E-invoice viewer: open and read XRechnung and ZUGFeRD files
Drag your XRechnung or ZUGFeRD file into the box – the viewer detects the format, checks the structure against the official schema and displays all invoice data clearly. Free and without sign-up.
What is an e-invoice?
An e-invoice is an invoice in a structured, machine-readable format. Instead of a plain image PDF, the invoice data is contained in an XML file that software can process automatically. In Germany, receiving electronic invoices in the B2B sector has been becoming mandatory step by step since 2025.
For people, however, such an XML file is hard to read. This viewer makes it understandable again: it extracts seller, buyer, line items, totals, tax and payment details and shows them as a clear invoice – and checks along the way whether the file is a valid e-invoice format.
XRechnung
A pure XML file, mainly for invoices to public authorities. It contains only the structured data – without a visible PDF.
ZUGFeRD / Factur-X
A PDF with an embedded XML file. You see an ordinary PDF invoice, while the machine-readable data is additionally stored in the background.
Your invoice stays private
The file is checked only in memory – it is not stored, not logged and not shared. Once displayed, it is gone from the server.
Drag your file here
XRechnung (XML) or ZUGFeRD/Factur-X (PDF) · max. 15 MB
You received an e-invoice – what now?
The most common situation: a supplier sends a file, and double-clicking it shows nothing but gibberish – or nothing at all. That is not a fault on your computer. An XRechnung is made for programs, not for the eye. Upload the file above and you will see the same invoice the way you know it: issuer, line items, tax, amount due.
What matters is what comes next: keep the original file, not the printout. Invoices have to be kept for eight years, and for an electronic invoice the structured part – the data inside the file – must remain unchanged. A printout, a scan of it or a screenshot are not enough, because that is exactly where the data is lost.
And if something is wrong with the content? Then the same applies as with a paper invoice: contact the issuer and ask for a correction. Do not change the file yourself – in an e-invoice the embedded data is the authoritative part, not what you see on paper.
Frequently asked questions about e-invoices
How do I open an XRechnung?
Upload the XML file here – the viewer displays all invoice data immediately in a readable form. You need no extra software and no sign-up.
What is the difference between XRechnung and ZUGFeRD?
XRechnung is a pure XML file, while ZUGFeRD (or Factur-X) is a PDF with embedded XML. The viewer processes both and automatically detects which format it is.
Is my data stored?
No. The file is checked only in memory and is neither stored nor logged. No invoice content is kept.
What exactly does the viewer check?
It detects the format, checks the structure against the official XSD schema (UBL or CII) and displays all included data. It does not replace a full check of all EN16931 business rules as performed by the official validator.
Why does the viewer say my PDF is not an e-invoice?
Then it is an ordinary PDF with no embedded data. A ZUGFeRD invoice looks exactly like a normal PDF – you cannot tell the difference by looking at it. Ask the sender for the ZUGFeRD version or for an XRechnung in XML format.
Can I print the invoice or save it as a PDF?
Yes, via your browser's print function – it also lets you save the view as a PDF. For your records you still need the original file: the printout is only a readable copy, the authoritative data sits inside the file itself.
Do I have to keep the XML file?
Yes. Invoices must be kept for eight years, and for an e-invoice the structured part has to be preserved unchanged in its original form. So keep the file you received – not the printout and not a scan of it.
Do I have to issue e-invoices myself?
Every company has had to be able to receive electronic invoices since 1 January 2025. For issuing them there are transition periods until the end of 2026 and the end of 2027 respectively; from 2028 it applies to everyone in business-to-business trade. Small businesses under § 19 of the German VAT Act are exempt from issuing.
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Want to create e-invoices yourself?
With Easy Invoice you create XRechnung and ZUGFeRD in just a few clicks – no prior knowledge required.