: 1. Upload one copy to Easy Digital Downloads as the purchasable download, protected by the digital sales plugin. 2. Upload a second copy to your WordPress Media Library as a secure PDF using our PDF Embedder Premium plugin on the Pro plan or higher. Embed the secure version on a publicly accessible preview page. Because it is delivered through the secure viewer, visitors can read it in the browser but cannot easily obtain the original file. Once they purchase through Easy Digital Downloads, they receive the full download. **PDF Embedder Secure is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock PDF Embedder Secure and other powerful features. ## Restricting Viewing to Paying Members Membership sites often need to prevent non-paying visitors from viewing a PDF at all, not just from downloading it. The recommended approach is to use a membership plugin such as [s2Member](https://wordpress.org/plugins/s2member/) (free version available). Set up s2Member with PayPal so visitors can pay to become members. Then: 1. Upload your PDF to the WordPress Media Library with secure mode active (requires the Pro plan or higher). 2. Create a WordPress page and embed the PDF using the PDF Embedder block or shortcode. 3. Use s2Member’s access controls to restrict that page to paying members only. ![a screenshot of the s2member plugin restriction settings](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/image.png)Visitors who are not logged in as members will not be able to reach the page, and therefore cannot view the embed. ## Showing PDFs Only to Logged-In Users (No Payment Required) To show or hide content based on login status without a paid membership system, a shortcode-based plugin such as [User Status Shortcode](https://wordpress.org/plugins/user-status-shortcode/) can wrap the PDF embed. Combine it with the `download` attribute to control what logged-in and logged-out visitors see: ``` [userloggedin] [pdf-embedder url="..." download="on"] [/userloggedin]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` \[userloggedout\] Please log in or create an account to view this document. \[/userloggedout\] Logged-out visitors see the message while the logged-in users see the embedded PDF. ## FAQ Below are some common questions about restricting PDF access on WordPress sites. ### Can PDF Embedder control access permissions on its own? No. PDF Embedder displays PDFs and provides tools like the download button, full-screen mode, and page navigation. Access control (deciding who is allowed to see a given page or post) is handled by WordPress or a dedicated membership or access control plugin. ### Can a user still get the PDF even with secure mode on? Secure mode makes it difficult for users to obtain the original file directly, but it is not possible to fully prevent a determined user from capturing content they can view on screen. For most use cases, secure mode provides adequate protection. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Using PDF Embedder Watermark Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/watermark-settings/) **Published:** March 19, 2025 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Ensure the ownership of your PDFs by adding watermark text with options to adjust alignment, offset, font size, opacity, rotation, and page display. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Watermarks is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock PDF Embedder Watermarks and other powerful features. Are you looking to add watermarks to your embedded PDFs? If you want to discourage users from screenshotting your documents or simply display ownership information, PDF Embedder lets you overlay dynamic text on top of every page of any embedded PDF on your site. This guide covers how to navigate to the Watermarks settings tab in PDF Embedder and fine-tune the appearance and positioning of your watermark text. - [Adding the Watermark Text](#aioseo-adding-the-watermark-text-13) - [Configuring Watermark Appearance](#aioseo-configuring-watermark-appearance-24) - [Horizontal Alignment and Horizontal Offset](#aioseo-horizontal-alignment-and-horizontal-offset-27) - [Vertical Offset](#aioseo-vertical-offset-35) - [Font Size](#aioseo-font-size-38) - [Opacity](#aioseo-opacity-40) - [Rotation](#aioseo-rotation-46) - [Page Display](#aioseo-page-display-49) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-51) - [Downloading the embedded PDFs does not include the watermark](#aioseo-downloading-the-embedded-pdfs-does-not-include-the-watermark-53) - [I am seeing the text 'Not logged in' on my PDFs](#aioseo-i-am-seeing-not-logged-in-on-my-pdfs-56) --- > Before you get started, if you use any caching tools on your site (from your hosting provider or a plugin such as Autoptimize or WP Rocket), make sure you exclude the PDF Embedder plugins from those caching tools as outlined in our [Using Caching or Minifying Plugins](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/) guide. To get started, in your WordPress admin, head to **Settings > PDF Embedder** and click the **Watermarks** tab. All settings on this page apply to every PDF embedded on your site. Individual embeds can override these defaults using block settings or shortcode attributes. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PDF-Embedder-Watermark-Tab-1024x300.webp)## Adding the Watermark Text In the **Text to display on secure PDFs** field, enter the text you want to appear on each page. Leave the field blank to disable watermarks entirely. To display logged-in user data dynamically, insert one or more of these smart tags anywhere in your watermark text: - `{fullname}` — the user’s full name - `{username}` — the user’s WordPress username - `{email}` — the user’s email address ![a screenshot of the PDF Embedder watermark settings tab](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PDF-Embedder-Watermark-Text-1-1024x188.webp)If a visitor is not logged in, these tags display “Not logged in” in their place. Keep this in mind if your PDFs are visible to the public. For custom smart tags and developer-level tag registration, see our [Smart Tags for Watermarks](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/smart-tags-for-watermarks/) guide. Watermarks also work on non-secure PDFs by using the watermark attribute in the PDF Embedder Shortcode ## Configuring Watermark Appearance The following settings allow you to control the visual appearance of the watermark. ![a screenshot of the PDF Embedder watermark appearance settings](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/PDF-Embedder-Watermark-Appearance-1024x379.webp)### Horizontal Alignment and Horizontal Offset **Horizontal Alignment** sets the baseline position of the watermark text. This can be `left`, `center`, or `right`. **Horizontal Offset** works differently depending on your alignment choice: - **`left` alignment**: the offset sets the gap between the left edge of the PDF and the watermark text (similar to `padding-left` in CSS) - **`right` alignment**: the offset sets the gap between the right edge and the watermark text (similar to `padding-right` in CSS) - **`center` alignment:** the offset has no effect, since the text is centred automatically Both fields accept a numerical value between 0 and 100 (as a percentage). Misconfiguring these two settings together can push the watermark text outside the visible area of the PDF, so adjust them in combination. ### Vertical Offset **Vertical Offset** sets the gap between the top edge of the PDF and the watermark text, expressed as a percentage between 0 and 100. A value of `0` places the watermark at the very top edge of the page. The recommended minimum is `5`. Note that if your watermark is rotated, the vertical positioning is calculated from the top pixel of the rotated text, not from its visual centre. A 50% vertical offset on a rotated watermark may not look visually centred. ### Font Size **Font Size** uses point (pt) units, the same measurement system used in PDF documents. This value scales independently of screen resolution. Adjust it until the watermark reads clearly at your typical PDF display size without overpowering the document content. ### Opacity **Opacity** controls how transparent the watermark appears, on a scale of 0 to 100. - `0` makes the watermark invisible - `100` renders the watermark at full opacity, completely blocking whatever is beneath it on the page A value between 15 and 30 is typical for a subtle, non-intrusive watermark. ### Rotation **Rotation** accepts a value in degrees from 0 to 360. Positive values rotate the text clockwise; negative values rotate it counter-clockwise. A diagonal watermark (common in document security) typically uses a value around 30 to 45 degrees. Rotating the text also shifts its visible position, because the positioning is calculated from the top pixel of the rotated bounding box rather than the text’s visual centre. ## Page Display **Page Display** lets you choose whether the watermark appears on all pages or only on even-numbered pages (2, 4, 6, 8…). Check **Show only on even page numbers** to restrict the watermark to even pages. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below are some common questions about watermark configuration. ### Downloading the embedded PDFs does not include the watermark The PDF Embedder plugin does not alter the original document in any way, so the watermark is not retained should the document be downloaded. To make a watermark visible after downloading the PDF file would require the watermark to be added to the document prior to being uploaded to your site. ### I am seeing the text ‘Not logged in’ on my PDFs The smart tags (`{fullname}`, `{username}`, `{email}`) are replaced with the text “**Not logged in**” if the user is not logged in to your site. