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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions about PDF Connect.

Getting Started​

Do I need to know how to code?​

No. PDF Connect requires zero coding. Everything is managed through visual interfaces in your Shopify admin and theme editor.

How long does setup take?​

Most merchants are up and running in under 15 minutes:

  • 2 minutes: Install app
  • 5 minutes: Upload and link first PDF
  • 5 minutes: Add Theme App Extension to theme
  • 3 minutes: Test and verify

Can I try it for free?​

Yes. The Free plan includes 3 PDFs with full functionality. Paid plans include a 14-day free trial.

PDF Management​

How many PDFs can I have?​

Depends on your plan:

  • Free: 3 PDFs
  • Basic: 10 PDFs
  • Standard: 30 PDFs
  • Unlimited: No limit

View all plans →

Yes. Link one PDF to as many products, pages, or other resources as you want. One PDF can appear throughout your entire store.

Do inactive PDFs count toward my limit?​

Yes. Both active and inactive PDFs count toward your plan limit. Delete PDFs you don't need to free up space.

Can I update a PDF after uploading?​

Delete the old PDF and upload the new version. Then re-link it to your resources. Or use bulk linking to speed this up.

Display and Appearance​

What's the difference between embedded viewer and button display?​

Embedded viewer shows the PDF directly on the page.
Button display shows a button that opens the PDF in a popup overlay.

Button works better for multiple PDFs and mobile devices.

Compare display styles →

Can I use both display styles?​

Yes. Use embedded viewer on some page types and button on others. Or mix them on the same page if your theme allows.

Will PDFs work on mobile phones?​

Yes. Both display styles are mobile-responsive. Button display generally works better on small screens.

Can I customize how the PDF viewer looks?​

Yes. Customize colors, button text, viewer height, and more in your theme editor settings. Options vary by theme.

Linking and Resources​

Seven resource types:

  • Products
  • Collections
  • Pages
  • Blog articles
  • Blogs (overview pages)
  • Homepage
  • Search page

Learn about linking →

Unlimited. Link as many PDFs as you want to a single product. They'll appear as a list when using button display.

No. Use bulk linking to link multiple PDFs at once, or link one PDF to many resources simultaneously.

Learn about bulk linking →

Can I show different PDFs on different page templates?​

Yes. Template filtering lets you show specific PDFs only on certain page templates.

Learn about templates →

File Requirements​

What file types are supported?​

Only PDF files (.pdf extension). No other file types work.

View file requirements →

How large can my PDFs be?​

Maximum 10MB per file. Recommended under 5MB for best performance.

View size limits →

Do I need to compress my PDFs?​

Not required, but recommended if files are over 5MB. Smaller files load faster for customers.

Learn about compression →

Plans and Billing​

Can I upgrade or downgrade anytime?​

Yes. Change plans anytime from your dashboard. Changes take effect immediately.

What happens if I downgrade?​

Your current plan continues until the end of your billing period. Then you'll need to reduce PDFs to fit the new limit.

No. Only the number of PDF files counts toward your limit. Links are unlimited on all plans.

Is there a free trial for paid plans?​

Yes. Paid plans include a 14-day free trial with full access to all features.

Technical​

Does PDF Connect slow down my store?​

No. PDFs are hosted separately and delivered through a fast CDN. Using button display has minimal impact on page load times.

Optimize performance →

What browsers are supported?​

All modern browsers:

  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge (latest versions)
  • Mobile Safari (iOS) and Chrome (Android)

View browser requirements →

Will it work with my theme?​

Yes. PDF Connect works with all modern Shopify themes that support app extensions (Shopify 2.0+). Check with your theme developer if unsure.

Do I need to install anything besides the app?​

No. Everything is included. No additional plugins, extensions, or software required.

Troubleshooting​

PDFs aren't showing on my store. Why?​

Check three things:

  1. PDF is linked to the resource
  2. PDF status is Active
  3. Theme App Extension is added to your theme

All three must be true.

Fix display issues →

Upload keeps failing. What should I do?​

Check:

  • File is actually a PDF (.pdf extension)
  • File is under 10MB
  • Internet connection is stable
  • You haven't reached your plan limit

Fix upload issues →

Can I get help if I'm stuck?​

Yes. Contact support through:

  • In-app chat
  • Email support
  • Help documentation
  • Priority support (paid plans)

Data and Privacy​

Where are my PDFs stored?​

PDFs are stored in secure cloud storage with encryption and redundancy. Files are backed up automatically.

Can customers download my PDFs?​

Only if you enable the download button. You control whether PDFs can be downloaded or only viewed.

What happens to my PDFs if I uninstall the app?​

Your PDF files remain in storage for 30 days after uninstalling. Re-install within 30 days to restore access.

Are PDFs indexed by search engines?​

PDFs linked to your store can be indexed by search engines if your store's robots.txt allows it. This can help SEO.

Still have questions?​