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How to use the PDF Viewer plugin

Share PDFs inside your app by linking to documents hosted on Google Drive, Dropbox, or your own website.

Amr Alshareef avatar
Written by Amr Alshareef
Updated over a week ago

The pdf viewer plugin lets you embed PDF documents directly into your app. Users can view the file inside the app or open it in an external browser. You just need to provide a valid, shareable PDF link that anyone with the link can access.


Requirements

  • This is a Boost plugin, available on the Standard, Growth, and Scale plans

  • A valid, publicly accessible PDF link (from Google Drive, Dropbox, or another hosting service)


How to use the PDV Viewer plugin

  1. Log in, go to Builder in the left navigation

  2. Click the + button to open the Plugin Marketplace

    • Search for PDF Viewer, then click Add Plugin

    • Name your plugin (e.g., “Resources”) and click Add

  3. In the Content tab:

    • Paste the direct URL to your PDF file

    • Ensure sharing permissions are set so anyone with the link can view

    • Click Validate — if successful, you’ll see URL successfully validated

    • (Optional) Toggle the setting to open the PDF inside the app or externally in the device browser

    • Test the link by clicking the preview option to confirm the PDF loads correctly

  4. Click the Security tab:

    • Turn on Require Login to restrict feature access to logged-in users

    • (Optional) Add tag-based restrictions and choose whether to match any or all tags

  5. Click the Tagging tab:

    • Enter a tag name to automatically apply to users when they open this feature

    • Click Add Tag

  6. Click the Purchase tab:

    • Check Require Purchase to enable

    • Choose your product type (e.g., Single Purchase or Subscription)

    • Upload an image, fill out purchase text, and success/failure messages

  7. Click the Analytics tab to see feature performance:

    • View data such as number of views, users, and devices over time


Pro tips

  • Use Google Drive or Dropbox with “anyone with the link can view” enabled to avoid access errors.

  • Always test the link in an external browser before adding it to confirm it points directly to a PDF.

  • If validation fails, double-check that your link ends in “.pdf.”

The emulator will not display the PDF. Test it on your mobile device to confirm the file opens correctly.

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