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Serving PDFs from Dropbox](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-pdfs-from-dropbox/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to embed a PDF from Dropbox on your WordPress site with PDF Embedder's shortcode and block. **Content:** Want to embed a PDF stored in Dropbox on your WordPress site? Dropbox share links do not always work directly in a PDF Embedder shortcode or block. They point to a preview page, not the raw file. A small adjustment to the URL is all that is needed. This guide covers how to convert a Dropbox share link into a direct download URL that PDF Embedder can load. - [Converting the Dropbox Link](#aioseo-converting-the-dropbox-link-10) - [Links from a Dropbox Public Folder](#aioseo-links-from-a-dropbox-public-folder-22) --- Before you get started, make sure your WordPress site is running under HTTPS. Dropbox’s CORS policy requires a secure connection. Embedding from Dropbox will not work on HTTP sites. ## Converting the Dropbox Link In the Dropbox file browser, right-click your PDF and select **Copy Dropbox link**. The link will look like this: ``` https://www.dropbox.com/s/09ctqeg1hd9soi2/Example-PDF-Document.pdf?dl=0 Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` Two changes are required before this URL will work with PDF Embedder: 1. Replace `www.dropbox.com` with `dl.dropboxusercontent.com` 2. Change `dl=0` to `dl=1` The adjusted URL: ``` https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/09ctqeg1hd9soi2/Example-PDF-Document.pdf?dl=1 Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` Use this URL in your shortcode: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/09ctqeg1hd9soi2/Example-PDF-Document.pdf?dl=1"] Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ## Links from a Dropbox Public Folder If the file is in a Dropbox Public folder, the link may already use the `dl.dropboxusercontent.com` domain. In that case, change `dl=0` to `dl=1` only. The domain change is not needed. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Serving protected PDF files under Caddy](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/serving-protected-pdf-files-under-caddy/) **Published:** January 15, 2025 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Caddy users: Ensure the security of your /securepdfs/ folder for PDF Embedder Premium plugin. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Secure feature is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock the PDF Embedder Secure feature and other powerful features. Running PDF Embedder Secure on a Caddy server? The plugin automatically protects the `/securepdfs/` directory on Apache using `.htaccess`, but Caddy does not support `.htaccess`. Without a manual configuration change, your protected PDFs remain directly accessible. This guide covers how to add the required block to your `Caddyfile` so Caddy enforces PDF Embedder Secure’s access restrictions. - [Why Caddy Needs Extra Configuration](#aioseo-why-caddy-needs-extra-configuration-9) - [Configuring the Caddyfile](#aioseo-configuring-the-caddyfile-13) - [Verifying the Configuration](#aioseo-verifying-the-configuration-19) --- ## Why Caddy Needs Extra Configuration When you enable the Secure PDFs option in our PDF Embedder Premium plugin, all protected files are stored at: ``` /wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/ ``` On Apache, the plugin blocks direct access to this path automatically via `.htaccess`. Caddy has no equivalent per-directory configuration mechanism, so the same rule must be added directly to the `Caddyfile`. ## Configuring the Caddyfile Open your `Caddyfile` and add the following block at the same level as your `root` directive: ``` handle_path /wp-content/uploads/securepdfs* { @allow_local { remote_ip 127.0.0.1 } @allowed_files { path *.jpg *.png *.gif *.mp3 *.ogg } route { handle @allow_local { reverse_proxy http://127.0.0.1:6776 } handle @allowed_files { respond "Allowed" 200 } respond "Forbidden" 403 } } Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` This configuration denies direct access to all files in the `securepdfs` directory except image and audio files. Requests from localhost (`127.0.0.1`) are forwarded to the PDF Embedder proxy on port 6776, which validates user permissions before delivering the file. After editing the `Caddyfile`, save it and reload the Caddy server for the configuration to take effect. For reference on `Caddyfile` syntax, see the [official Caddy documentation](https://caddyserver.com/docs/caddyfile). ## Verifying the Configuration After reloading Caddy, confirm the embedded PDF still displays on the front end. Then test that direct access is blocked by copying the PDF URL from your shortcode or block: ``` https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/2025/01/file.pdf Code language: JavaScript (javascript) ``` Paste it directly into a browser. A 403 Forbidden error confirms the configuration is working. If the PDF loads, check that the block is placed at the correct level in the `Caddyfile` and that Caddy has been reloaded. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Installing PDF Embedder Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/installing-pdf-embedder-premium/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Learn how to install and activate your PDF Embedder Premium license with this step-by-step guide, ensuring seamless integration into your WordPress site. **Content:** Have you purchased a PDF Embedder Premium license and are ready to install it on your site? This guide walks you through installing and activating the PDF Embedder Premium plugin. > **Requires:** **PDF Embedder Premium** - [Prerequisites](#aioseo-first-steps-5) - [Installing the Plugin](#aioseo-installing-the-plugin-9) --- ## Prerequisites Before you get started, there are several things you should check to ensure the installation process is seamless. 1. Make sure you have [installed and activated the **PDF Embedder Lite** plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/installing-pdf-embedder-lite/) on your site. The Premium plugin extends the functionality of the free version. 2. Ensure you check the [PDF Embedder changelog](https://wp-pdf.com/changelog/) to confirm your WordPress version meets the minimum requirements for the latest release. 3. [Access your account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/) and [download the premium plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin/). This gives you the latest version of the plugin file. ## Installing the Plugin Once you have reviewed the requirements and downloaded the plugin, go back to your WordPress dashboard and head to **Plugins > Add New**, then click **Upload Plugin**. ![a screenshot of the plugin upload option on WordPress](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-upload-pdf-embedder-1024x277.webp)This will show you a button to ‘**Choose File**‘. Click on this and select the downloaded PDF Embedder ZIP file from your computer, then click **Install Now** to get the plugin installation started. Once installation finishes, click **Activate Plugin**. ![a screenshot of the activate option after plugin upload and installation](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-activate-pdf-embedder-upload.webp)> The manual upload can also be used to update the plugin manually. However, you will see the ‘**Replace current with uploaded**‘ option instead of **Install Now**. You have successfully installed PDF Embedder Premium. Next, please check out [how to verify your PDF Embedder license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/in-the-premium-version-there-is-nowhere-to-enter-the-license-key/) on your site. **Documentation Categories:** Getting Started --- ### [Configuring PDF Embedder Attachment Pages](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/auto-generate-a-wordpress-page-to-embed-the-pdf/) **Published:** May 23, 2017 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Discover how to automatically generate unique 'Attachment Pages' for displaying PDF Viewer with the Premium version of a plugin. **Content:** **PDF Embedder Attachments is a [Pro plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock PDF Embedder Attachments and other powerful features. Are you looking for a quick way to give each of your PDFs its own dedicated page on your WordPress site? With PDF Embedder, you can make use of the attachment pages for every PDF in your Media Library, saving you from manually creating a separate page for each document. This guide explains what attachment pages are, how to access them, and how to enable them for secure PDFs. - [What are attachment pages?](#aioseo-what-are-attachment-pages-9) - [Finding the Attachment Page](#aioseo-finding-the-attachment-page-12) - [Enabling Attachment Pages for Secure PDFs](#aioseo-enabling-attachment-pages-for-secure-pdfs-17) - [Troubleshooting Attachment Pages](#aioseo-troubleshooting-attachment-pages-21) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-25) - [Do attachment pages work with the Free version?](#aioseo-do-attachment-pages-work-with-the-free-version-27) - [Can I customize the layout of an attachment page?](#aioseo-can-i-customize-the-layout-of-an-attachment-page-29) --- ## What are attachment pages? WordPress generates an attachment page for every file uploaded to the Media Library. When our PDF Embedder Premium plugin is active, that attachment page automatically includes an embedded viewer for the corresponding PDF. This means each PDF gets its own public URL with an embedded PDF, without any extra setup. You can link directly to an attachment page from anywhere on your site, use it as a destination for a thumbnail image, or share it externally. ## Finding the Attachment Page To access the dedicated page for your PDF, start by navigating to **WordPress Dashboard > Media > Library**. Ensure you are using the **Grid view** by clicking the grid icon near the top of the page for the necessary links to be accessible. