Answers before attachments.

Start with these checks

Most reading problems can be isolated without sharing the document. Try these steps before sending a support request:

• ✓Install the latest SPDFV Reader update available in the Mac App Store.
• ✓Update macOS if a compatible system update is available.
• ✓Quit SPDFV Reader completely, reopen it, and try the PDF again.
• ✓Copy the PDF to a local folder and open that copy to rule out a disconnected drive or cloud placeholder.
• ✓Try another PDF to determine whether the issue is specific to one file.

Requirements and edition

SPDFV Reader requires macOS 14 or later. It is the focused Mac App Store edition for opening, navigating, searching, inspecting, saving copies of, and printing PDFs.

The Reader edition does not include the full SPDFV automation workspace, Queue Runner, watch folders, command-line tool, OCR, permanent redaction, recipes, or editing toolset. Those features belong to the separately distributed open-source SPDFV app.

Opening a PDF

Open a PDF with File → Open PDF, drag it into SPDFV Reader, or choose Open With → SPDFV Reader in Finder. The app accepts files with the .pdf extension that PDFKit can read.

If a file is stored in iCloud Drive or another file provider, make sure macOS has finished downloading it. For a password-protected PDF, enter the document password when prompted; the password is not stored.

Reading, finding, and navigation

Use Pages for thumbnails, Contents for the document outline, and Find for text search. Search works only when the PDF already contains selectable text. A scan made only of images will not produce text results in SPDFV Reader.

Change the page layout or zoom from the View controls. If a large document feels slow, close other document windows and allow thumbnail generation to finish before searching again.

Saving a copy and printing

Use Save As to write a copy to a location you choose. If saving fails, confirm that the destination folder is available and that you have permission to write there.

Printing uses the standard macOS print panel. Printer discovery, connection, authentication, and the print queue are managed by macOS and the selected printer. Verify the printer in System Settings if it does not appear.

Unexpected quit and recovery

SPDFV Reader can keep a temporary local recovery copy while a document session is active. After an unexpected quit, reopen the app and follow the recovery prompt. Choose Open Recovery Copies before discarding anything you may need.

Recovery is a safety net, not a backup system. Keep an original copy of important PDFs and save deliberate copies to a location included in your normal backup routine.

Report a problem

Email support or open a GitHub issue with enough detail to reproduce the behavior. Helpful reports include:

• ✓SPDFV Reader version and macOS version
• ✓The action you took and what happened instead
• ✓Whether the problem occurs with more than one PDF
• ✓A screenshot with private information removed
• ✓A sanitized sample PDF only when it is safe to share

Privacy and data questions

SPDFV Reader processes PDFs locally and does not operate an account or document-upload service. Read the dedicated policy for details about local recovery files, Mac App Store services, saving, and printing.