---
title: "Open files, use shortcuts and update the desktop app"
description: "Open PDFs from Finder or File Explorer, the PDFBetter desktop menu shortcuts on Mac and Windows, and how the app updates itself in the background."
url: https://help.pdfbetter.com/apps/desktop-app-files-shortcuts-updates/
collection: "Desktop & mobile apps"
section: "Desktop"
updated: 2026-10-18
publisher: "PDFBetter (AI Generated Inc.)"
---

# Open files, use shortcuts and update the desktop app

> Open files with **File → Open…**, by dropping them on the app icon, or with “Open with” in Finder or File Explorer. The app updates itself in the background; to check now, use **Check for Updates…**.

## Open files

- **File → Open…** (`⌘` `O` on Mac, `Ctrl` `O` on Windows).
- Choose PDFBetter in “Open With” for a PDF in Finder or File Explorer.
- Drop PDFs, images or Office files on the Dock or taskbar icon.

Opened files go into [your documents](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/find-organize-documents/) just like an upload on the web. On the website, the user menu and the editor's menu also have **Open in desktop app**, which opens the same page in the app.

## Menu shortcuts

| Action | Keys |
| --- | --- |
| Open a file | `⌘/Ctrl` + `O` |
| Go to Documents | `⌘/Ctrl` + `Shift` + `D` |
| Go to Home | `⌘/Ctrl` + `Shift` + `H` |
| Open Settings | `⌘/Ctrl` + `,` |
| Back (Mac; Alt+Left on Windows) | `⌘` + `[` |
| Forward (Mac; Alt+Right on Windows) | `⌘` + `]` |

For shortcuts inside the editor, see [Keyboard shortcuts](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/keyboard-shortcuts/). **File** also has **Templates** and **Tools**. **View** has reload, zoom and full screen. The **Help** menu links to guides, support and the privacy policy.

## Updates

Most changes don't need an update at all: the app shows the live PDFBetter, so new features arrive as soon as they're on the web. When the app itself changes, the new version downloads quietly in the background and installs the next time you quit.

1. **Open Check for Updates**: On Mac, choose **PDFBetter → Check for Updates…**. On Windows, choose **Help → Check for Updates…**.
2. **Restart if an update is ready**: If a new version is ready, click **Restart Now**, or **Later** to install it the next time you quit. Your documents are saved on pdfbetter.com.

### It says “Couldn't check for updates.”

Check your internet connection and try again. You can always download the latest installer from the download page and install it over the current version.

### How do I see which version I have?

When you check for updates and you're current, the message shows your version. On Mac, **PDFBetter → About PDFBetter** shows it too.

## Related articles

- [Install PDFBetter on your Mac](https://help.pdfbetter.com/apps/install-mac-app.md): Download the Mac app from pdfbetter.com/download/mac, open the .dmg and drag PDFBetter into Applications. It's signed and notarized by Apple, needs macOS 12 or later, and signs you in through your browser.
- [Install PDFBetter on Windows](https://help.pdfbetter.com/apps/install-windows-app.md): Download the installer from pdfbetter.com/download/windows and run it. If Windows shows “Windows protected your PC”, choose More info, then Run anyway. It runs on Windows 10 and 11, on x64 and ARM.
- [Can I use PDFBetter offline?](https://help.pdfbetter.com/apps/what-works-offline.md): Mostly no. Your documents live in your account, so pdfbetter.com and the Mac and Windows apps need an internet connection. When you're offline, the desktop app shows a reconnect screen. The iPhone app keeps edits on the device until it can sync.
- [Keyboard shortcuts](https://help.pdfbetter.com/getting-started/keyboard-shortcuts.md): Press ? anywhere in the dashboard or the editor to see the shortcuts for that screen. The essentials: ⌘ K to search, U to upload, T for text, S to sign, ⌘ Z to undo and Tab to move between form fields.

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Source: https://help.pdfbetter.com/apps/desktop-app-files-shortcuts-updates/ · PDFBetter Help Center · Last checked against the product 2026-10-18. Questions: support@pdfbetter.com