How to Hide the Properties Pane When Viewing PDFs in SharePoint
Question details
The user wants to hide the properties pane that appears on the right side of the screen when viewing PDF files uploaded to SharePoint.
- Product
- SharePoint / PDF Viewer
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening and viewing PDF documents hosted on a SharePoint document library.
- Observed behavior
- A properties pane automatically displays on the right side of the viewer, taking up valuable screen space and causing distraction.
Determine exactly how your PDF is being opened—whether directly in the SharePoint online viewer, in a new browser tab, or downloaded and opened in a desktop PDF application, as the layout controls vary by viewer.
Toggle the Details Pane in the SharePoint Web Viewer
Use the built-in toggle button in the SharePoint interface to collapse the properties pane while viewing the file online.
When you click a PDF in a SharePoint document library, it often opens in SharePoint's native file viewer. This viewer includes a Details or Properties pane by default to show metadata, which can be easily toggled off for a cleaner view.
Click on the PDF file in your SharePoint document library to open it in the web viewer.
Look at the top-right corner of the SharePoint header bar for an 'i' (Information) icon or 'Details' button.
Click the 'i' icon to toggle the properties pane off. The PDF will expand to fill the available viewing space.
Open the PDF in a Desktop Application
Bypass the SharePoint web viewer entirely by opening the PDF in your computer's default desktop PDF reader.
View and Edit PDFs Seamlessly with WPS Office
If you are tired of restrictive web viewers, download your SharePoint PDFs and open them in WPS Office. Enjoy a clean, distraction-free reading mode and powerful editing tools without unnecessary properties panes.
- 1. Download the PDF: Select the PDF in SharePoint and click 'Download' to save it to your local computer.
- 2. Open in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office, select the PDF tab, and open your downloaded file.
- 3. Enable Reading Mode: Use the bottom toolbar or the 'View' menu to switch to a full-screen, distraction-free reading mode.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint show the properties pane by default?
SharePoint displays the details pane to show important document metadata, version history, and file properties directly in the viewer. This helps teams manage document information efficiently, though it can take up screen space.
Can I permanently disable the properties pane for all users in a SharePoint library?
The default behavior of the details pane in the modern SharePoint experience cannot be completely disabled for all users out-of-the-box. Users must individually toggle it closed during their session using the 'i' icon.
Does the properties pane print with the PDF?
No, the SharePoint properties pane is strictly a user interface element in the web browser. It will not appear on the document if you print or download the PDF file.
