Title: PDF Viewer Nova
Author: wpessentia
Published: <strong>June 29, 2026</strong>
Last modified: June 29, 2026

---

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# PDF Viewer Nova

 By [wpessentia](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wpessentia/)

[Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/pdf-viewer-nova.1.0.0.zip)

 * [Details](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-viewer-nova/#description)
 * [Reviews](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-viewer-nova/#reviews)
 *  [Installation](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-viewer-nova/#installation)
 * [Development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-viewer-nova/#developers)

 [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/pdf-viewer-nova/)

## Description

PDF Viewer Nova helps WordPress site owners embed polished, full-featured PDF reading
experiences directly inside pages and posts.

Use the PDF Viewer Nova block in the WordPress Block Editor or the PDF Viewer Nova
widget in Elementor to place PDFs from the Media Library or from public external
URLs.

The viewer is powered by PDF.js and includes responsive layout controls, floating
toolbars, page navigation, zoom controls, fullscreen modes, thumbnails, bookmarks,
search, text selection, and configurable viewer sizing.

PDF Viewer Nova is built for easy document embedding and smooth PDF reading.

PDF Viewer Nova Pro is distributed separately by WP Essentia outside the WordPress.
org plugin package for teams that need additional publishing and visitor-experience
controls.

#### Key Features

 * Responsive embedded PDF viewer using PDF.js.
 * WordPress Block Editor block for Gutenberg pages and posts.
 * Elementor widget for page builder workflows.
 * Media Library PDF selection or public external PDF URL embedding.
 * Thumbnail sidebar for quick page navigation.
 * Bookmarks and outline panel for structured PDFs.
 * Full-text search with result navigation.
 * Zoom, fit width, page input, previous and next controls.
 * Modal and native fullscreen modes.
 * Pan and text-selection interaction modes.
 * Share button in the top toolbar.
 * Admin PDF Shelf to discover where PDF viewers are used across the site.
 * Settings to enable or disable the Elementor widget and WordPress block.

#### Additional Pro Options

PDF Viewer Nova Pro is a separately distributed version with additional options 
for advanced publishing workflows:

 * Choose visitor display behavior by guest status or WordPress role.
 * Configure download-button behavior separately from viewer display.
 * Show selected preview page ranges for limited-access publishing workflows.
 * Add custom visitor messages with an optional link.
 * Show a single-image document preview instead of the full viewer.
 * Render a PDF page as a server-generated preview image when server support is 
   available.
 * Show custom messages or redirect visitors for download-related workflows.

#### Builder Support

PDF Viewer Nova supports two authoring paths:

 * WordPress Block Editor: insert the PDF Viewer Nova block.
 * Elementor: drag the PDF Viewer Nova widget into a layout.

Both authoring paths share the same core renderer so frontend behavior stays aligned.

#### PDF Shelf

The PDF Shelf dashboard helps site administrators easily find and manage PDF Viewer
Nova instances across supported Gutenberg and Elementor content. It includes cached
aggregation, filtering, sorting, pagination, and direct edit links back to the correct
authoring editor.

#### Third-Party Libraries and External Services

PDF Viewer Nova includes PDF.js build files in the plugin’s `assets/pdfjs/build/`
directory for local PDF rendering. PDF.js is licensed under the Apache License 2.0,
which is GPLv3-compatible.

PDF Viewer Nova includes Motion, an MIT-licensed animation library, for local interface
animations such as the bookmark panel.

PDF Viewer Nova includes the Freemius SDK for checkout functionality. On first activation,
Freemius displays its own opt-in screen before collecting diagnostic or account 
data. You can skip that opt-in and continue using all free PDF Viewer Nova features.

Freemius Terms of Service: https://freemius.com/terms/
 Freemius Privacy Policy:
https://freemius.com/privacy/

The admin How to Use tab includes embedded tutorial videos from YouTube’s privacy-
enhanced domain. These embeds are loaded only when an administrator opens the How
to Use tab.

YouTube Terms of Service: https://www.youtube.com/t/terms
 Google Privacy Policy:
https://policies.google.com/privacy

## Screenshots

[⌊PDF Shelf shows where PDF Viewer Nova is used across supported Gutenberg and Elementor
content.⌉⌊PDF Shelf shows where PDF Viewer Nova is used across supported Gutenberg
and Elementor content.⌉[

PDF Shelf shows where PDF Viewer Nova is used across supported Gutenberg and Elementor
content.

[⌊Search results are displayed inside a sample PDF to help readers find matching
text quickly.⌉⌊Search results are displayed inside a sample PDF to help readers 
find matching text quickly.⌉[

Search results are displayed inside a sample PDF to help readers find matching text
quickly.

