Windows or Docker for this PDF editor

Two install paths for one PDF editor

Windows desktop and Docker are the two common ways to run Stirling PDF; both come from the Stirling-Tools/Stirling-PDF project. The Windows app is a native window; there is no browser tab and no compose login. Files stay on the PC. Docker is a container you start, then a tab at http://localhost:8080, with login on by default. Official files live on GitHub Releases and the image registry at docker.stirlingpdf.com.

A JAR server is a third, narrower path on run this PDF editor as a JAR server. For the daily choice, use PDF editor download for Windows and PDF editor Docker for compose. Official Mac and Linux desktop installers also exist on GitHub Releases; the two installs below are Windows desktop and Docker.

When Windows desktop is the right PDF editor

Choose desktop when you sit at one Windows PC, open PDFs from Explorer, and want merge, split, rotate, and sign without a server. Official Windows docs say there is no login for that app; it installs to C:\Program Files\Stirling-PDF. You can double-click a PDF, use Open with, or drag a file into the window; local tools keep working without a network.

OCR and some conversions are not local-only. Official Modes docs say those jobs need Stirling Cloud or a self-hosted server (Docker or JAR). If your daily work is scans that must become searchable text, desktop still installs, but you will point it at a server later. If your daily work is combining packets and rotating scans, desktop is enough.

Desktop fits a laptop that leaves the office; it does not publish a URL. Other people on the LAN do not get a PDF editor tab unless you also run Docker or a JAR.

When Docker is the right PDF editor

Choose Docker when you want a browser UI on port 8080, a shared instance, or tools that need the server image. Official compose uses docker.stirlingpdf.com/stirlingtools/stirling-pdf:latest; login is on. Default username admin and password stirling must change at first login; opt out with SECURITY_ENABLELOGIN=false only if you accept an open local UI.

Tags on the official Docker page are latest, latest-fat, and latest-ultra-lite; most people start with latest. Fat is the heavier conversion image; ultra-lite is the small core image. Full compose, volumes, and updates live in the Docker install docs and on PDF editor Docker.

Docker is the path that matches a NAS, a home lab, or a team that opens the same URL. It is not a replacement for the Start-menu app if you only wanted a window and no password.

Desktop versus Docker

Self-host stays free up to 5 users; Server is about US$99 per month or about US$999 per year. Enterprise is custom; read Paid Offerings and stirling.com/pricing.

Install the Windows desktop PDF editor

Use one of the three official desktop methods; they install the same app.

Winget (daily path):

winget install StirlingTools.StirlingPDF

If that command is missing, follow How to install winget, register App Installer from Microsoft, then paste again.

MSI: on the current GitHub release, pick Stirling-PDF-windows-x86_64.msi; run it; it lands in C:\Program Files\Stirling-PDF; skip Softonic, CNET, and unofficial wrappers. Safe-download notes sit on open source PDF editor download safe.

Scoop:

scoop bucket add stirling-pdf https://github.com/Stirling-Tools/homebrew-stirling-pdf

scoop install stirling-pdf/stirling-pdf

Launch from the Start menu; desktop does not ask for the Docker password. If the process runs and no window appears, install Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime and open the app again.

Run the official Docker compose

Write a docker-compose.yml from the official Docker guide; a minimal service uses this image and port 8080:

docker.stirlingpdf.com/stirlingtools/stirling-pdf:latest

Example compose (official shape: image, port 8080, a configs volume); login stays on unless you opt out.

services:
  stirling-pdf:
    image: docker.stirlingpdf.com/stirlingtools/stirling-pdf:latest
    container_name: stirling-pdf
    ports:
      - '8080:8080'
    volumes:
      - ./stirling-data:/configs
    restart: unless-stopped

Then:

docker-compose up -d

Open http://localhost:8080; sign in as admin with stirling, then change the password; to opt out of login:

SECURITY_ENABLELOGIN=false

Put that in the compose environment list only if you want no authentication; an update is docker-compose down, then docker-compose pull, then docker-compose up -d.

First job, then stop mixing installs

1. Choose Windows desktop or Docker. Desktop is the personal window. Docker is the server tab on port 8080.
2. Install with winget (or the MSI / Scoop) for desktop, or write compose and run docker-compose up -d for Docker.
3. Open Stirling PDF from the Start menu, or open http://localhost:8080 and sign in.
4. If you used Docker, change the default admin password before real files.
5. Merge or rotate a test PDF and save it in a folder you control.

Use one install for daily work; the guides hub lists merge, split, sign, and redact as separate jobs. For this computer restates Windows versus Docker.

Most of the public repo is MIT (Copyright 2025 Stirling PDF Inc.) with directory exceptions; folders such as proprietary, saas, engine, desktop, cloud, and portal use other licenses. Do not treat the whole product as only MIT.

Common questions

Is the Windows desktop PDF editor offline? Yes for local tools. The desktop app needs no login; merge, split, rotate, and sign run on the device; OCR and some conversions need a server; official Modes docs list the split. Connect the app to a self-hosted Docker or JAR server, or to Stirling Cloud, when a local tool is not enough.

Does Docker login stay on for this PDF editor? Yes by default. A fresh container on port 8080 creates admin and stirling; change that password at first login. To run without authentication, set SECURITY_ENABLELOGIN=false in compose; tags latest, latest-fat, and latest-ultra-lite are in the official Docker docs.

Can I install both Windows desktop and Docker? You can, but pick one place to save results. Desktop is a window with no compose login; Docker is a tab at http://localhost:8080 with login on. Mixing two copies makes it easy to write into the wrong folder; use Windows or Docker as the daily path.

How do I install this PDF editor with winget? Paste winget install StirlingTools.StirlingPDF into Windows Terminal or Command Prompt. If winget is missing, register App Installer from Microsoft, then run the command again; the same app is the MSI Stirling-PDF-windows-x86_64.msi on GitHub Releases.

What if the desktop PDF editor shows no window? The desktop app draws its window with Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime. If Task Manager shows the process and nothing appears, install WebView2 from Microsoft and launch again. That fix is in the official Windows docs; it is not a Docker login problem.

Does Mac or Linux desktop exist for this PDF editor? Yes. Official Mac and Linux desktop files exist on GitHub Releases; the two installs documented here are Windows desktop and Docker. Open the official docs for those desktop builds, then return here for winget, compose, and the JAR server path.