What is a P7M file?
A .p7m file is a document wrapped in a digital signature. The signing software takes the original file, for example a PDF contract or an XML invoice, and packs it together with the signature and the signer’s certificate in a standard format called CMS (also known as PKCS#7). The extension is added to the end of the name, so contract.pdf becomes contract.pdf.p7m.
P7M files are most common in Italy, where documents signed with a qualified digital signature (firma digitale, in the CAdES format) and many electronic invoices travel this way. The document inside is not changed in any way. It just cannot be opened until the signature wrapper around it is removed, which is what this viewer does.
Two related extensions use the same format: a .p7s file usually holds only the signature, with the signed document sent as a separate file, and a .p7c file holds certificates only.
How to open a P7M file
- Drop your .p7m file on the box above, or press Choose a file and pick it.
- Wait a moment while your browser reads it. Nothing is sent anywhere.
- Look at the preview. PDFs, images, text and XML files are shown on the page.
- Check the signature details to see who signed the file, who issued their certificate and when it was signed.
- Press Download original to save the document inside, with .p7m taken off its name.
Why can’t I open my P7M file?
Most computers and phones have no app for .p7m, so they do not know what to do with it. Renaming the file to .pdf does not help, because the PDF is still wrapped inside the signature.
If this viewer cannot open it either, the message under the box tells you why. The file may be encrypted for one recipient (it then needs their private key), it may have been damaged on its way to you, or it may not be a signed file at all.
What this viewer does not do
- It does not check that the signature is valid, that the certificate is trusted or that it was not revoked. It shows what the file says about the signer, as written in the certificate.
- It cannot open encrypted files (CMS EnvelopedData). Those need the recipient’s private key.
- It opens files up to 50 MB.
- Word, Excel and ZIP files inside a P7M can be downloaded but are not previewed on the page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a P7M file?
A P7M file is a document with a digital signature wrapped around it, in the CMS (PKCS#7) format. Inside is the original file, often a PDF or an XML invoice, together with the signature and the signer’s certificate. This viewer takes the original file out so you can read and save it.
Is it safe to open a P7M file here?
Yes. The file is read by your own browser on your own device. The document inside is shown as an image, as text or in your browser’s own PDF viewer, and web pages hidden in a file are shown as plain text, never run.
Is my file uploaded to your servers?
No. The page loads once, then everything happens in your browser: reading the file, removing the signature and making the download. The file, its name and its contents are never sent to us, and our analytics only count that the tool was used.
Can this tool verify the signature?
No. It shows who signed the file and the dates on their certificate, but it does not check that the signature is valid or the certificate is trusted. For an official check, use the verification service or software from your signature provider.
Can I open an encrypted P7M file?
No. An encrypted P7M (CMS EnvelopedData) can only be opened with the private key of the person it was sent to, usually through the software that came with their smart card or signing token. The viewer tells you when a file is encrypted.
How do I open a .pdf.p7m file?
Drop it on the box above. The viewer removes the signature, shows the PDF and lets you save it as a normal .pdf file. Files signed more than once, such as file.pdf.p7m.p7m, are unwrapped layer by layer until the PDF is reached.
Can I open Italian e-invoices (FatturaPA .xml.p7m)?
Yes. The viewer takes out the XML invoice, shows it as readable text and lets you download the .xml file, ready to open in your accounting or invoicing software.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes. It works in current browsers on phones, tablets and computers. Some phone browsers cannot show a PDF inside a page; in that case use Open in a new tab or Download original.
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