clawPDF is an Open Source virtual PDF printer for Windows that can convert any printable file to PDF, PDF/A, PDF/X, PNG, JPEG, TIF or Text.
Publisher’s description
What is clawPDF?
clawPDF by Andrew Hess // clawSoft is open-source Windows software in the drivers & hardware category. It is written in C#.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides MSI installers for 32-bit Windows. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches. An MSI package is available for deployment with Group Policy, Intune or Configuration Manager.
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.9.3, released on December 14, 2023. The version history goes back to December 8, 2021: 3 releases, all linked to the official files. That is about 1.5 releases a year. The last update is more than a year old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (clawsoftware/clawPDF) has 1,963 stars. Similar programs include Barrier, Dokan Library and WinBtrfs.
Project description on GitHub: “Open Source Virtual (Network) Printer for Windows that allows you to create PDFs, OCR text, and print images, with advanced features usually available only in enterprise solutions.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- MSI package for managed deployment
- Documented silent install
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
- 32-bit only
- No update for more than a year
In short: clawPDF is an open-source drivers & hardware tool for 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is clawPDF safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
4B8102955E7A75149C45EFC968643DB87B3AED85753136B186734EE1C614298C· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 3 versions ›3 versions over 2 years · about 1.5 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.9.3Latest | December 14, 2023 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 0.9.2 | December 15, 2023 | — | 32-bit MSI |
| 0.8.4 | December 8, 2021 | — | 32-bit MSI |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id clawSoft.clawPDF -emsiexec /i clawPDF_0.9.3_setup.msi /qn /norestartmsiexec /x {550978AC-0D0D-4A6E-8E00-427060FF6851} /qn /norestartRelated guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Andrew Hess // clawSoft
- Category
- Drivers & hardware
- Licence
- AGPL v3 license
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/clawsoftware/clawPDF
- Written in
- C#
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 32-bit
- Installer
- MSI
- Version
- 0.9.3
- Released
- December 14, 2023
- Added to the catalogue
- December 8, 2021
- Versions listed
- 3
- Updates / year
- 1.5
- GitHub stars
- 1,963
- GitHub forks
- 227
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- clawSoft.clawPDF
- MSI product code
- {550978AC-0D0D-4A6E-8E00-427060FF6851}
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is clawPDF free?
Yes. clawPDF is open-source software under the AGPL v3 license licence.
Is clawPDF safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install clawPDF with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can clawPDF be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer, including msiexec for the MSI package.
Does clawPDF run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 32-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of clawPDF?
The versions page lists all 3 versions with links to their official installer files, back to December 8, 2021.
What are alternatives to clawPDF?
Barrier, Dokan Library, WinBtrfs, Display Driver Uninstaller and g-helper. The alternatives page compares them.
