How to Add a Downloadable PDF to Wix: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adding a downloadable PDF to a Wix site is simple, but there are multiple ways to go about it depending on how you want it to look and function.

Whether you're showcasing a resume, providing a brochure, uploading an ebook, or offering a product guide, Wix gives you the tools to embed or link PDFs directly to your site pages.

Let’s walk through each method step by step.

Method 1: Uploading and Linking a Downloadable PDF Using Wix's Built-In Features

This is the most straightforward approach. No fancy embed widgets. Just native Wix tools. Good enough for most needs.

Step 1: Open Your Wix Site Editor

Log into your Wix dashboard. Choose the website you want to work on. Click Edit Site. This takes you to the Wix Editor.

Step 2: Upload Your PDF

In the left toolbar, click on Media (it looks like a little image icon). Inside the media manager, hit Upload Media. Choose your PDF file from your computer. Once it's uploaded, it stays in your Wix media library and can be reused anywhere on the site.

Step 3: Add a Button or Text Link to the Page

Navigate to the page where you want the download link.

Now you’ve got two choices:

• Add a Button from the "+ Add" menu > Button. Customize the text (e.g., "Download Brochure").

• Or add a Text Element and hyperlink the text (e.g., "Click here to download").

Step 4: Link the PDF to the Button or Text

Click on the button or highlighted text, then hit the Link icon.

• Choose Document as the link type.

• Select the PDF from your uploaded files.

• Save it.

Now when someone clicks it, the PDF will open in a new tab, and they can download it from there.

Optional Settings:

• You can set the button to open in a new tab (recommended).

• Rename the file in the media manager to something readable. Don’t leave it as "Final_Version4_edits.pdf".

When to Use This Method

This is best when:

• You want users to download or view a document.

• You don’t need the PDF embedded directly on the site page.

• You want speed. This takes 5 minutes max.

Method 2: Embed a Viewable PDF on the Page Using Elfsight (Third-Party Tool)

If you want users to view the PDF without downloading it—or if you're showing multi-page documents like eBooks, catalogs, restaurant menus—embedding is a better route. Elfsight offers a widget for this.

Step 1: Go to Elfsight.com and Sign Up

Head over to https://elfsight.com. Sign up for a free account if you don’t already have one.

Step 2: Create a PDF Embed Widget

Once logged in:

• Go to the PDF Embed app.

• Click Create Widget.

• Upload your PDF.

• Customize the viewer (choose light or dark theme, set initial zoom, enable download, etc).

Step 3: Get the Embed Code

Once you're done setting it up, Elfsight gives you an embed code.

• Click Add to Website.

• Copy the generated HTML code.

Step 4: Embed in Your Wix Site

Go back to the Wix Editor.

• Click Add > Embed Code > Embed a Widget.

• Paste the code into the HTML iframe element.

• Resize and position it as needed.

Done. Now your PDF is viewable directly on the page. Scrollable, zoomable, user-friendly.

Pricing Note:

Elfsight’s free plan allows limited views per month. For heavy usage or multiple PDFs, you’ll need a paid plan. Starts at around $5/month.

When to Use This Method

• You want people to view PDFs without downloading them.

• You want a cleaner, embedded presentation.

• You’re OK with using a third-party tool and possibly paying a small fee.

Bonus Method: Use Wix File Share App (More Control Over File Management)

Another alternative is using the Wix File Share app. This is ideal if you offer multiple PDFs or want to organise files in folders.

Step 1: Add the File Share App

From the Wix Editor:

• Go to the App Market.

• Search for Wix File Share.

• Click Add to Site.

Step 2: Upload Files

Once the app is on your site:

• Open it.

• Upload your PDFs.

• You can create folders, set access permissions, and even allow site visitors to upload files.

Step 3: Display the File Section

You can customise how the file viewer appears. Grid view, list view, icons—whatever fits your design.

When to Use This Method

• You need to share multiple files.

• You want user-upload functionality.

• You want to create a simple file repository.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Uploading Large PDFs Without Compressing

2. Large files load slowly. Compress them before uploading using tools like Smallpdf or Adobe Acrobat.

3. Forgetting to Optimise for Mobile

4. Embedded PDFs can look odd on mobile. Always check how it displays on smaller screens.

5. Using Overly Long File Names

6. Keep it simple. Avoid spaces or special characters in file names.

7. Not Setting Links to Open in New Tab

8. If you forget this, users might navigate away from your site. Always open PDFs in a new tab.

9. Uploading Confidential PDFs Without Permissions

10. Double-check file content. Make sure you're not sharing internal documents or sensitive info accidentally.

What Happens If You Don’t Do It Right?

• Your PDF might not load.

• Visitors may leave the site out of frustration.

• SEO impact: PDF links don’t pass much SEO juice, but poor UX does hurt engagement.

• Download links might be missed if buried or poorly labelled.

Quick Comparison Table

Method	PDF Opens in Viewer	Requires App	Downloadable	Good for Multiple Files
Upload + Link (Wix)	No	No	Yes	No
Elfsight Embed	Yes	Yes	Optional	Not really
Wix File Share	No/Optional	Yes	Yes	Yes

Final Thoughts

There’s no single best method. Pick based on your goal:

• Quick download? Use native upload.

• Embedded, interactive viewer? Go with Elfsight.

• Sharing lots of documents? Try Wix File Share.

Wix makes all of this relatively painless. You just need to know what each option is for, and when it makes sense to use it. Skip the fluff. Add the PDF. Make it downloadable. Keep it simple, clean, and accessible.