PDF Version Inspector - Free Online Browser Tool

Determine whether PDF is 1.4, 1.7, 2.0, or PDF/A archive standard.

The version header tells you what a PDF claims to be — 1.4, 1.7, 2.0 or a PDF/A archival standard — and it is often the first thing that explains why a document refuses to open in an older reader. This tool reports it.

This pdf version inspector utility runs completely inside your web browser. Your document is opened locally and processed on your own device using JavaScript and WebAssembly, so your file is never uploaded to any server. There is no signup, no watermark and no limit on how many documents you can handle.

  • 100% client-side - files never leave your device
  • Instant processing, no upload wait
  • Works on desktop, tablet and mobile
  • Free forever, no account required

Common next steps: List Embedded Fonts, Inspect Security & Permissions, Document Statistics, Compare Metadata of Two Files.

How to Use the PDF Version Inspector Tool

Four steps, and the whole thing runs locally on your own device.

  1. Load the PDF

    Drop in the document to identify.

  2. Read the version and standard

    The PDF version header and, where present, the PDF/A conformance level are reported.

  3. Compare with your target

    Print shops and archival systems often specify an exact version, and this tells you whether you meet it.

  4. Adjust if needed

    Flattening or re-saving through a modern tool usually produces a newer version, though genuine archival conformance must be created by an archiving tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the version numbers mean?

They track feature introductions: 1.4 added transparency, 1.5 improved compression, 1.6 added encryption and 1.7 added modern compression and digital signatures. 2.0 is the current standard.

Why will an old reader not open my file?

Because it predates the version your file requires. A PDF 1.7 document will not open in a reader that only supports 1.4.

What is PDF/A?

An ISO-standard archival format that guarantees a document will render identically in decades. A PDF/A file is what you send to an archive.

Can I convert a PDF to PDF/A here?

No. Genuine PDF/A conformance requires embedding fonts, colour profiles and output intents in a specific way, which needs a dedicated archiving tool.

Does the version affect file size?

Indirectly. Newer versions support more efficient compression, so a document saved at 1.7 can be considerably smaller than the same content at 1.4.