PDFs have been able to carry files this way for over 20 years. The feature has
always existed in the format. PortaDrive did not invent anything new, and it did
not hack the PDF. You do not need PortaDrive to use these files. Anyone who knows
how can pack and unpack them with a command-line tool like PDFtk (attach_files / unpack_files). You can also just hand
the PDF to an AI — the attachments are standard, so it can read what’s inside.
The PDFs are universal if you know how. PortaDrive just makes that easy for
humans.
It also complements apps that already export as PDF — including the other tools I make. Open those PDFs like a drive, reorganize what’s inside, and save them back. Everything stays on your Mac. Offline, no account.
Support
Questions, bug reports, or something that didn’t save — email me directly:
I’m Jason, the developer. I read everything.
How it works
What do I drop on PortaDrive?
A PDF. If it already has files packed inside, those files appear in a folder in Downloads. If it doesn’t, you get an empty folder. Add or remove files the same way you would on a thumb drive. Eject in the app to pack everything back into that same PDF.
Does it open the files for me?
No. Files inside a PDF are treated like email attachments: PortaDrive copies the bytes into a local folder and never launches them. You decide what to open.
Do I need PortaDrive to get the files back out?
No. The PDF is a normal PDF with standard file attachments. You can unpack them with PDFtk or hand the PDF to an AI that can read attachments. Preview does not get at what’s inside — and if the PDF is large, Preview often can’t even open it well. PortaDrive is for when you want that to feel like a USB drive.
Can I use more than one PDF at a time?
Yes. Each PDF gets its own folder. Drop as many as you need.
How big can the PDF be?
As big as you need, within the space on your Mac. Preview does not handle these PDFs well once they get large — keep them under about 200 MB if you still want Preview to open the pages at all. Bigger files are fine; use PortaDrive or PDFtk for those. Multi-gigabyte videos in particular can lock Preview and make iCloud crawl.
Privacy
PortaDrive works offline. It does not create an account, collect analytics, or upload your files. Your PDFs and the files inside them stay on your Mac. Nothing is sent to me unless you email me. Full details are in the privacy policy.