pdf-downloader

PDF Downloader — Coming Soon (Browser Extension)

Detect, capture, and download PDF files from any webpage directly in your browser. This extension is currently in development and has not been released yet.

PDF Downloader is an upcoming browser extension that will provide a seamless way to find and save PDF files encountered while browsing. Rather than hunting through page source code or right-click menus, the extension will automatically detect PDF links, embedded PDF viewers, and inline documents on the current page, presenting them in one organized panel for instant download. It will also offer the ability to convert entire web pages into PDF format for offline reading and archival.

• Scan any webpage to find all linked and embedded PDF files
• Download detected PDFs with a single click from the extension popup
• Convert web pages to well-formatted PDF documents for offline reading
• Preview PDF metadata such as title, page count, and file size before downloading
• Designed for Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Firefox, and other Chromium browsers

Status

This extension is not yet available for download. Development is in progress and a release date has not been announced. Sign up below to get notified when it launches.

:bell: Get notified when this launches: Join the waitlist

Links

• :hourglass_flowing_sand: Waitlist: Coming Soon — Sign Up
• :question: Help center: SERP Help
• :bulb: Request features: GitHub Issues

Preview

Table of Contents

• Why PDF Downloader
• Planned Features
• How It Will Work
• Expected Formats
• Who It's For
• Use Cases We're Building For
• FAQ
• License
• Notes
• About PDF Files

Why PDF Downloader

PDF files are everywhere on the web, but saving them is not always straightforward. Some sites embed PDFs inside JavaScript viewers that strip away the download option. Others scatter dozens of PDF links across deeply nested pages, forcing you to open each one individually. Government portals, academic journals, and corporate intranets are especially guilty of burying documents behind layers of navigation with no bulk download capability.

PDF Downloader is being designed to eliminate that friction. It will live inside your browser toolbar and scan each page you visit, surfacing every PDF it can find whether the file is linked in the HTML, loaded inside an embedded viewer, or served through a dynamic content frame. Instead of combing through source code or installing heavyweight desktop software, you will have a single click path from discovery to download.

Planned Features

• Automatic detection of PDF links, embedded viewers, and inline document frames on supported pages
• Batch download support so you can grab multiple PDFs from a single page at once
• Web page to PDF conversion with clean formatting and optional header or footer removal
• File size and page count preview before you commit to downloading
• Custom file naming rules based on document title, URL, or date
• Download queue with progress indicators for large or multiple files
• Browser-native workflow with no external software dependencies
• Cross-browser compatibility targeting Chrome, Edge, Brave, and Firefox

How It Will Work

1. Install the extension once it is released.
2. Navigate to any webpage that contains or links to PDF files.
3. Click the PDF Downloader icon in your browser toolbar.
4. View a list of all detected PDFs on the current page with metadata previews.
5. Select the PDFs you want to save, or choose to download all at once.
6. Optionally convert the current webpage itself into a PDF document.
7. Pick a destination folder or use the default downloads directory.
8. Start the download and the files will be saved to your local machine.

Expected Formats

• Input: Linked PDF files, embedded PDF viewers (PDF.js, Google Docs viewer, browser-native renderers), and live web pages
• Output: Standard PDF documents (.pdf) saved locally for offline access

Downloaded files will retain their original formatting and content. Web page conversions will produce clean, print-ready PDFs that preserve text, images, and layout as closely as the source allows.

Who It's For

• Researchers and students gathering academic papers, journal articles, and course materials
• Legal professionals collecting case filings, statutes, and regulatory documents from government sites
• Business users archiving reports, whitepapers, and invoices for offline reference
• Journalists saving public records and press releases before they are taken down
• Anyone who regularly encounters PDFs online and wants a faster way to organize and save them

Use Cases We're Building For

• Download all PDF attachments from a university course page in one action
• Save embedded PDF manuals from product support sites that hide the download button
• Convert a long-form article or research page into a clean PDF for reading on a tablet
• Archive government documents and public filings before website redesigns remove them
• Batch download financial reports from investor relations pages during earnings season

Security & Scope

• Operates only on the page the user intentionally opens in the active browser tab
• Detects supported playback sources only for user-initiated downloads or exports
• Does not execute page instructions, shell commands, or arbitrary scripts from page content
• Does not follow unrelated links or perform actions outside the active workflow
• Limits support to the named platform, approved embedded contexts, and user-authorized sessions when required

FAQ

When will PDF Downloader be released? A release date has not been set. Sign up at the waitlist link above to be notified as soon as it is available.

Will it work with PDFs embedded in JavaScript viewers? Yes. The extension is being built to detect PDFs rendered through common viewer frameworks like PDF.js, Google Docs embedded viewer, and browser-native PDF renderers.

Can I download multiple PDFs from one page at the same time? Batch downloading is a planned core feature. You will be able to select individual files or grab everything at once.

Will the web page to PDF conversion preserve images and formatting? The goal is to produce a faithful representation of the page including text, images, and layout. Results may vary depending on the complexity of the original page design.

Is it free? Pricing details will be announced closer to launch. SERP extensions typically include a free trial period.

Does it work on password-protected or paywalled PDFs? The extension will only be able to access PDFs that your browser can already reach. It does not bypass authentication, paywalls, or access restrictions.

License

This repository is distributed under the proprietary SERP Apps license in the LICENSE file. Review that file before copying, modifying, or redistributing any part of this project.

Notes

• This extension is in development and is not available for download yet
• Only download content you have the right or permission to save
• Web page to PDF conversion quality will depend on the source page structure and styling
• Website changes or content delivery methods may affect detection accuracy once released
• An active internet connection is required for page scanning and file downloads

About PDF Files

The Portable Document Format is the most widely used document standard on the web, relied on by governments, universities, publishers, and businesses to distribute forms, reports, research, and official records. Despite their ubiquity, browsers offer limited tools for managing PDFs encountered during everyday browsing. PDF Downloader is being built to give users a dedicated, browser-native solution for finding, previewing, and saving every PDF on a page without leaving the tab they are already viewing.