Cool PDF Reader
Cool PDF Reader is a lightweight PDF viewer for Windows with a file size under 1 MB. It opens PDF documents quickly, uses very little system memory, and handles basic reading, printing, and page to image conversion without the overhead of full featured PDF applications.
What it does
Cool PDF Reader does exactly what the name suggests: it opens and displays PDF files. You get page navigation, zoom controls, full screen mode, and page rotation. The rendering is fast, and even large documents with hundreds of pages load without noticeable delay. For reading ebooks, manuals, or scanned documents in PDF format, it covers the basics without clutter.
A slideshow mode displays pages one after another in full screen, which can be handy for presenting PDF content without a dedicated presentation tool. You can export individual pages as BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG, or TIFF images, which is useful when you need a single page as a graphic file. Printing support includes page range selection and standard printer settings. The program also shows document properties like author, title, and creation date.
Advantages
- Extremely small file size, under 1 MB, installs in seconds
- Opens PDF files faster than Adobe Reader or Foxit Reader
- Very low RAM usage, suitable for old or low spec computers
- Can export PDF pages to common image formats
Drawbacks
- No annotation, highlighting, or form filling capabilities
- Cannot edit, merge, or split PDF documents
- Text search within documents is limited compared to full PDF readers
- Interface looks outdated and has not been visually updated in years
Who it is for
I recommend Cool PDF Reader for situations where you need a PDF viewer that is as small and fast as possible. If you are setting up an older computer, running a lightweight Windows installation, or just want to open a PDF without waiting for Adobe Reader to load, this is a practical choice. For anything beyond reading, like filling forms, adding annotations, or editing content, Foxit Reader or Sumatra PDF are better options that still stay reasonably light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cool PDF Reader free?
Can Cool PDF Reader edit PDF files?
How small is Cool PDF Reader?
Can Cool PDF Reader convert PDF pages to images?
Features & How-To Guide
| # | Feature | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | PDF document browsing 3 | File › Open › Select a PDF file › Navigate with arrows or Page Up/Page Down. |
| 2 | PDF document printing 3 | File › Print › Select a printer › Set the page range and number of copies › Print. |
| 3 | View zoom in and out | View › Zoom In/Zoom Out or Ctrl+scroll wheel. View › Fit Width adjusts width to the window. |
| 4 | Full screen display | View › Full Screen or F11 › Document fills the entire screen › Escape to exit. |
| 5 | PDF pages to images conversion | File › Save as Image › Select format (BMP/JPG/GIF/PNG/TIFF) › Saves the current page as an image file. |
| 6 | Jump to specific page | Enter a page number in the field on the toolbar › Enter › Jumps to the selected page. |
| 7 | Rotating document pages | View › Rotate Clockwise or Rotate Counterclockwise › Rotates the page view by 90 degrees. |
| 8 | Slideshow from PDF pages | View › Slideshow › Pages displayed in full screen with automatic switching. |
| 9 | Document property browsing | File › Properties › Title/author/creator/date of creation and modification of the PDF document. |
| 10 | Change document background color | View › Background Color › Select a background color for the page (e.g. sepia for more comfortable reading). |
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