Why does Windows warn me about the installer?

The build is not signed with an Authenticode certificate yet, so SmartScreen flags it as from an unknown publisher. Choose "More info" → "Run anyway". The same app is also usable in the browser if you prefer not to install it.

Can I make it my default PDF app?

Yes. Use "Make default PDF app" in the File menu, or Settings → Apps → Default apps → Haven PDF, or right-click a PDF → Open with → Choose another app → Always.

Does it need admin rights?

No. The installer sets the app up for your user account, so it works on managed machines without an administrator.

Does it work offline?

Completely. Only update checks and optional OCR language downloads touch the network.

Home › PDF editor for Windows

● Files are never uploaded

PDF editor for Windows

Windows ships with a PDF reader inside Edge, and everything past reading tends to cost money: Acrobat wants a subscription, and the "free online editors" want your document on their server first. Haven PDF for Windows is the whole editor, free, and the file never leaves your PC.

It is the same editor as the website, packaged as a desktop app: double-click any PDF to open it, edit text, sign, fill forms, compress to an exact size, OCR a scan, convert Word ↔ PDF. Install it, set it as your default PDF app, and it keeps working with the network off.

Open the tool →

A real Windows app, not a web shortcut

The installer registers Haven PDF for .pdf files, so it appears in "Open with" and can be set as the default PDF application. Double-click opens a quick preview window; Ctrl+E promotes it to the full editor. Start menu and desktop shortcuts, a normal menu bar with keyboard shortcuts, native Save As dialogs, Recent documents, drag & drop, printing and automatic updates all behave the way Windows users expect.

Offline by design

The whole engine ships inside the app — the renderer, the PDF writer, compression and OCR. Nothing is fetched from a server to open, edit or export a document, so it works on a locked-down corporate machine or a laptop with no connection. And because nothing is uploaded, no copy of your contract exists outside your own disk.

Everything the website does

Edit existing text, add images and shapes, sign, fill and flatten forms, redact (truly removed on export), merge/split/reorder pages, compress to an exact target size, OCR scans into searchable PDFs, convert Word ↔ PDF, protect or unlock with a password. Anything shipped on havenpdf.com lands in the next Windows build automatically — it is one codebase.

Install notes

Windows 10/11, 64-bit. The build is not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen shows a "Windows protected your PC" notice on first run — click "More info" then "Run anyway". A portable build is available too if you would rather not install anything.

Download for Windows (installer) · Portable version · Or use it in the browser

Frequently asked questions

Why does Windows warn me about the installer?: The build is not signed with an Authenticode certificate yet, so SmartScreen flags it as from an unknown publisher. Choose "More info" → "Run anyway". The same app is also usable in the browser if you prefer not to install it.
Can I make it my default PDF app?: Yes. Use "Make default PDF app" in the File menu, or Settings → Apps → Default apps → Haven PDF, or right-click a PDF → Open with → Choose another app → Always.
Does it need admin rights?: No. The installer sets the app up for your user account, so it works on managed machines without an administrator.
Does it work offline?: Completely. Only update checks and optional OCR language downloads touch the network.