[⌊Reader hovers over the document to reveal the right-side bookmark and navigation
panel for easier jumping.⌉⌊Reader hovers over the document to reveal the right-side
bookmark and navigation panel for easier jumping.⌉[

Reader hovers over the document to reveal the right-side bookmark and navigation
panel for easier jumping.

## Blocks

This plugin provides 1 block.

 *   PDF Viewer Nova Display PDFs with PDF Viewer Nova.

## Installation

 1. Upload the plugin folder to `/wp-content/plugins/pdf-viewer-nova/`, or install 
    the plugin ZIP through the WordPress Plugins screen.
 2. Activate PDF Viewer Nova from the Plugins screen.
 3. PDF.js build files are bundled locally in `assets/pdfjs/build/`; no third-party
    PDF.js CDN is required.
 4. To use Elementor, make sure Elementor is installed and activated.
 5. Open a page or post and insert the PDF Viewer Nova block, or open Elementor and
    add the PDF Viewer Nova widget.
 6. Select a PDF, configure the viewer options, then publish or update the page.

## FAQ

### Does PDF Viewer Nova work with the WordPress Block Editor?

Yes. PDF Viewer Nova includes a Gutenberg block named PDF Viewer Nova.

### Does PDF Viewer Nova work with Elementor?

Yes. PDF Viewer Nova includes an Elementor widget named PDF Viewer Nova. Elementor
is optional and only required if you want to use the Elementor widget.

### Can I use PDFs from the Media Library and external URLs?

Yes. You can embed PDFs from the WordPress Media Library or from public external
URLs.

### Is the viewer responsive, and can I customize its appearance?

Yes. PDF Viewer Nova is built for responsive page layouts and includes viewer settings
for sizing, layout, and interface behavior in both Gutenberg and Elementor.

### Does the WordPress.org version protect private PDF files?

No. The WordPress.org version is designed for normal public PDF embedding from the
Media Library or public external URLs. It does not include private-file delivery
or access-control workflows.

### What additional options are available outside the WordPress.org package?

The separately distributed PDF Viewer Nova Pro version adds advanced visitor display
options, separate download-button behavior, preview display modes, custom visitor
messages, image preview modes, server-generated PDF-page preview images, and download-
related message or redirect workflows.

### Does the viewer support search and bookmark navigation?

Yes. The viewer includes full-text search and a bookmark/outline panel. Search works
best when the PDF contains real selectable text, and the bookmark panel appears 
when the PDF file includes outline or bookmark data.

### Does PDF Viewer Nova connect to Freemius?

PDF Viewer Nova includes the Freemius SDK for optional account, licensing, update,
and support features. Freemius asks for opt-in before collecting diagnostic or account
data. You can skip opt-in and still use all free features.

### What is PDF Shelf?

PDF Shelf is an admin dashboard table that discovers and manages PDF Viewer Nova
usage across supported Gutenberg blocks and Elementor widgets.

## Reviews

There are no reviews for this plugin.

## Contributors & Developers

“PDF Viewer Nova” is open source software. The following people have contributed
to this plugin.

Contributors

 *   [ wpessentia ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wpessentia/)

[Translate “PDF Viewer Nova” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/pdf-viewer-nova)

### Interested in development?

[Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/pdf-viewer-nova/), 
check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/pdf-viewer-nova/),
or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/pdf-viewer-nova/)
by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/pdf-viewer-nova/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss).

## Changelog

#### 1.0.0

 * Initial public version of PDF Viewer Nova.
 * Added Gutenberg block and Elementor widget integrations.
 * Added responsive PDF.js viewer with floating controls, thumbnails, bookmarks,
   search, zoom, and fullscreen support.
 * Added PDF Shelf admin dashboard for discovering viewer usage across supported
   authoring paths.
 * Added plugin settings for builder toggles and uninstall cleanup behavior.

## Meta

 *  Version **1.0.0**
 *  Last updated **1 day ago**
 *  Active installations **Fewer than 10**
 *  WordPress version ** 6.0 or higher **
 *  Tested up to **7.0**
 *  PHP version ** 7.4 or higher **
 *  Language
 * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-viewer-nova/)
 * Tags
 * [block-editor](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/block-editor/)[elementor](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/elementor/)
   [pdf](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pdf/)[pdf embed](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pdf-embed/)
   [pdf viewer](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/pdf-viewer/)
 *  [Advanced View](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/pdf-viewer-nova/advanced/)

## Ratings

No reviews have been submitted yet.

[Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/pdf-viewer-nova/reviews/#new-post)

[See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/pdf-viewer-nova/reviews/)

## Contributors

 *   [ wpessentia ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/wpessentia/)

## Support

Got something to say? Need help?

 [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/pdf-viewer-nova/)

## Donate

Would you like to support the advancement of this plugin?

 [ Donate to this plugin ](https://wpessentia.com)