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Media-Library-Grid-Option-1024x243.webp)From there, click on your PDF to open the attachment details panel. In the right column, click the **View attachment page** link to open the standalone page where your PDF will be displayed in the embedded viewer. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/View-Attachment-Page-1024x491.webp)## Enabling Attachment Pages for Secure PDFs By default, attachment pages are not generated for PDFs stored in secure mode. To enable them, go to **Settings > PDF Embedder > Secure** and check the **Auto-generate Attachment Pages for Secure PDFs** option. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/PDF-Embedder-Enable-Attachment-Pages-1-1024x417.webp)Note that from WordPress 6.4 onward, attachment pages are disabled globally for all media files. This setting overrides that global behavior specifically for secure PDFs managed by our plugin. ## Troubleshooting Attachment Pages Some SEO plugins include a redirect option for media attachment URLs. This redirect conflicts with the URL permissions that the plugin uses to protect secure PDFs from direct access. If your attachment pages are not loading correctly, check your SEO plugin’s settings and disable any redirect that targets media attachment pages. In Yoast SEO, go to **Yoast SEO > Search Appearance > Media** and set the media attachment URL redirect to **Disabled**. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/YoastSEO_SearchAppearance_MediaAttachmentPages.jpg)## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about attachment pages. ### Do attachment pages work with the Free version? No. Automatically embedding a PDF viewer on attachment pages requires our PDF Embedder Premium plugin. ### Can I customize the layout of an attachment page? The attachment page uses your active theme’s page template. You can edit the template or override it with your theme’s customization options, but PDF Embedder does not provide a dedicated layout setting for attachment pages. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Instructions for PDF Thumbnails](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/thumbnails-instructions/) **Published:** February 18, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to install and generate thumbnail images for PDFs in WordPress with this step-by-step guide. **Content:** **PDF Thumbnails is an [Elite plan feature](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/).** [Upgrade your license](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin-or-upgrading-the-license/) to unlock PDF Thumbnails and other powerful features. Are you looking to generate thumbnail images from your PDF files? The PDF Thumbnails plugin generates a static image of the first page of any PDF you upload, which you can then use anywhere on your site as a standard image. This guide covers the installation, usage, and settings for the PDF Thumbnails plugin. - [Installation](#aioseo-installation-11) - [Generating a thumbnail](#aioseo-generating-a-thumbnail-17) - [Using the thumbnail image](#aioseo-using-the-thumbnail-image-22) - [Embedding options when a thumbnail is present](#aioseo-embedding-options-when-a-thumbnail-is-present-25) - [Generating for existing PDFs](#aioseo-generating-for-existing-pdfs-31) - [PDF Thumbnail settings](#aioseo-pdf-thumbnail-settings-36) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-41) - [Can I use the thumbnail without PDF Embedder?](#aioseo-can-i-use-the-thumbnail-without-pdf-embedder-43) --- > Before getting started, please review our **[PDF Thumbnails changelog](https://wp-pdf.com/changelog/thumbnails/)** to ensure your site meets the minimum requirements for the plugin. ## Installation The first step is to download the PDF Thumbnails plugin. The plugin is included as a separate file with the purchase of an **Elite** license. You receive a download link by email after purchasing. After downloading, the next step is to install the plugin on your site. In your WordPress admin, go to **Plugins > Add New,** then click **Upload Plugin**. ![a screenshot of the plugin upload option on WordPress](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-upload-pdf-embedder-1024x277.webp)Select the ZIP file you downloaded and click **Install Now**. After the installation, click **Activate Plugin**. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/activate-PDF-Thumbnails.webp)## Generating a thumbnail Upload a PDF to your **Media Library**. After the upload completes, click on the PDF to open its detail view. In the right-hand panel, look for the **PDF Thumbnail** row, which shows “Generating…” while the image is being created. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PDF-Thumbnails-Generating-1024x367.webp)Once the thumbnail generation is complete, reload the detail view. The PDF now has a thumbnail icon in the Media Library. A **Regenerate thumbnail** link appears in the detail view if you ever need to rebuild it (for example, after replacing the PDF file with an updated version). A thumbnail is generated from the first page of the document only. ### Using the thumbnail image The generated thumbnail is a standalone image in the Media Library, associated with the PDF as its parent file. It can be used independently anywhere on your site as a featured image, in a gallery, or in a page builder module. A common use is setting the thumbnail as the featured image for a post that contains an embedded PDF. This ensures the correct preview image appears in your blog feed and when the post is shared on social media. ### Embedding options when a thumbnail is present When you insert a PDF into a post or page through the Media Library, the presence of a thumbnail adds new **Link To** options: ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PDF-Thumbnails-Link-option-1024x455.webp)**None (embed directly)**: The PDF is embedded in the page using the standard PDF Embedder viewer. The thumbnail is not used in this mode. **Attachment Page**: The thumbnail image is displayed in your content as a link. Clicking it takes the user to the PDF’s attachment page, where the full embedded viewer loads. Use the **Media** dropdown to choose the image size and the **Alignment** option to position it. **PDF Media File**: Similar in appearance to the Attachment Page option, but clicking the thumbnail link takes the user directly to the raw PDF file rather than an attachment page. ## Generating for existing PDFs By default, the tool only generates thumbnails for PDFs that do not already have one. To create thumbnails for PDFs already in your Media Library, first head to **Settings > PDF Thumbnails**. To regenerate all thumbnails and overwrite existing ones, uncheck **Only generate thumbnails for PDFs that don’t already have one**. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PDF-Thumbnails-for-existing-PDFs-1024x411.webp)Then click on the **Start Generation** section. ## PDF Thumbnail settings Under **Settings > PDF Thumbnails > Settings**, you can set a **Maximum Width** in pixels for generated thumbnails. The default is 2000. Reduce this for smaller file sizes or increase it if you need very large images. Set it to `0` to apply no maximum. The thumbnail’s aspect ratio is determined by the PDF itself. WordPress also generates standard small, medium, and large variants automatically. Choose **PNG** or **JPEG** as the output format. JPEG produces smaller files and generates faster. PNG produces higher quality output at a larger file size. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/PDF-Thumbnails-Settings-1024x460.webp)## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about PDF thumbnails. ### Can I use the thumbnail without PDF Embedder? Yes. Once generated, the thumbnail is a standard Media Library image and can be used anywhere on your site, independently of the PDF Embedder plugin. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Using PDF Embedder with Drag and Drop Layout Builders](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/drag-and-drop-layout-builders/) **Published:** August 23, 2019 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to embed PDFs using PDF Embedder in WordPress page builders like Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, and Beaver Builder with step-by-step shortcode instructions. **Content:** Are you looking to use PDF Embedder on a site built with a drag-and-drop page builder? Page builders like Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, and Beaver Builder handle media insertion differently from the standard WordPress editor, which means PDFs need to be added via shortcode rather than through the builder’s own media picker. This guide explains why the standard insertion method does not work in page builders and walks through the steps to embed a PDF using a shortcode module. - [Why page builders require a different approach](#aioseo-why-page-builders-require-a-different-approach-4) - [Embedding a PDF using a shortcode module](#aioseo-embedding-a-pdf-using-a-shortcode-module-7) - [Frequently asked questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-21) - [Can I use this method with the Free version?](#aioseo-can-i-use-this-method-with-the-free-version-23) - [Why does my PDF show as a link instead of a viewer?](#aioseo-why-does-my-pdf-show-as-a-link-instead-of-a-viewer-25) - [Does this work with every page builder?](#aioseo-does-this-work-with-every-page-builder-27) --- ## Why page builders require a different approach Most drag-and-drop editors use their own method to access the WordPress Media Library. This breaks the automatic shortcode insertion that PDF Embedder performs when you select a PDF through the standard **Add Media** button. As a result, using the PDF Embedder widget or block through a page builder’s native interface typically displays the PDF as a plain link rather than an embedded viewer. The solution is to add the embed shortcode manually using a text, HTML, or code module. ## Embedding a PDF using a shortcode module We suggest keeping your WordPress **Media Library** open in a separate browser tab before you start. This will make it more convenient when you need to copy the PDF’s file URL during the process. 