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C# PDF Viewers

Curtis Chau
Curtis Chau
Updated:

This article will explore various methods of viewing PDFs in a .NET application. Viewing PDFs within applications is a common requirement that can be easily addressed using the PDF Library for .NET.

IronPDF provides a PDF viewer for MAUI projects. For more information, please visit the following link: "Viewing PDFs in MAUI for C# .NET."

Quickstart: Viewing PDFs with IronPDF in C#

Easily get started with IronPDF to view PDFs in your .NET applications. This quick guide helps you integrate a PDF viewer using IronPDF's simple API, allowing you to load and display PDF documents effortlessly. Perfect for developers looking for a fast and reliable solution to incorporate PDF viewing capabilities in their C# projects.

Nuget IconGet started making PDFs with NuGet now:

  1. Install IronPDF with NuGet Package Manager

    PM > Install-Package IronPdf

  2. Copy and run this code snippet.

    new IronPdf.Viewer.Maui.IronPdfView { Source = IronPdf.Viewer.Maui.PdfViewSource.FromFile("document.pdf") };

  3. Deploy to test on your live environment

    Start using IronPDF in your project today with a free trial
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Minimal Workflow (5 steps)

  1. Explore IronPDF Package on NuGet for .NET PDF Viewing
  2. Use HTML iframe tag in ASP.NET & MVC PDF viewer
  3. Utilize WPF C# PDF Viewer using WebBrowser control
  4. View PDF directly in Windows Forms PDF Viewer
  5. Utilize System.Diagnostics.Process.Start in Default System PDF Viewer

ASP.NET & MVC PDF viewer

For web applications, PDFs can be viewed in a browser window or iframe. Alternatively, you can utilize the impressive pdf.js library from Mozilla, which provides a comprehensive PDF viewer written entirely in JavaScript.

WPF C# PDF Viewer

For viewing PDF documents directly in WPF, you can use the native WebBrowser control.

Windows Forms PDF Viewer

For viewing PDF documents directly in Windows Forms (WinForms) applications, the WebBrowser control is also a good choice.

Viewing a PDF in the Default System PDF Viewer

To open a PDF from any application in an external window, we may use a trick involving System.Diagnostics.Process.Start. This method will open the PDF in the default application for PDF viewing, such as a web browser or Adobe Acrobat, if installed.

:path=/static-assets/pdf/content-code-examples/how-to/net-pdf-viewer-default-pdf-viewer.cs
using IronPdf;

// Render any HTML fragment or document to HTML
ChromePdfRenderer renderer = new ChromePdfRenderer();
PdfDocument pdf = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf</h1>");

var outputPath = "ChromePdfRenderer.pdf";

// Export PDF document
pdf.SaveAs(outputPath);

// This neat trick opens our PDF file so we can see the result in our default PDF viewer
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(outputPath);
Imports IronPdf

' Render any HTML fragment or document to HTML
Private renderer As New ChromePdfRenderer()
Private pdf As PdfDocument = renderer.RenderHtmlAsPdf("<h1>Hello IronPdf</h1>")

Private outputPath = "ChromePdfRenderer.pdf"

' Export PDF document
pdf.SaveAs(outputPath)

' This neat trick opens our PDF file so we can see the result in our default PDF viewer
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(outputPath)
$vbLabelText   $csharpLabel

This code snippet demonstrates how to use System.Diagnostics.Process.Start to open a PDF file with the default PDF viewer on the system. Ensure that the specified file path points to a valid PDF file on your system.

IronPDF provides a PDF viewer for MAUI projects. For more information, please visit the following link: "Viewing PDFs in MAUI for C# .NET."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this C# .NET PDF viewer guide cover?

This article explains several ways to view PDFs in .NET applications, including browser-based viewing with ASP.NET & MVC, desktop viewing in WPF and Windows Forms using WebBrowser controls, and opening PDFs in the default system PDF viewer using System.Diagnostics.Process.Start. It also highlights how IronPDF can generate and feed PDF content into these viewers.

