PDF Knowledge Base

DesktopInstall

Written by Peter Ward | Jul 10, 2026 1:03:54 PM

Desktop Installation - PDF launcher

We have recently released a PDF desktop launcher that allows you to open a PDF file from your Windows desktop and edit it in the PDF88 browser-based editing experience (PDF88 needs to be installed in your SharePoint tenant).

Instead of opening the PDF in a desktop PDF editor, the launcher opens the file in a browser tab so it can be edited through PDF88, similar to working with a PDF stored in SharePoint.

This feature is designed to reduce the need for Adobe Acrobat or other PDF editing tools to be installed on the desktop by allowing users to activate a PDF from Windows while completing the editing experience in the browser

Before You Begin

Before installing the PDF88 Desktop Launcher,  You need the following confirm the following:

You are using Windows 11 or later. 
  • You are using a supported browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Chrome

  • You have access to the SharePoint site where PDF88 is deployed (Be a SharePoint user)

  • The PDF88 application is installed in your Microsoft 365 tenant. See installation guide

  • You are signed in and authenticated to SharePoint in your browser

Desktop Launcher Installation Steps

1. Download the PDF88 Desktop Launcher installer.
The installation process uses a downloadable EXE installer

2.Run the installer on your Windows device.

NOTE: On your PC. You’ll need the .NET 8.0 Desktop Runtime (v8.0.28) - Windows x64 Installer .(This may or may not be installed) 


3. Allow the launcher to become the default PDF opener.
The application is designed to become the default PDF opener so that double-clicking a PDF starts the PDF88 launch process. 


4. Complete the first-time setup.
On first launch, you will be prompted to enter your SharePoint site URL. This value is saved locally in a configuration file and can be updated later from settings

First-Time Setup

The first time you open a PDF using the launcher, you will be asked to enter the SharePoint site used with PDF88

Example format:

If no SharePoint URL is configured, the application should prompt you again rather than continuing without the required setup information
 
 

How to Use the Desktop Launcher

After installation and setup:

1.  Double-click a PDF file on your Windows desktop. 

2.  The PDF88 Desktop Launcher starts and receives the file path. 

3. The PDF is uploaded to SharePoint.

4. PDF88 opens in your browser with the selected PDF.


5. You can edit the PDF in the PDF88 editing canopy. 

5. When saving, you can choose a SharePoint library or OneDrive library as the destination.

Saving Files

Because the original PDF may come from your desktop rather than SharePoint or OneDrive, PDF88 needs to let you choose where the edited file should be saved. Available destinations are:

  • SharePoint library
  • OneDrive library

Useful Links About PDF88

Subscription Details 

Prices and Plans

On-Prem Deployment

Feature Sheet