Microsoft is going to replace built-in PDF reader in Edge with Adobe version

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

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 graphics quality with more precise colors and better performance and accessibility, according to Microsoft.

Users who want advanced features, such as the option to edit 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 no existing functionality will go away. Users will see a “discreet” Adobe watermark in the bottom corner of their PDF reader. There will also be an option to try out the advanced features.

Adobe’s PDF reader as part of Edge will be available to all Windows 10 and 11 users in March, with all users expected to be able to use the new reader in September. The old, built-in PDF reader is no longer 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 opt out. The policy starts in March and ends in September. Subsequently, the opt-out period immediately starts in September and ends in March 2024.

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