Microsoft will replace built-in PDF reader in Edge with Adobe version

Microsoft will replace the PDF reader built into the Edge browser for Windows with a version of Adobe Acrobat. That should be completed in September for consumer devices. For managed devices, the reader disappears at a later time and there is an opt-out.

Microsoft says that integrating Acrobat technology leads to a better PDF experience for Windows users. The Adobe Acrobat PDF engine gives users a “unique PDF experience,” including higher graphic quality with more precise colors and better performance and accessibility, Microsoft said.

Users who want advanced features, such as the option to customize text and images and convert PDF files to other file formats, must purchase an Acrobat subscription. Microsoft says that basic features will remain free and that no existing functionality will disappear. However, users will see a “discreet” Adobe watermark in the bottom corner of their PDF reader. There will also be an option on the screen to try out the advanced features.

This PDF reader from Adobe as part of Edge will be available to all Windows 10 and 11 users from March, after which all users should be able to use the new reader in September. The old, built-in PDF reader will no longer be available from that moment on.

Business devices follow a different timeline for phasing out the built-in PDF reader and unlike consumers, these users can choose to opt-out. The policy starts in March and ends in September. The opt-out period will then immediately begin in September and end in March 2024.

This step to phase out the built-in PDF reader in Edge will not yet be implemented on macOS, although it is also planned there in the future. When this will be implemented for Apple’s operating system will be announced at a later date.