1. In your page builder, add a module that supports plain text, raw HTML, or shortcodes. In Elementor, this is the **Text Editor** or **HTML** widget; in Divi, use the **Code** module; in WPBakery, use a **Raw HTML** element. 2. Inside the module, enter the **[PDF Embedder shortcode](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-the-pdf-embedder-shortcode/)** with an empty URL value: `[pdf-embedder url=""]` 3. Switch to the **Media Library** tab in your browser. 4. Click on the PDF you want to embed to open its detail view. 5. Copy the **File URL** shown in the right-hand panel. 6. Paste the URL between the quotation marks in the shortcode: `[pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]` 7. Save or publish the page. ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Elementor_shortcode.jpg)**Elementor** example![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/DIVI_shortcode.jpg)**Divi Builder** exampleAny shortcode attribute available in PDF Embedder works here. Add them alongside the `url` parameter as needed. For example: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf" width="600" toolbar="top"] Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` ## Frequently asked questions Below are some common questions about using PDF Embedder with page builders. ### Can I use this method with the Free version? Yes. The shortcode method works with both the Free and Premium versions of the plugin. ### Why does my PDF show as a link instead of a viewer? This usually means the shortcode was not processed by WordPress before the page builder rendered the output. Make sure the shortcode is placed inside a module that processes raw shortcodes, not a module that displays plain text or sanitizes HTML. Check your page builder’s documentation for the correct module type. ### Does this work with every page builder? The shortcode approach works with any page builder that includes a text, HTML, raw code, or shortcode module. This covers Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, Beaver Builder, and most other popular builders. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Installing PDF Embedder Lite](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/installing-pdf-embedder-lite/) **Published:** April 13, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** This guide explains how to install the free PDF Embedder plugin on your site. **Content:** Are you looking to start embedding PDFs on your WordPress site? The free PDF Embedder plugin is available directly from the WordPress.org plugin repository and takes only a few minutes to get running. This guide covers two methods for installing the free PDF Embedder plugin. - [Option 1: Installing from the WordPress Admin](#aioseo-option-1-installing-from-the-wordpress-admin-4) - [Option 2: Installing Manually via Upload](#aioseo-option-2-installing-manually-via-upload-11) --- ## Option 1: Installing from the WordPress Admin This is the fastest method. To get started, log in to your WordPress dashboard and head to **Plugins > Add Plugin,** then type “**PDF Embedder**” in the search bar. ![a screenshot of how find pdf embedder lite to install on WordPress](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-add-pdf-embedder-1024x208.webp)This will give you a list of plugins with the keyword. Find the PDF Embedder plugin in the results and click **Install Now**. ![a screenshot of PDF Embedder listing with the install button](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-install-pdf-embedder.webp)Once the installation finishes, click **Activate** to enable the plugin on your site. ![a screenshot of PDF Embedder listing with the activate option](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-activate-pdf-embedder.webp)## Option 2: Installing Manually via Upload If installing the plugin directly on the site does not work, you can upload the plugin file manually to your site. To get started, you need to download the free plugin from the [WordPress.org plugin repository](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-embedder/). ![a screenshot of PDF Embedder download option on the WordPress repository](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-download-pdf-embedder-lite-1024x207.webp)Once you have downloaded the plugin, go back to your WordPress dashboard and head to **Plugins > Add New**, then click **Upload Plugin**. ![a screenshot of the plugin upload option on WordPress](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-upload-pdf-embedder-1024x277.webp)This will show a button to ‘**Choose File**‘. Click on this and select the downloaded PDF Embedder ZIP file from your computer, then click **Install Now** to get the plugin installation started. When the installation finishes, click **Activate**. ![a screenshot of the activate option after plugin upload and installation](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/wordpress-com-plugins-activate-pdf-embedder-upload.webp)> The manual upload can also be used to update the plugin manually. However, you will see the ‘**Replace current with uploaded**‘ option instead of **Install Now**. **Documentation Categories:** Getting Started --- ### [Upgrading to PDF Embedder Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/upgrading-to-pdf-embedder-premium/) **Published:** April 10, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn how to upgrade from PDF Embedder Free to Premium. Purchase your license, install the plugin, and set up Secure PDFs - step-by-step walkthrough included. **Content:** Ready to unlock the full power of PDF Embedder? The free version gives you a solid foundation, but the Premium version adds features like secure PDF storage, dynamic watermarks, and download tracking that take your document experience to the next level. This guide walks you through purchasing and installing PDF Embedder Premium on your WordPress site. - [Purchasing the PDF Embedder Premium](#aioseo-1-purchasing-the-pdf-embedder-premium-6) - [Secure Existing PDFs After Upgrade](#aioseo-2-secure-existing-pdfs-after-upgrade-10) - [Adding the Files to the SecurePDFs Folder](#aioseo-i-adding-the-files-to-the-securepdfs-folder-12) - [Updating PDF Embedder Shortcodes and Blocks](#aioseo-ii-updating-pdf-embedder-shortcodes-and-blocks-15) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-17) - [Do I need to remove the free plugin before installing Premium?](#aioseo-do-i-need-to-remove-the-free-plugin-before-installing-premium-19) - [What happens if I need a refund?](#aioseo-what-happens-if-i-need-a-refund-21) --- > Before you get started, make sure the **Lite version** of the PDF Embedder plugin is already installed and activated on your site. The Premium version extends the free plugin and requires it to be present. ## Purchasing the PDF Embedder Premium The first step is to visit [our pricing page](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) to choose the plan that fits your needs. After completing your purchase, you will receive a confirmation email containing a link to download the PDF Embedder Premium plugin ZIP file. You can also [download this file from your Account page](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin/) at any time. > With the Premium plugin file downloaded, please install the plugin on your site and verify the license to get started. You can also find more details in our getting started section. ## Secure Existing PDFs After Upgrade If you purchased a Pro or Elite license and plan to use the Secure PDFs feature to secure pre-existing files, there are a few extra steps. ### Adding the Files to the SecurePDFs Folder Any PDFs you previously uploaded will need to be re-uploaded so they are placed in the new `/wp-content/uploads/securepdfs/` folder. Alternatively, you can use **FTP** or your web host’s **File Manager** to move the files in bulk to the `/securepdfs/` folder. Additional steps to register the media files in the database after using FTP must be completed before the PDFs will appear in the Media library ([tutorial article](https://www.wpkube.com/bulk-upload-files-wordpress-via-ftp-methods/)). ### Updating PDF Embedder Shortcodes and Blocks Once all URLs are updated, if you have used PDF Embedder shortcodes or blocks, these will also need to be updated with the new file URLs(as the URL now has the `/securepdfs/` part). ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed some of the most common questions about upgrading to PDF Embedder Premium. ### Do I need to remove the free plugin before installing Premium? No. Keep the free PDF Embedder plugin installed and active. The Premium plugin works alongside it and requires it to function. ### What happens if I need a refund? All purchases are covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee. If PDF Embedder is not the right fit, contact support within 14 days of purchase for a full refund. **Documentation Categories:** Presales & Support --- ### [Viewing Plugin Update History and Changelogs](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/viewing-plugin-update-history-and-changelogs/) **Published:** April 10, 2026 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Find out where PDF Embedder's latest updates are documented, including changelogs for premium and free versions, to ensure your website runs smoothly. **Content:** Wondering what changed in the latest version of PDF Embedder? Keeping track of plugin updates helps you understand new features, bug fixes, and anything that might affect your site after an update. This guide shows you where to find the changelog for both the Premium and free versions of PDF Embedder. - [Premium Plugin Changelog](#aioseo-premium-plugin-changelog-4) - [Free Plugin Changelog](#aioseo-free-plugin-changelog-6) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-8) - [How do I know when a new version is available?](#aioseo-how-do-i-know-when-a-new-version-is-available-10) - [Where do I report a bug I found after an update?](#aioseo-where-do-i-report-a-bug-i-found-after-an-update-12) --- ## Premium Plugin Changelog The PDF Embedder Premium plugin has a [published changelog page](https://wp-pdf.com/changelog/). Every release is listed there with a summary of what changed, including new features, improvements, and bug fixes. ## Free Plugin Changelog The changelog for the free version of PDF Embedder is on the plugin’s WordPress.org listing. Go to the **Developers** tab on the [PDF Embedder plugin listing](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-embedder/#developers) to see the full version history. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about tracking PDF Embedder updates. ### How do I know when a new version is available? WordPress notifies you on the **Dashboard > Updates** screen when a new version of any installed plugin is available. For Premium updates, notifications also appear in your WordPress admin when a new release is published. ### Where do I report a bug I found after an update? Premium license holders submit bug reports through the [Account Support page](https://wp-pdf.com/account/support/). Free version users post on the [WordPress.org support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/pdf-embedder/). **Documentation Categories:** Presales & Support --- ### [Understanding PDF Embedder and GDPR and CCPA Compliance](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/pdf-embedder-and-the-general-data-protection-regulation/) **Published:** May 18, 2018 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Understand how the PDF Embedder plugin maintains GDPR and CCPA compliance by storing only non-personal data. **Content:** Running a website that serves visitors in Europe or California means data privacy compliance is not optional. If you rely on PDF Embedder to display documents, you need to know exactly what data the plugin collects, if any, from your site visitors. This guide explains how PDF Embedder handles visitor data and where it stands with respect to GDPR and CCPA requirements. - [What Data PDF Embedder Collects](#aioseo-what-data-pdf-embedder-collects-4) - [View and Download Tracking(Premium)](#aioseo-view-and-download-trackingpremium-6) - [GDPR and CCPA Compliance Status](#aioseo-gdpr-and-ccpa-compliance-status-8) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-10) - [Does enabling view tracking identify individual visitors?](#aioseo-does-enabling-view-tracking-identify-individual-visitors-11) - [Do I need to mention PDF Embedder in my site's privacy policy?](#aioseo-do-i-need-to-mention-pdf-embedder-in-my-sites-privacy-policy-13) --- ## What Data PDF Embedder Collects The free version of PDF Embedder collects no personal data from your site visitors. The plugin’s only function is to render an interactive PDF viewer in the browser. No names, email addresses, IP addresses, or any other identifying information are stored. ## View and Download Tracking(Premium) If you enable tracking in your plugin settings, the plugin records the number of times each document is viewed or downloaded. This count is stored in your WordPress database as part of the document’s metadata. The only values stored are integers. No information about which visitor viewed or downloaded a document is recorded. ### GDPR and CCPA Compliance Status Because PDF Embedder does not collect or store any personal information about your site visitors, the plugin is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does enabling view tracking identify individual visitors? No. When view tracking is enabled in the Premium version, the plugin only stores a count of views and downloads. No visitor details such as names, email addresses, or IP addresses are recorded. ### Do I need to mention PDF Embedder in my site’s privacy policy? Because the plugin does not collect personal data, a specific disclosure is generally not required. That said, consult your legal advisor if you have specific compliance obligations for your jurisdiction. **Documentation Categories:** Presales & Support --- ### [Finding the Terms of Service or Privacy Policy](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/where-can-i-find-the-terms-of-service/) **Published:** January 24, 2020 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** You can find links to Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. **Content:** Wondering what you agree to when purchasing or using PDF Embedder? Both the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy are publicly available and easy to locate. This guide shows you where to find the legal documents that govern your use of PDF Embedder. - [Terms of Service](#aioseo-terms-of-service-4) - [Privacy Policy](#aioseo-privacy-policy-7) - [Frequently Asked Questions](#aioseo-frequently-asked-questions-10) - [Where do I go if I have a question about the Terms of Service or Privacy Policy?](#aioseo-where-do-i-go-if-i-have-a-question-about-the-terms-of-service-or-privacy-policy-12) --- ## Terms of Service By using the PDF Embedder plugin, you agree to the terms outlined in the **[PDF Embedder Terms of Service](https://www.google.com/search?q=https://wp-pdf.com/terms)**. You also agree to these when purchasing the plugin. ## Privacy Policy The PDF Embedder plugin also has a [Privacy Policy page](https://wp-pdf.com/privacy/). It describes what data is collected, how it is used, and your rights as a user. By using the plugin or the wp-pdf.com website, you agree to this policy. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed the most common questions about PDF Embedder’s legal documents. ### Where do I go if I have a question about the Terms of Service or Privacy Policy? Use the [Contact page](https://wp-pdf.com/contact/) to send a message to the PDF Embedder team directly. **Documentation Categories:** Presales & Support --- ### [Using PDF Embedder plugin on WordPress.com](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/can-i-use-the-plugin-on-a-wordpress-com-hosted-site/) **Published:** July 14, 2017 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Find out why PDF Embedder is recommended only for self-hosted WordPress websites. **Content:** Thinking about adding PDF Embedder to your WordPress.com site? Before you purchase or install anything, there are some important platform limitations you need to know about. This guide explains which WordPress.com plans are compatible with PDF Embedder and what functionality is unavailable on that hosting environment. - [WordPress.com vs. Self-Hosted WordPress](#aioseo-wordpress-com-vs-self-hosted-wordpress-4) - [What Works and What Does Not on WordPress.com](#aioseo-what-works-and-what-does-not-on-wordpress-com-6) - [The Recommended Setup](#aioseo-the-recommended-setup-9) --- ## WordPress.com vs. Self-Hosted WordPress WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) are different platforms with different levels of access. On WordPress.com, you do not have access to server configuration files such as .htaccess, security settings, or server-level tools. This closed environment creates real limitations for certain plugins, including PDF Embedder. ## What Works and What Does Not on WordPress.com No version of PDF Embedder can be installed on a **free** WordPress.com plan. Plugin installation requires a paid WordPress.com account. On a paid WordPress.com plan, the free version and the basic PDF Embedder Premium plugin may work, but functionality is not guaranteed. The Secure PDFs feature, available on the Pro and Elite licenses, does not work reliably on WordPress.com. The secure storage system depends on server-level access that WordPress.com does not provide. ## The Recommended Setup For full compatibility with all PDF Embedder features, use a self-hosted WordPress site hosted by any provider other than WordPress.com. This gives you complete control over server settings and allows every feature of our PDF Embedder Premium plugin to work as intended. If you are unsure about the difference between WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress, [WPBeginner’s comparison guide](https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com-infograph/) is a clear starting point. **Documentation Categories:** Presales & Support --- ### [Verifying Your License Key](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/in-the-premium-version-there-is-nowhere-to-enter-the-license-key/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Can't find where to enter your PDF Embedder license key? Both the free and Premium versions must be active - then find the License tab under Settings > PDF Embedder. **Content:** Installed PDF Embedder Premium, but not seeing updates, or your license status is not confirmed? Entering and verifying your license key is what connects your WordPress site to your subscription, giving you access to automatic updates and support. This guide shows you how to find your license key in your account and enter it on your WordPress site. > Before you get started, make sure both the PDF Embedder Lite plugin and the PDF Embedder Premium plugin are installed and activated on your site. --- ## 1. Locating Your License Key To get started, you’ll