How can I display a PDF in an ASP.NET or MVC application?

In ASP.NET or MVC applications, you can embed a PDF directly in the page using an HTML iframe that points to a PDF URL. The PDF can be a static file or one generated dynamically by IronPDF. For richer functionality, you can also integrate a JavaScript-based viewer like Mozilla’s pdf.js to provide zooming, paging, and search within the browser.

How do I use WPF as a C# PDF viewer?

In WPF, you can use the built-in WebBrowser control to load and display a PDF document. Generate or host the PDF with IronPDF, then set the WebBrowser control’s Source to the PDF file or URL so that the PDF renders inside your WPF window without requiring users to leave the application.

Can I view PDFs inside a Windows Forms application?

Yes. Windows Forms applications can also use the WebBrowser control to display PDFs. After creating or obtaining a PDF file (for example, using IronPDF to render HTML to PDF), you set the WebBrowser control’s URL or file path to the PDF so that it appears within your WinForms UI.

How do I open a PDF in the default system PDF viewer from C#?

You can open a PDF in the default system viewer by calling System.Diagnostics.Process.Start on the PDF file path. A typical workflow is to use IronPDF’s ChromePdfRenderer to generate a PDF from HTML, save it to disk, and then call Process.Start so the operating system launches the file in the user’s preferred PDF viewer.

Does IronPDF provide a dedicated PDF viewer for .NET MAUI?

Yes. IronPDF includes a PDF viewer for .NET MAUI that allows you to display PDF documents inside cross-platform mobile and desktop applications. You can use the IronPdf.Viewer.Maui.IronPdfView control and point its Source to a file or stream created by IronPDF for integrated PDF viewing in MAUI projects.

Can I combine IronPDF with pdf.js for rich in-browser PDF viewing?

You can. IronPDF can generate PDFs from HTML or data, and you can then feed those PDFs into a JavaScript viewer such as Mozilla’s pdf.js in an ASP.NET or MVC application. This lets you leverage IronPDF for PDF creation and pdf.js for a feature-rich in-browser viewing experience with tools like search, zoom, and thumbnails.

Do I need Adobe Acrobat installed to view PDFs created with IronPDF?

No. IronPDF generates standard PDF files that can be opened by any compatible viewer. On the web, you can display them directly in the browser or an iframe; on desktop, you can use the WebBrowser control or rely on the system’s default viewer via Process.Start. Adobe Acrobat is not required unless you specifically want its advanced UI.

Is the code for opening PDFs in the default system viewer compatible with .NET 10?

Yes. The approach shown in the article—using IronPDF’s ChromePdfRenderer to create a PDF from HTML, saving it to disk, and then calling System.Diagnostics.Process.Start to open the file—works the same in .NET 10 as in earlier .NET versions. Just create a .NET 10 project, install the latest IronPdf NuGet package, and use the same code pattern.

When should I use an embedded viewer versus the default system PDF viewer?

Use an embedded viewer, such as an iframe or WebBrowser control, when you want users to view PDFs without leaving your application’s UI. Use the default system viewer via Process.Start when you prefer a native, full-featured viewing experience or when users may want to use their own PDF tools for printing, commenting, or signing.

Is the .NET PDF viewer workflow shown here compatible with .NET 10?

Yes. IronPDF’s rendering and viewing workflow is compatible with .NET 10, so you can generate a PDF with ChromePdfRenderer and open it in the user’s default PDF viewer from a .NET 10 application. After targeting .NET 10 and installing the latest IronPdf package, the sample code in this article will compile and run as-is for viewing generated PDFs on Windows, Linux, or macOS.

Curtis Chau
Curtis Chau
  Chat with engineering team now
Technical Writer

Curtis Chau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science (Carleton University) and specializes in front-end development with expertise in Node.js, TypeScript, JavaScript, and React. Passionate about crafting intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces, Curtis enjoys working with modern frameworks and creating well-structured, visually appealing manuals.

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