New Update Microsoft Edge switches to Adobe Acrobat PDF for it's built-in PDF reader

silversurfer

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Honorary Member
Top Poster
Content Creator
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Aug 17, 2014
10,057
Microsoft and Adobe announced today that Adobe's Acrobat PDF technology will soon power the PDF reading capabilities of Microsoft's Edge web browser.

Adobe's Acrobat PDF technology will be included in Microsoft Edge for Windows 10 and Windows 11. The rollout of the change is scheduled for March 2023. Edge for Home users and on non-managed devices will get the new functionality automatically. There is no opt-out for general users, according to Microsoft. Managed devices need to be opt-in, according to Microsoft's announcement on the Microsoft Edge blog.

Microsoft plans to retire the current Microsoft Edge PDF solution on March 31, 2024. The legacy engine remains available until the data, but will be removed from Edge at this point leaving only Adobe's solution for PDF viewing in the web browser.

The company highlights the advantages of the change. It gives users "a unique PDF experience" with "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".

Microsoft published an FAQ on its Tech Community website that provides additional information. While initially limited to Windows 10 and Windows 11, Adobe Acrobat PDF technology will eventually come to mac OS devices as well. Microsoft reveals no data, only that the feature "is coming in the future".

The built-in Adobe Acrobat PDF technology will be free for Edge users. Microsoft notes that users may purchase an Acrobat subscription to gain access to advanced features that include text and image editing capabilities, PDF conversions and combining, and more. Edge users who have an Acrobat subscription already may use the Acrobat extension inside Microsoft Edge without additional costs to gain access to these features.

Microsoft notes that Adobe's implementation offers full feature parity with the legacy Microsoft PDF technology that is being used currently in the web browser. An Adobe brand mark will be visible in the "bottom corner" and there will be an option to try advanced features or sign-up for an existing Adobe Acrobat subscription. There will also be a purchase option and an option to download the Adobe Acrobat extension to unlock the advanced features in Edge.


 

Ink

Administrator
Verified
Staff Member
Well-known
Jan 8, 2011
22,361
Any info on the integrity level Adobe PDF reader will be running? Edge ran in AppContainer (in my memory Adobe PDF was nearly as trouble some as Internet Explorer in terms of vulnabilities)
The Microsoft Edge Vulnerability Research team has been heavily involved in this process and want to share some of the work that we have been doing alongside our colleagues at Adobe to help ensure your PDF experience is secure.
Read more:
 

upnorth

Moderator
Verified
Staff Member
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Jul 27, 2015
5,459
Consumers and others using unmanaged Windows 10 or 11 systems will see the change once it launches next month, with all such users having it in place by September.

Companies with managed devices can choose when to opt-in until September, giving them time to test their apps with the change in PDF engine. After that, they can opt out until March 2024, when the legacy Edge PDF engine is removed.
 

vtqhtr413

Level 26
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Aug 17, 2017
1,453
Consumers eager to give the new feature a go should check their browser’s version. It should update automatically, but in case automatic updates are turned off (or don’t work for whatever reason), they can be triggered manually by bringing up the menu, tapping Help and Feedback, About Microsoft Edge, and then just waiting for the update to download. “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,” Microsoft added.
 

Bot

AI-powered Bot
Verified
Apr 21, 2016
3,320
Microsoft Edge's built-in PDF reader has been improved with the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine. This provides users with a better PDF experience, such as higher fidelity for more accurate colors and graphics, improved performance, strong security for PDF handling, and greater accessibility. To access this new feature, users should check their browser's version and update it manually if necessary.
 

oldschool

Level 81
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Mar 29, 2018
7,044
Microsoft Edge's built-in PDF reader has been improved with the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine. This provides users with a better PDF experience, such as higher fidelity for more accurate colors and graphics, improved performance, strong security for PDF handling, and greater accessibility. To access this new feature, users should check their browser's version and update it manually if necessary.
@Bot please stop spam posting duplicate info from OP. ;)
 
Nov 1, 2022
28
For a freebie, this is excellent news for anyone utilizing scanning software to help them route and organize heaps of docs on time. We're using TWAIN scanners and the office, but we also got 8 collaborators in overseas countries with whom we regularly share invoices, monthly reports, etc. They often need to update those files and send them back to us for review. Of course, this can easily spiral out of control - keeping track of several versions of close to 40 PDFs in a day is tiring, to say the least. So, any type of extra OCR we can leverage is super-welcomed!

Thanks, Microsoft! ;)
 

silversurfer

Level 85
Thread author
Verified
Honorary Member
Top Poster
Content Creator
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Aug 17, 2014
10,057

Microsoft will remove the old PDF viewer from Edge in early 2025​

In February 2023, Microsoft and Adobe announced a joint effort to improve the PDF viewing experience in Edge by integrating the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine into the browser. That allowed Microsoft to provide its customers with better document rendering, snappier performance, and improved security and accessibility.

A few days ago, Microsoft updated the original announcement post with new details about the removal of the old PDF engine (via Deskmodder).

According to the revised document, the old PDF engine powering Edge's built-in PDF reader will be kicked out of the browser in early 2025. Later this summer, the company will start rolling out the new engine and an opt-out policy to managed devices.
 

B-boy/StyLe/

Level 3
Verified
Well-known
Mar 10, 2023
136
Still have time before switching back to FF's PDF viewer (of course with pdfjs.enableScripting set to false). :)
 

About us

  • MalwareTips is a community-driven platform providing the latest information and resources on malware and cyber threats. Our team of experienced professionals and passionate volunteers work to keep the internet safe and secure. We provide accurate, up-to-date information and strive to build a strong and supportive community dedicated to cybersecurity.

User Menu

Follow us

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter to know first about the latest cybersecurity incidents and malware threats.

Top