Open & view
How to open and read a German e-invoice (XRechnung & ZUGFeRD)
Short answer: a ZUGFeRD/Factur-X invoice is a PDF with embedded XML — open it in any PDF reader and you see the invoice immediately. An XRechnung is a pure XML file; opened in a browser or editor it shows only code. It becomes readable through a visualisation or a tool that displays the EN 16931 fields.
Why an e-invoice does not just "open" like a document
Since 1 January 2025 domestic German B2B businesses must be able to receive e-invoices. Many now get an .xml file or an "odd" PDF for the first time and ask: how do I make this visible? An e-invoice is first of all a machine-readable data set per EN 16931 — not primarily a visual document. The human-readable view is either bundled (hybrid formats) or has to be generated.
Opening ZUGFeRD / Factur-X (hybrid PDF)
ZUGFeRD and its French counterpart Factur-X are hybrid formats: an ordinary PDF with the structured XML data set embedded inside it.
- Open the file in any PDF reader (Acrobat, Preview, browser) — the invoice is immediately readable.
- The XML part sits invisibly as an attachment in the PDF and is read automatically by accounting systems.
- To see or check the structured part, upload the PDF to a validator that extracts the embedded XML.
Opening XRechnung (pure XML)
An XRechnung is a pure XML file with no embedded PDF. Double-clicking usually opens a browser or editor showing the raw text. That is correct — just not reader-friendly. Your options to view it:
- Browser or text editor — fast, but you only see the raw XML. Good enough to recognise it is a structured invoice.
- Official visualisation — KoSIT provides an XSLT visualisation that turns the XML into a readable invoice view.
- Validator / checking tool — a tool that reads and displays the EN 16931 fields is fastest: you see the key content and whether the file is technically valid in one step.
View and check at the same time
When you open a received e-invoice you usually do not just want to "see" it — you want to know whether it is a valid e-invoice. The free fakturai validator reads ZUGFeRD, Factur-X and XRechnung files, extracts the structured EN 16931 data and checks it against a KoSIT-aligned accept gate. So you make the invoice readable and see, in the same step, whether it is technically ready to send or book.
Open & check an e-invoice for free
Common pitfalls when opening
- Opening an XRechnung XML in an editor and thinking it is "broken" because only code appears — it is fine.
- Viewing a ZUGFeRD PDF and assuming the XML part is "gone" — it is embedded and invisible.
- Concluding from opening alone that the invoice is valid. Readability says nothing about EN 16931 compliance.
- Archiving the printed human-readable PDF of a hybrid file — the retention-relevant part is the structured XML in its original format.
What fakturai does not replace
fakturai checks technical format and structural compliance per EN 16931 with a KoSIT-aligned accept gate. The content and tax correctness of the invoice, proper archiving and accounting treatment remain your responsibility. fakturai is not tax advice and makes no legal, tax or delivery guarantees.
Next step
Make a received XRechnung or ZUGFeRD file readable and check it before you book it.
Free German e-invoice validator
Related: Receiving e-invoices · Why a PDF is not an e-invoice · Validation checklist · ZUGFeRD vs XRechnung