What is inside a .xades file
- The document itself: most often a PDF, sometimes a Word file, an image or an XML form.
- The electronic signature: who signed, when, and the signer's certificate.
- Sometimes attachments, for example when a Polish office sends a letter through ePUAP.
XAdES stands for XML Advanced Electronic Signatures, an EU standard (ETSI). The file is XML, with the document encoded as text inside it. That is why double-clicking it shows code or an unknown file type message.
How to open it
- Click “Open a .xades file” at the top of the page.
- Choose the file from your computer or phone.
- Read the document, check the signature and save the letter as a PDF.
Where .xades files come from
They are common in Poland, where offices, courts and companies sign letters with a trusted signature (Profil Zaufany), a personal signature (e-ID card) or a qualified signature, and send them through e-Delivery (e-Doręczenia), ePUAP or email. Other EU countries use XAdES too.