02/01/2025, 17:46 5 Ways to Download View-only PDF from Any Website

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How to Download View-only PDF from Any

Website
Piers Zoew
Last updated on December 18, 2024

Summary :
This page introduces some viable methods to help you download embedded
and view-only PDF files from any website, make sure to have a try!

Downloading embedded PDF files that are view-only from websites can
sometimes be tricky, as the PDF might be displayed within an inline frame or as
an object element.

To help you solve that problem, here are some methods to help you download
embedded PDF files from websites. Note that these methods are not guaranteed
to work, but they definitely worth a try.

Right-Click and Save

The “Right-click and save” feature in web browsers helps download embedded
PDFs by allowing users to directly access the file’s source.

When right-clicking on the embedded PDF, the browser’s context menu provides
options like “Save As” or “Save Link As,” which enable users to save the file locally.

This method is simple and efficient, but may not work on all websites due to
varying implementations.

Step 1. Go to the webpage with the PDF you want.

Step 2. Right-click on the PDF file.

Step 3. Click Save as or Save link as from the context menu.

Table of Contents

1. Right-Click and Save

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02/01/2025, 17:46 5 Ways to Download View-only PDF from Any Website

2. Inspect Element (Also

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3. Print to PDF

4. More Methods

5. FAQs

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Right-Click Save As

Step 4. In the pop-up Save As window, make sure the file name ends with .pdf
instead of .html, so you’ll know you can get the actual PDF file.

Check File Name

Inspect Element (Also Works on Mobile)

The “Inspect element” tool in web browsers like Chrome and Firefox helps
download embedded PDFs by revealing the file’s direct URL within the website’s
source code.

This may help you download protected PDF from website online – when the
“Right-click-save-as” feature doesn’t work (and yeah, there’s no online tool for
that).

By inspecting the “iframe” or “object” tag containing the PDF, users can locate the
“src” attribute with the URL. Copying and pasting this URL into a new browser tab
allows direct access and downloading of the PDF.

*If you’re on a mobile phone, use this website to check the webpage
code: https://www.view-page-source.com/

1. Right-click on the embedded PDF and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element” to

open the browser’s developer tools.

2. Look for the “iframe” or “object” tag with a “src” attribute containing the PDF
file’s URL.

3. Copy the URL and paste it into a new browser tab or window to access the PDF
directly.

4. You can then download the PDF using the browser’s built-in PDF viewer or by
right-clicking and selecting “Save As.”

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Inspect Element

Print to PDF

The Print to PDF feature provided in web browsers helps download PDFs over the
web by converting the web page displaying the PDF into a new PDF file.

If you are unable to download the embedded PDF directly, you can try printing
the web page to a PDF file. Most modern browsers have a built-in “Print to PDF”
option.

To do this, press “Ctrl+P” (Windows) or “Cmd+P” (Mac) to open the print dialog,
then select “Save as PDF” or “Microsoft Print to PDF” as the printer.

This approach circumvents direct access to the original PDF file, allowing users to
save the content in a separate PDF document.

Step 1. Go to the website with the PDF you need.

Step 2. Open to display the PDF file so you can properly read it.

Step 3. Use the keyboard shortcut “Ctrl+P” (Windows) or “Cmd+P” (Mac) to open
the print dialog, then select “Save as PDF” or “Microsoft Print to PDF” as the
printer.

Step 4. Change the paper size if needed, and hit Print to save the webpage as a
PDF file.

Print to PDF

Please note that some websites may have restrictions in place to prevent
downloading of their content, and downloading copyrighted material without
permission may be illegal. Always respect the website’s terms of service and the
content owner’s rights.

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Use browser extensions

Browser extensions allow users to download PDFs by providing specialized tools

that automate the process. These extensions can detect PDFs within web pages
and offer a download button or context menu option.

This approach simplifies the process, enabling users to save embedded PDFs
without manually searching for the file’s source or URL.

There are browser extensions available for popular browsers like Chrome and
Firefox that can help you download embedded PDF files. Some examples include:

Download All PDFs

Save as PDF

GetThemAll

Use a website downloader

Website downloader services aid in downloading embedded PDFs by capturing

entire websites, including their files and media.

These downloaders crawl the website, identifying and saving embedded PDFs
along with other content.

This approach allows users to access and save PDFs offline, even if they’re not
directly accessible through the site’s user interface.

Tools like HTTrack Website Copier can help you download an entire website,
including embedded PDF files. However, this method might not be suitable if you
only need a specific PDF file.

FAQs

Why can’t I download a PDF from a website?

If you’re unable to download an embedded PDF, it might be due to one of the

following reasons:

The website has disabled the download feature for the PDF viewer.

Your browser settings or extensions are blocking downloads.

The PDF is not actually embedded but is an image or other non-downloadable format.

Is it legal to download embedded PDFs from websites?

Downloading embedded PDFs is generally legal for personal use, as long as the
content is publicly accessible and not protected by copyright or other intellectual
property restrictions. However, it’s essential to respect the website’s terms of use
and not distribute or reproduce the downloaded content without permission.

Can I download all embedded PDFs on a website at once?

There are specialized tools and software, such as website downloaders or web
crawlers, that can download multiple embedded PDFs from a website.

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important to ensure you have permission to download the content in bulk.
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