How To: View XPS, TIFF & PDF Documents in Windows 8.1

If you want to open and view PDF, XPS documents and TIFF files in Windows 8.1 without the need of a third-party app, you can use the Reader app that is preinstalled in the operating system. This app not only helps you open and view those kinds of files, but also it allows you to search ro words or phrases, fill in forms, take notes, print and share documents.

As you can see the Reader app offers you many good features. However, only a few Windows 8.1 users are aware of its existence, because the app is not visible on the Start screen. This means that you will have to use other methods, in order to acces it. In this tutorial we are going to show you how to find the Reader app and then how you can possibly view XPS, PDF and TIFF files. Let’s get started.

Open the Reader app in Windows 8.1

As i mentioned above the Reader app does not have a tile on the Start screen. For this reason, you should either search for it, or access it from the Apps View. 

• First of all, if you prefer to use the first method, go to the Start screen and type the word reader in the Search box.
• Then select the appropriate search result from the list of results that appeared.

• If you want to launch the Reader app from the Apps View, go to the Start screen and move the cursor to the bottom left corner of the screen, right beneath the last tile of the first column.
• After this, click the Down arrow and the list of the available apps will display.
• In case you use a touch-screen device, go to the Start screen and slide upwards. The Apps View will show up.
• In the Apps View you will find the shortcut of the application in the Books & Reference folder.

• Click on the shortcut to open the app. Once you do it, the window of the application will show up. If this is the first time you open the Reader app, its window will look similar with the following screenshot.

Open PDF & XPS Documents with the Reader app in Windows 8.1

The Reader app lets you access XPS and PDF documents. If you have selected this app as your default reader for these kinds of files, it automatically starts when you open them. In case you do not know how you can set the Reader app as your default reader, you could go to this link and read our guide.

• Now if you want to open a file, launch the app and press the Browse button, found on the top left corner of the screen.

• Then search for the desired file. Once you find it, select it and press the Open button from the bottom right corner of the window.

• If you want to close a file, click within the app and click or tap Close for the desired files. If you are using a touch-screen device, swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen and click or tap the Close button.

NOTE: You can only open five documents simultaneously. If you try to open more, you will close the first file that you opened. In case you have made changes to the file, you will be asked to save them before you close it.

Open Multiple Documents in Reader app Simultaneously

• If you want to open more than one files at the same time, right-click or flick upwards, after you have opened the first one.
• Next, press the Open another file button from the contextual menu on the top of the screen.
• After this, select Open file in new tab.

• You may notice the file tha you want to open in the list of the recently opened files. In that case select it. If you do not see it in that list, click Browse and go to the location, where the file is stored. Then select it and press the Open button from the bottom of the app’s screen.
• In order to switch between documents, right-click within the app or swipe up from the bottom edge of your screen.
• Click or tap the document that you want to see from the preview list, shown in the top left corner of the window.

View Documents Side by Side in Reader app

• If you want to view two documents side by side, right-click or swipe down from the top corner of your screen.
• When you do this, right-click or press and hold on the thumbnail of the document that you want to view, next to currently opened file.
• Then click or tap Open in a new window.

Now you will be able to view both of them side by side.

Print Document with the Reader app in Windows 8.1

• If you want to print a file with the Reader app, you should first open that file.
• Right-click or swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen and press the Print button, which is on the bottom right side of the application’s screen.

• Once you do it, you will see the list of the installed printers on your Windows 8.1 device. Choose the desired printer and press Print.

Rotate Documents in the Reader app

• If you want to rotate the file you view, open it and then right-click or swipe upwards.
• Click or tap on the More button, found next to the Print button on the bottom right corner of the app’s screen. Then press the Rotate option.

Press the Rotate button to find the desired position, in which you want to view your document.

View & Use the Bookmarks of Ebooks in Reader app

The Reader app also allows you to read E-books. One of the easiest ways to navigate Ebooks is by using their bookmarks. These kinds of bookmarks can be found in many Ebooks, saved as PDF documents. However, do not expect every document to have such a bookmark.

• Firstly, open the document in the Reader app and then right-click or swipe upwards.
• Press the More button, which is near the Print button, and select the Bookmarks option.

Choose the bookmarks, which are inside the Ebook, in order to navigate through it.

NOTE: The Bookmarks option will not be available on the More menu, only if the Ebook or document does not have one.

Save Files with a Different Name in Reader app

• In case you want to save a specific document with a different name, open that document and right-click or swipe upwards.
• Press the Save as button, found on the bottom corner of the screen. Then select the location, where you want to store your file.

• Type the desired name for your document in the corresponding field and press Save.

Go to a Specific Page in Reader app

• If you want to read only a specific page from a document, use the Ctrl + Minus ( – ) combination to display the thumbnails of all pages.  Next, select the particular page you want to read by using your mouse.
• Another way to find the page that you want to view is holding down Ctrl and using the scroll wheel to zoom in or out. On a touch-screen device use your fingers to zoom in and out by pinching the screen.

Switch between Viewing Modes with Reader app in Windows 8.1

The Reader app provides you with many viewing modes, which you can use to view your documents.

• To switch between the viewing modes, open a document and right-click or swipe upwards.
• When you do it, you will notice the buttons of each of the viewing modes.

The available viewing modes are:

1. Two pages: The pages of your document will display in pairs, just as if you were reading a magazine, a book and so on.
2. One page: The pages of the document are displaying one by one. This is the default viewing mode that you can use.
3. Continuous: If you use this mode, the pages of a document will appear one after the other.

NOTE: If you select to use the Two pages viewing mode, you will notice that an additional mode will show up in the menu. This is the Cover page viewing mode. In this case the cover of the document will appear separately from the rest of the pages.

Search Within PDF & XPS Documents

The Reader app gives you the chance to search for information inside of a PDF or XPS document.

• Firstly, open a PDF or XPS file and right-click or swipe up from the bottom of the app’s screen.
• Then click or tap the Find button, available on the bottom left corner.

• Next, type the words that you want to find within the document in the Search box.
• Finally click the Search icon.

• Once the process is finished, the search results will be highlighted inside the document. You can either press the Search icon or the Previous and the Next buttons, in order to navigate through the results, shown in the document.
• If you want to see the whole list with the search results, click or tap the Results button. Once you press this button, the complete list of results will appear, in which you can find and select the desired result that you want to view.

Viewing XPS, PDF and TIFF can be an easy task in Windows 8.1, because you do not have to install any third-party applications. The Reader app is more than capable of helping you to view such documents. Therefore, do not hesitate to use it for files, saved with those kinds of formats.