Open XFDF files

  • Full name
    Adobe Acrobat Forms Document
  • Developer
    Adobe Systems
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a XFDF file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a XFDF file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your XFDF file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is XFDF file?

With the file extension XFDF, form data of PDF documents are stored in an XML-based format (XML Forms Data Format). In addition to the normal documents with text and images, the PDF format also offers the possibility of creating PDF documents with input fields, for example text fields or drop-down lists.

More info

If you fill out such a pdf file, you can usually only print it out with the Acrobat Reader, because the Adobe Acrobat Reader can load form data, which exists as an XFDF file, but can not normally save it.

However, the creator of a form may be able to send the form data to a form server, for example, with an FDF Toolkit application or store it locally. In this way you do not need to transfer the entire pdf file, just the actual data. This is mainly used in automated form data processing.

Other pdf display programs, for example pdf-XChange, offer the possibility to directly save or load XFDF files and thus to fill in a form or to save the data locally. Adobe Acrobat XML form data

Programs which can open a XFDF file

How to open file with XFDF extension?

In order to open a file with XFDF extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening XFDF file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with XFDF files, follow the instructions below.
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Install Adobe Reader or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening XFDF files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support XFDF files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of XFDF files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.


Set Adobe Reader as the default program for opening XFDF files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate XFDF files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the Adobe Reader applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where Adobe Reader has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with XFDF files

Sometimes problems with opening XFDF files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • XFDF files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open XFDF files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • XFDF file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

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