first need to [log in to your WP-PDF account](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/accessing-your-account/). Then click on the **Downloads** tab to open up a list of all your subscriptions. ### SCREENSHOT The license key is displayed directly below the plugin name. You can quickly copy your license key by clicking on the clipboard icon. ### SCREENSHOT ## 2. Entering the License Key on Your Site To add the license key to your site, you need to head to your **WordPress Dashboard > Settings > PDF Embedder**. ### SCREENSHOT Click the **License** tab and paste your license key into the **License Key** field, then **Save Changes**. ![Screenshot of the PDF Embedder plugin settings, and its License page where users can enter their license key.](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image-1.png)After saving, the license status updates to **Valid**. ## Frequently Asked Questions Below, we’ve addressed common questions about verifying a PDF Embedder license key. ### I activated the Premium plugin, but there is no License tab. What do I do? If the **License** tab is missing from **Settings > PDF Embedder**, only the free version is active. Go to **Plugins**, find PDF Embedder Premium, and click **Activate**. If the Premium plugin is not listed, follow our [Downloading the Plugin](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/downloading-the-plugin/) guide to get the plugin file and install it first. **Documentation Categories:** Account & License --- ### [Using PDF Embedder Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions/) **Published:** May 6, 2015 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Enhance your WordPress site with embedded PDFs. Follow these steps to install, license, and customize the PDF viewer for a seamless reading experience. **Content:** - [Installation](#aioseo-installation) - [License](#aioseo-license) - [Embedding a PDF](#aioseo-embedding-a-pdf) - [Customizing the viewer](#aioseo-customizing-the-viewer) - [Size and Shape](#size) - [Customize the Toolbar](#aioseo-customize-the-toolbar) - [Scrollbars and continuous page scroll](#scrolling) - [Download PDF](#download) - [Track Views/Downloads](#tracking) - [External Links](#newwindow) - [Scroll to top](#scrolltotop) - [Mobile-friendly](#mobile) - [Display 'View in Full Screen' on mobiles](#mobilewidth) - [Disable Device Zoom](#disabledevicezoom) - [Secure PDFs & Watermarks](#secure) **Important:** If you are using any caching tools on the site either by the hosting provider or third-party plugin such as Autoptimize, WP Rocket, etc. please ensure you take the steps to exclude the PDF Embedder plugins from the caching tools. Full instructions here: [FAQ on using caching / minifying tools](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/using-caching-or-minifying-plugins/). ## Installation 1\) **Important:** Make sure that you have an existing (free) [PDF Embedder plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-embedder/) installed and activated. It is required for the Premium plugin to work. 2\) You should have received an email containing a link to a link to a ZIP file when you purchased the product. Download the ZIP to your computer. Alternatively, you can download the latest version of it from the [Account](https://wp-pdf.com/account/) page: ![A screenshot of the part of the page in your Account area on wp-pdf.com where you can download the zip file](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/CleanShot-2024-11-07-at-142557.png) 2) In your WordPress site’s admin panel, go to **Plugins**, and click **‘Add New’**: [![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/add-new-1024x409.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/add-new.png)3\) Then press ‘**Upload Plugin**‘: [![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/upload-plugin-1-1024x583.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/upload-plugin-1.png)4\) Locate the ZIP file and then click **‘Install Now’**. Make sure you click to **Activate** the plugin. [![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/choose-file-1024x240.png)](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/choose-file.png)## License All Premium plans require manually adding the license key as a final step after installing and activating the plugin. 1. Copy the license key from the “[Account](https://wp-pdf.com/account/)” page. 2. Access your WordPress site’s admin panel, go to **“Settings -> PDF Embedder -> License”** and add the key to the **“License Key”** field; 3. Press **“Save Changes”**; A ***Valid** license status should appear after saving it.* ## Embedding a PDF Inserting a PDF is as easy as uploading an image into a WordPress page. In your page/post editing screen, click ‘Add Media’. Drag and drop your PDF anywhere into the media library and then click ‘Insert into post’. Depending on the editor you use (Classic or Block Editor) you should see a ‘shortcode’ like this: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` Or a custom block. When you publish the post or page, this should display as an embedded document viewer for your users to step through the PDF! You can (and actually should if your theme supports that!) use the block in your content Block Editor, which is much more flexible and powerful compared to the shortcode. ## Customizing the viewer You can change the shape and toolbar appearance of all embeds on your site (i.e. set site-wide defaults) through the page Settings -> PDF Embedder in your WordPress admin. ![PDF Embedder Premium settings in the plugin admin area](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/pdf-embedder-premium-settings.png)Most settings there can also be overridden for individual embeds by adding parameters to the shortcode to configure how the document displays. ### Size and Shape You can optionally override width and height as follows: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf" width="500"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` Note the default value for width and height is `'max'`. Resizing works as follows: - If `width='max'` the width will take as much space as possible within its parent container (e.g. column within your page). - If `width` is a number (e.g. `width='500'`) then it will display at that number of pixels wide. *In all cases, if the parent container is narrower than the width calculated above, then the document width will be reduced to the size of the container.* The height will be calculated so that the document fits naturally, given the width already calculated. It is possible to specify a fixed height (e.g. `height="200"`), in which case the document may be cut off vertically. The height will be reduced to fit if it is larger than needed to display the document correctly. The global width and height settings can be overridden through the [shortcode](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#size). ### Customize the Toolbar *Toolbar Location* Set whether the toolbar (containing next/prev buttons and page number etc) appears at the top or bottom of the embedded PDF, or both; or none to have no toolbar at all (default is ‘bottom’). Can be overridden by the ‘toolbar’ [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#toolbar). *Toolbar Fixed/Hover* Select whether the toolbar should appear only on hover (or press on a touch device), or whether it should always be visible. The default is to appear on hover only. Can be overridden by `toolbarfixed` [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#toolbarfixed). ### Scrollbars and continuous page scroll *Display Scrollbars* Choose whether to display scrollbars – vertical, horizontal, or both – within the PDF embed; or none (default). Generally, you don’t need scrollbars because mouse movement can be used to pan around the PDF, and most browsers will display temporary scrollbars to move around the document when relevant. But you can choose to have permanent scrollbars, for example, to make it more obvious to the user that there is more content on further pages. Can be overridden by `scrollbar` [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#scrollbar). *Continuous Page Scrolling* Allows you to turn on or off the feature whereby the user can use the mouse/touch to scroll straight between all the pages of the PDF. The default is `on`. When `off`, the user must click the next/prev buttons to move to a different page. This feature can be configured both globally (in plugin settings) and on the individual embed level. To use it in a shortcode, please define the `continousscroll` attribute with the value of either `on` or `off`. This can be overridden by the ``continousscroll`` [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#continuous-page-scrolling). ### Download PDF *Download Button* Choose whether to display a download button on the toolbar (default is `on` for the regular premium version, `off` for the secure version). This can be overridden by the `download` [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#download). ### Track Views/Downloads If checked then every time a PDF embed is viewed or downloaded, the plugin keeps a running total. These can be viewed by finding the PDF in the Media Library and clicking once to open the attachment details. The download and view totals should be displayed on the right-hand side column. There is only a global setting for this option – there is no shortcode attribute to track some embeds and not others. ### External Links Links to external websites will open up in a new window if this option is checked, otherwise clicking the links will replace the current webpage, taking the user away from the site. The default is `on`. Can be overridden by `newwindow` [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#newwindow). ### Scroll to top Scroll to the top of the page when the