Microsoft Edge and Adobe partner to improve the PDF experience

As part of the Adobe and Microsoft collaboration to re-envision the future workplace and your digital experiences, we are natively embedding the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine into the Microsoft Edge built-in PDF reader, with a release scheduled in March 2023. This leverages the industry-leading technologies that Adobe and Microsoft use to bring innovative value to the modern hybrid working environment. You can view the announcement blog and learn more information regarding the larger Microsoft and Adobe Partnership.

By powering the Microsoft Edge built-in PDF reader with the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine, users will receive a unique PDF experience that includes higher fidelity for more accurate colors and graphics, improved performance, strong security for PDF handling, and greater accessibility—including better text selection and read-aloud narration. These capabilities will continue to be free of cost.

Consumer (and unmanaged) users of Microsoft Edge will see this change immediately. This will roll out to organizations with managed devices over time, to allow time to test the updated experience and transition users. See below for more details. Ultimately, the legacy engine in the Microsoft Edge PDF solution is scheduled to be removed on March 31st, 2024.

Microsoft Edge users and organizations with existing Adobe Acrobat subscriptions can use the Acrobat extension inside Microsoft Edge at no extra cost. There is no requirement to purchase an Adobe Acrobat subscription to use the Microsoft Edge built-in PDF free capabilities.

Please see the FAQ below for answers to questions you may have.

When will this be available?

Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge will roll out to consumers starting in March 2023, with an option for organizations with managed devices to opt-in via Intune, SCCM, or  policy.

On what platforms will Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge be released?

Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge will be released for Windows 10 and 11.

Will Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge be available on macOS?

Availability for MacOS is coming in the future. We will have more to share at a later date.

Will there be a cost to use Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge?

The built-in Microsoft Edge PDF solution will continue to be free. Users who want more advanced digital document features—such as the ability to edit text and images, convert PDFs to other file formats, and combine files—can purchase an Acrobat subscription that enables access to these advanced features inside Microsoft Edge via an extension. Those with an existing Adobe Acrobat subscription can use the Acrobat extension inside Microsoft Edge at no extra cost.

What’s changing with Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge compared to the existing Microsoft Edge PDF solution? Will Microsoft Edge users lose PDF functionality?

The built-in Microsoft Edge PDF solution with the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine will have full feature parity with the legacy Microsoft Edge PDF solution. No functionality will be lost.

Visually, users will see an unobtrusive Adobe brand mark in the bottom corner of their PDF view. These users will also see an option to try the advanced features, such as converting PDFs, combining files, editing text and images. Users can sign in with their existing Adobe Acrobat subscription or can select the option to purchase an Adobe Acrobat subscription and download the Adobe Acrobat extension to use these advanced features in Microsoft Edge.

How do I use the advanced Adobe Acrobat PDF features in Microsoft Edge?

Activating the advanced features with the Adobe Acrobat PDF extension in Microsoft Edge requires a paid Adobe Acrobat subscription. To activate the features, in the PDF view in Microsoft Edge, navigate to the top right corner of the window and click the button with messaging to try the advanced features. From there follow the prompts best suiting your needs to complete the transaction. If you already have a paid Adobe Acrobat subscription, you can sign into your existing account to use the advanced features at no additional cost.

Can general users opt out of using Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge?

General users will be unable to revert to using the legacy PDF engine in Microsoft Edge after the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine launches.

How will this affect commercial organizations?

When rollout begins in March 2023, there will be no changes to managed Windows devices in organizations unless you choose to opt in. Users on unmanaged Windows devices will see an unobtrusive Adobe brand mark in the bottom corner of their PDF view. These users will also see an option to try the advanced features, such as converting PDFs, combining files, editing text and images. If an organization chooses to opt in, users on managed devices will see the same changes. The built-in Microsoft Edge PDF solution with the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine will have full feature parity with the legacy Microsoft Edge PDF solution. No functionality will be lost.

Users can sign in with their existing Adobe Acrobat subscription or can select the option to purchase an Adobe Acrobat subscription and download the Adobe Acrobat extension to use the advanced digital document features in Microsoft Edge.

How will this affect educational organizations?

EDU users on managed Windows devices will follow the same protocol as managed devices in commercial organizations. For EDU users that are not on a managed Windows device, they will automatically receive Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge starting in March 2023.

How can commercial organizations opt into using Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge at launch?

Admins in commercial organizations can enable or disable the “NewPDFReaderEnabled” policy to test the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine.

How can commercial organizations make a gradual change to adopting Adobe Acrobat PDF capabilities in Microsoft Edge?

To meet the needs of organizations with managed devices, the transition to the built-in Microsoft Edge PDF reader with the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine will occur in phases, with an initial opt-in option for managed devices. Policies will be made available based on the timings in the table below.

March 2023

September 2023

March 31st, 2024

Consumer Devices

Rollout to users begins.

Rollout to users completes.

N/A

Managed devices

Opt-in policy starts.

· Rollout to managed devices begins.

· Opt-out via policy.

· Opt-out policy expires.

· Microsoft Edge legacy PDF engine is scheduled to be removed.

When will the legacy PDF engine in Microsoft Edge be removed?

The PDF engine in the Microsoft Edge built-in PDF reader is scheduled to be removed on March 31st, 2024.

Will using the Adobe Acrobat PDF extension in Microsoft Edge change my default PDF viewer?

Downloading, installing, or using the Adobe Acrobat PDF extension in Microsoft Edge will not automatically change your default PDF viewer.

I’m already an Adobe subscriber. If I’m using Microsoft Edge, what do I need to do to use the Adobe Acrobat PDF extension?

You can access all your paid Adobe Acrobat premium features by signing into your Adobe Acrobat account and using the extension in Microsoft Edge.