PDF Version Checker
Drop in a PDF to read the version declared in its header, from PDF 1.0 up to 2.0. You get the spec's approximate release year, a short note on what that version introduced, and badges for whether the file is linearized for fast web view and whether it uses modern cross-reference and object streams. The file is read entirely in your browser and never uploaded.
How to check a PDF version
- Drag a PDF onto the box, or click browse to pick one.
- Read the detected version, its release year, and what it added.
- Check the badges for linearization, xref streams, and object streams.
Examples
A modern, web-optimized PDF
report.pdf (saved from a recent tool)
Version 1.7 (ISO 32000-1, 2006), linearized, xref stream
An older document
scan-2002.pdf
Version 1.4 (2001), transparency era, classic xref table
Frequently asked questions
Is my PDF uploaded anywhere?
No. The PDF is read and parsed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. Nothing is sent to a server, so confidential documents never leave your device.
How does it find the version?
Every PDF starts with a header comment like %PDF-1.7 in its first bytes. The tool validates that header and reads the version digits, then maps them to the spec's release year and headline features.
What does linearized mean?
A linearized PDF (also called fast web view) is reordered so a viewer can show the first page before the whole file downloads. The tool flags it by detecting the /Linearized marker near the start of the file.
What are xref streams and object streams?
PDF 1.5 introduced cross-reference streams (/Type /XRef) and compressed object streams (/Type /ObjStm) to make files smaller. Their presence is a quick sign that a file uses the newer, more compact structure.
Does the version match the features a PDF uses?
Not always. The header version is what the producer declared, but a file can include features from a different version. The structural badges show what the bytes actually contain, independent of the header.
Which versions does it recognize?
It maps PDF 1.0 through 1.7 and PDF 2.0 to their release years and summaries. An unrecognized version is still reported, just without a year from the table.
Related tools
File Type Identifier
Find out what a file really is from its magic bytes, not its extension. Detects images, audio, video, archives, fonts, and more in your browser. Private.
PDF Metadata Viewer
View a PDF's metadata in your browser: title, author, subject, keywords, creator, producer, and creation and modified dates, plus the PDF version. Private.
PDF Page Counter
Count the number of pages in a PDF in your browser. Drop a file in and see the page count instantly. Nothing is uploaded, so private documents stay private.
Add Page Numbers to PDF
Add page numbers to a PDF in your browser. Pick the corner, starting number, and font size, then download. Nothing is uploaded.
Delete PDF Pages
Remove pages from a PDF by number or range, then download the smaller file. Runs entirely in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Extract PDF Pages
Extract a page range from a PDF into a new file. Enter pages like 1-3, 7 and download. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.