user clicks next/prev if this option is checked in Settings. The default is `off`. Can be overridden by `scrolltotop` [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#scrolltotop). ## Mobile-friendly The Mobile tab has further options: ![PDF Embedder - Mobile Settings](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/pdf-embedder-mobile-settings.png)### Display ‘View in Full Screen’ on mobiles By default, if the embed area is narrower than 500 pixels, the document will appear as a thumbnail with a large ‘View in Full Screen’ button. This is designed especially for mobile devices where it can be difficult to interact with a small area, but the same 500-pixel logic applies to any web browser. You can change the cut-off width (or eliminate it entirely) by changing the Mobile Width setting: e.g. to 200, or 0 to always display the interactive document at any screen size. A ‘Full Screen’ button is always available on the toolbar, regardless. Can be overridden by `mobilewidth` [shortcode attribute](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions-attributes/#mobilewidth). ### Disable Device Zoom The default is `off`, but this can be checked to avoid conflicts when zooming on mobiles. Sometimes the browser will zoom the plugin’s PDF viewer so you can’t see the toolbar etc, and this setting may fix that problem as well as quality issues. More details on [problems on mobile devices](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/problems-on-mobile-devices/) are in the FAQ. ## Secure PDFs & Watermarks If you are using the PDF Embedder Premium on a Pro or Elite plan (or legacy Secure), you can find out more about the [functionality here](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/secure-instructions/). **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Instructions for PDF Embedder Free](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/free-instructions/) **Published:** May 20, 2015 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Content:** - [Embedding a PDF](#h-embedding-a-pdf) - [Customizing the viewer](#h-customizing-the-viewer) - [Size and Shape](#h-size-and-shape) - [Customize the Toolbar](#h-customize-the-toolbar) - [Mobile-friendly](#h-mobile-friendly-premium-only) - [Secure PDFs (Premium Secure or Pro+ Plan only)](#h-secure-pdfs-premium-secure-only) ## Embedding a PDF Inserting a PDF is as easy as uploading an image into a WordPress page. If you use Classic Editor, in your page/post editing screen, click ‘Add Media’. Drag and drop your PDF anywhere into the media library and then click ‘Insert into post’. If you use the Guttenberg block editor, you’d need to add a “PDF Embedder” block and then click on it to select a PDF document from WP Media. You should see a ‘shortcode’ like this: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` Alternatively, if you are using a Block Editor, you will see a new block being inserted. When you publish the post or page, this should display as an embedded document viewer for your users to step through the PDF! ## Customizing the viewer You can change the shape and toolbar appearance of all embeds on your site (i.e. set site-wide defaults) through the page *Settings -> PDF Embedder* in your WordPress admin. All the settings there can also be overridden for individual embeds by adding parameters to the shortcode to configure how the document displays. #### Size and Shape You can optionally override `width` and `height` as follows: ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf" width="500"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` Note the default value for width is ‘max’. Resizing works as follows: - If `width='max'` the width will take as much space as possible within its parent container (e.g. column within your page). - If `width` is a number (e.g. `width='500'`) then it will display at that number of pixels wide. *In all cases, if the parent container is narrower than the width calculated above, then the document width will be reduced to the size of the container.* The height will be calculated so that the document fits naturally, given the width already calculated. It is possible to specify a fixed height (e.g. `height="200"`), in which case the document may be cut off vertically. The height will be reduced to fit if it is larger than needed to display the document correctly. #### Customize the Toolbar *Toolbar Location* Add `toolbar="[top|bottom|both]"` to the shortcode to change the location of the Next/Prev toolbar (default is ‘bottom’). ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf" toolbar="top"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` *Toolbar Fixed/Hover* Add `toolbarfixed="on"` (default is `off`) to keep the toolbar open at all times rather than only when the user hovers over the document. Note this extends the length of your embedded area. ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf" toolbarfixed="on"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` It is not possible to add a Download PDF button to the toolbar – this is only available in the premium version. #### Mobile-friendly [PDF Embedder Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/pricing/) (any paid plan) has an intelligent ‘full screen’ mode. When the document is smaller than a certain width, the document displays only as a ‘thumbnail’ with a large ‘View in Full Screen’ button for the user to click when they want to study your document. This opens up the document so it has the full focus of the mobile browser, and the user can move about the document without hitting other parts of the web page by mistake. Click Exit to return to the regular web page. By default, if the embed area is narrower than 500 pixels, the document will appear as a thumbnail with a large ‘View in Full Screen’ button. You can change the cut-off width (or eliminate it entirely) by adding a mobilewidth parameter: e.g. `mobilewidth="200"`, or `"0"` to always display the interactive document at any screen size. A ‘Full Screen’ button is always available on the toolbar, regardless. ``` [pdf-embedder url="https://example.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Plan-Summary.pdf" mobilewidth="200"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` See [PDF Embedder Premium instructions](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/premium-instructions/) for more information. ## Secure PDFs (Premium Secure or Pro+ Plan only) If you purchased the Pro Plan (or previously purchased the Secure version of the plugin) – which makes it difficult for users to obtain the original PDF directly – all your PDF uploads *after upgrading to Pro Plan or higher and installing the new plugin ZIP* should be ‘secure’ by default. That is, they should be uploaded to a `/securepdfs/` sub-folder of your uploads area. These files should not be accessible directly, and the plugin provides a backdoor method for the embedded viewer to obtain the file contents. See [PDF Embedder Secure instructions](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/secure-instructions/) for more information. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Can you scroll between PDF pages?](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/can-you-scroll-between-pdf-pages/) **Published:** July 13, 2016 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Discover the benefits of upgrading to a Premium version of PDF Embedder for seamless scrolling between pages. **Content:** In the free version of the plugin, the only way to move between pages in a PDF Embedder is using the next/prev arrows in the toolbar. All Premium versions of any plan have functionality allowing the user to continuously scroll down through the document to all pages – using the mouse wheel, click-and-drag, touch on a phone, etc. This feature in plugin is controlled by an option called Continuous Scroll, and can be configured globally (enable for all PDF files) or individually on a per file basis (can be enabled globally, but disabled for that specific PDF document). ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/image.png) **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [If I buy a license, can I use the product forever?](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/if-i-buy-a-license-can-i-use-the-product-forever/) **Published:** July 12, 2016 **Author:** Slava Abakumov **Excerpt:** Use the product indefinitely on your WordPress site with support and updates for 12 months. Renew automatically for continued access beyond the purchase date. **Content:** Yes, the license allows you to use the product indefinitely on your WordPress site. The fee also entitles you to support and updates for 12 months from the date of purchase. You can learn more on our [Terms](https://wp-pdf.com/terms/) page. After 12 months, the license will be renewed *automatically* (by subscription set up at the time of purchase) and you will continue to receive plugin updates and support access. If you choose to cancel the license, you are free to use the software. However, if you require support or updates after canceling and outside of the your active license end date, you would need to buy a new license at that point. We believe this situation is better than a one-time purchase since you will receive updates beyond the purchase date – at least for a year – and it offers a sustainable position for support and continued product development in the future. A one-off purchase could easily leave you exposed and in need of a new solution a few months down the line. **Documentation Categories:** Presales & Support --- ### [Display PDF Download and Views in a Page or Post](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/display-pdf-download-and-views-in-a-page-or-post/) **Published:** August 20, 2019 **Author:** Emma **Content:** **Note:** this code will only work with the [Premium](https://wp-pdf.com/premium/) versions of the plugin and only with files served from the `/wp-content/uploads/` directory on your server. You will need to write a bit of PHP for this feature. The code can be added to a custom or child theme’s functions.php file or by using a plugin that inserts PHP code into your site such as [WPCode](https://wordpress.org/plugins/insert-headers-and-footers/). The PHP code: ``` // Code for PDF Embedder Counts. function pdfemb_docs_get_attachment_id( $url, $invertscheme = false ) { global $wpdb; if ( $invertscheme ) { $url = set_url_scheme( $url, preg_match( '#^https://#i', $url ) ? 