Google can limit its results to PDF files with a simple search operator. Add filetype:pdf to any search, and every result is a PDF, such as a manual, report, research paper, or form. You can combine it with other operators to search one website, match an exact phrase, or find recent documents. This guide shows the basic method, the most useful combinations, the Advanced Search page for people who’d rather not memorize operators, and a few safety tips.
Quick answer
Type your topic followed by filetype:pdf in Google, for example dishwasher installation guide filetype:pdf, and press Enter.
How to search for PDFs on Google
Step 1: Open Google
Go to Google in any browser, or use the Google app or search bar on your phone. The operator works everywhere.
Step 2: Type your search terms
Enter what you’re looking for, the same way you normally would. Specific words work best, such as a product model number or report title.
Step 3: Add filetype:pdf
Add a space and then filetype:pdf to the end of your search. Don’t put a space after the colon. ext:pdf works the same way.
Step 4: Press Enter and open a result
Each result shows a PDF label next to the title. Click one to open it in your browser’s built-in PDF viewer, where you can read, search, or download it.
Useful combinations
| Goal | Example search |
|---|---|
| PDFs from one website | tax form site:irs.gov filetype:pdf |
| PDFs from a type of site | climate report site:.gov filetype:pdf |
| An exact phrase | “annual report 2025” filetype:pdf |
| A word in the title | intitle:manual Roomba filetype:pdf |
| Leave a word out | pasta recipes filetype:pdf -gluten |
| Recent files | cybersecurity checklist filetype:pdf after:2025-01-01 |
For more on the minus operator, see our guide on excluding words from a Google search.
Use Google Advanced Search instead
If you’d rather fill in boxes than type operators:
- Open Google Advanced Search.
- Enter your words in the top boxes.
- Scroll to file type and choose Adobe Acrobat PDF (.pdf).
- Optionally add a site or domain, a language, or a region.
- Click Advanced Search.
Google adds the operators to the search box for you, which is also a good way to learn them.
Search for other file types
The same trick works for other formats. Replace pdf with:
- docx or doc for Word documents
- xlsx or xls for Excel spreadsheets
- pptx or ppt for PowerPoint presentations
- txt for plain text files
Finding academic papers
For research papers, Google Scholar often works better than regular search. Many results include a [PDF] link on the right side that goes straight to a free copy when one is available.
Tips for better results
- Use model numbers, form numbers, or exact titles. Generic searches return a lot of unrelated PDFs.
- If you get too few results, remove extra words or operators one at a time.
- Combine site: with filetype:pdf to search a company’s or agency’s documents, such as product manuals or public reports.
- Check the date and source. Old PDFs often stay online long after they’re outdated.
Stay safe with PDFs
- Prefer PDFs from official sources, such as the manufacturer or a government site.
- Opening a PDF in your browser’s viewer is safer than downloading it and opening it in another program.
- Be careful with PDFs that ask you to enable content, sign in, or click links to “unlock” the file.
- Respect copyright. A PDF being searchable doesn’t mean it’s free to share.
Frequently asked questions
Does filetype:pdf work on my phone?
Yes. It works in the Google app and in mobile browsers the same way it does on a computer.
Can I search inside the PDFs?
Google already searches the text inside PDFs, so your search words can match content anywhere in the file, not just the title.
Does this work in Bing?
Yes. Bing supports filetype:pdf as well.
Summary
- Type your search, then add filetype:pdf.
- Combine it with site:, quotes, intitle:, or a minus sign to narrow results.
- Use Advanced Search if you prefer menus.
- Open PDFs from trusted sources.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.