'http' : 'https' ); } $attachment = $wpdb->get_col( $wpdb->prepare( "SELECT ID FROM $wpdb->posts WHERE guid='%s';", esc_url( $url ) ) ); if ( is_array( $attachment ) && isset( $attachment[0] ) && $attachment[0] > 0 ) { return $attachment[0]; } return 0; } function pdfemb_docs_counts( $atts, $content = '' ) { if ( empty( $atts['url'] ) ) { return 'PDF Embedder counts requires a URL attribute.'; } $url = $atts['url']; $post_id = pdfemb_docs_get_attachment_id( $url ); if ( ! $post_id ) { $post_id = pdfemb_docs_get_attachment_id( $url, true ); } if ( $post_id ) { $count_views = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'pdfemb-views', true ); $count_downloads = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'pdfemb-downloads', true ); if ( is_numeric( $count_views ) ) { $content .= 'Views: ' . $count_views; } if ( is_numeric( $count_downloads ) ) { $content .= ' Downloads: ' . $count_downloads; } } return $content; } add_shortcode( 'pdfemb-docs-counts', 'pdfemb_docs_counts' ); Code language: PHP (php) ``` You will need to use the Classic editor block if using the blocks editor or a Text/HTML/Code module with a drag and drop editor. In the page or post content, use the following shortcode replacing the **path-to-pdf.pdf** with your document’s file path: ``` [pdf-embedder-counts url="url-to-file.pdf"]Code language: JSON / JSON with Comments (json) ``` Add the document title, thumbnail, or a link to the embed page and the end result will be something similar to this (the stats will update whenever the page is loaded): ![](https://wp-pdf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/DownloadViews_statsPage.jpg) **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Usage Tracking](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/usage-tracking/) **Published:** June 25, 2024 **Author:** Jackson Mwange **Excerpt:** Learn what exactly we are collecting about PDF Embedder, WordPress and your Server with the PDF Embedder usage tracking. The option is essential for our team to continuously improve our services and provide you with the best possible experience. In this article, **Content:** Do you want to know what data PDF Embedder collects from your site, or need to turn off usage tracking? PDF Embedder usage tracking is essential for our team to continuously improve our services and provide you with the best possible experience. It helps us identify and fix issues, optimize features, and enhance overall performance based on real-world usage. In this article, we’ve shared the details of what usage tracking covers and how to disable it if needed. - [What Usage Tracking Collects](#aioseo-what-usage-tracking-collects-4) - [PDF Embedder Details](#pdf-embedder) - [WordPress Details](#wordpress) - [Web Server Details](#web-server) - [Enabling or Disabling Usage Tracking](#aioseo-enabling-or-disabling-usage-tracking-27) --- ## What Usage Tracking Collects The usage tracking option in PDFEmbeder tracks the following details: ### PDF Embedder Details - **PDF Embedder Version**: The version number gives us information which versions of the plugin our users are still using on their sites. - **PDF Files Count**: To better understand the scale of future PDF-related features, we are collecting only the actual number of PDF files (no file names, no contents, no dates, etc.). - **Plugin Settings**: We use this data to understand how exactly we should configure plugin while testing a new version before release to avoid breaking compatibility with existing configurations. ### WordPress Details - **WordPress Version**: The version number gives us information which versions of WordPress we should still support in our future releases. - **Active Theme/Plugins:** We use this information to analyze which plugins we should pay extra attention to during our testing to make PDF Embedder work seamlessly with them. - **Locale:** We want PDF Embedder to be accessible to everyone, and knowing the site’s locale helps us focus our translation efforts. - **Timezone:** With users worldwide, understanding the densities within various time zones helps us provide optimal support coverage. - **SSL Enabled:** Although we believe every site should use an SSL certificate, knowing how many haven’t yet helps with our testing. - **Multisite:** If a site is a multisite network, knowing the sub-site count helps us ensure PDF Embedder scales properly for large networks. - **Site URL:** The website address enables us to accurately store usage tracking records and avoid duplicate details. - **Cache**: Knowing whether the site uses cache plugins (that set the `WP_CACHE` constant) combined with the information about active plugins, helps us with focusing our efforts on checking compatibility. ### Web Server Details - **PHP and MySQL Versions:** These details ensure our testing procedures have adequate coverage to prevent compatibility issues. - **Server Software:** This indicates whether the web server software is Apache, Nginx, or similar, and is used for testing purposes. No visitor data, PDF content, or personally identifiable information is collected. ## Enabling or Disabling Usage Tracking The behavior differs between the free and Premium versions. **Free version:** In the free version, the usage tracking is optional. To enable it, head to **PDF Embedder > Settings** and check the **Allow Usage Tracking** box. **Premium version:** For Premium users, usage tracking is enabled by default. To disable it, add the following code to your site: ``` add_filter( 'pdfemb_usage_tracking_enabled', '__return_false', 12 );Code language: PHP (php) ``` Add this code using one of the following methods: **Method 1: WPCode (recommended):** Install the free [WPCode plugin](https://wordpress.org/plugins/code-snippets/), go to **Code Snippets > Add Snippet**, paste the code, and activate it. **Method 2: functions.php:** Add the code at the end of your active theme’s `functions.php` file. **Documentation Categories:** Guides & Configuration --- ### [Fake Worker error and SiteGround Caching / Optimization](https://wp-pdf.com/docs/siteground-caching-and-optimization/) **Published:** March 1, 2022 **Author:** Emma **Content:** Caching and combining JS has been known to be an issue with other caching tools. If you do not require the extra performance of the SiteGround caching/optimization tools, you can: - Disable the option to combine JS files (front end optimization screen). - Disable / uncheck the option to “Remove Query Strings from Static Resources” option will resolve this error. - Flush the cache, and reload the site again Make sure that mobile caching is not set differently from the desktop as this will result in the desktop version working and the mobile version fails. If you are unable to disable the combine JS settings, the alternative would be the specifically exclude the PDF Embedder scripts and this would require that you dip into some PHP coding to do so. An example of the code you would need to add to the functions.php is as follows—you may require assistance from the SiteGround support to apply this to your site: ​ ``` add_filter( 'sgo_javascript_combine_exclude', 'js_combine_exclude' ); function js_combine_exclude( $exclude_list ) { $exclude_list[] = 'pdfemb_embed_pdf_js, pdfemb_pdf_js'; return $exclude_list; } add_filter( 'sgo_js_minify_exclude', 'js_minify_exclude' ); function js_minify_exclude( $exclude_list ) { $exclude_list[] = 'pdfemb_embed_pdf_js, pdfemb_pdf_js'; return $exclude_list; } add_filter( 'sgo_css_combine_exclude', 'css_combine_exclude' ); function css_combine_exclude( $exclude_list ) { // Add the style handle to exclude list. $exclude_list[] = 'pdfemb_embed_pdf_css'; return $exclude_list; } add_filter( 'sgo_css_minify_exclude', 'css_minify_exclude' ); function css_minify_exclude( $exclude_list ) { // Add the style handle to exclude list. $exclude_list[] = 'pdfemb_embed_pdf_css'; return $exclude_list; }Code language: PHP (php) ``` **Documentation Categories:** Troubleshooting Errors --- ## Documentation Categories ### [Getting Started](https://wp-pdf.com/docs-category/getting-started/) **Description:** Quick guides to help you understand the basics, set up the plugin, and begin using PDF Embedder with confidence. --- ### [Guides & Configuration](https://wp-pdf.com/docs-category/guides-and-configuration/) **Description:** Comprehensive documentation on customizing the PDF viewer and how to use all the plugin features. --- ### [Troubleshooting Errors](https://wp-pdf.com/docs-category/troubleshooting/) **Description:** Learn how to quickly help yourself when dealing with some issues. --- ### [Presales & Support](https://wp-pdf.com/docs-category/presales-and-support/) **Description:** Still not sure about something before making a purchase? Information regarding plugin policies, licensing upgrades, compliance (GDPR/CCPA), and official support channels. --- ### [Account & License](https://wp-pdf.com/docs-category/account-and-license/) **Description:** All the various aspects of managing your account and license are covered in this category. --- ### [Advanced Solutions](https://wp-pdf.com/docs-category/advanced-solutions/) **Description:** Learn how to modify the plugins behavior and make it work like you need. ---