Microsoft reveals details on Adobe integration for Edge replacing legacy PDF reader

Microsoft reveals details on Adobe integration for Edge replacing legacy PDF reader

Microsoft Enhances Edge with Adobe PDF Rendering Engine

In a recent update on its Microsoft 365 roadmap website, Microsoft has unveiled significant enhancements to its PDF capabilities via the integration of Adobe’s PDF rendering engine. This update marks an extension of services initiated back in March 2023, aimed at improving user experience with PDF documents.

Overview of Rollout Timeline

The latest entry regarding this functionality was recently published, indicating that the complete rollout for consumers is scheduled to commence in October 2025. This timeline aligns with a pivotal moment, as it coincides with the end of support for Windows 10 and earlier Office versions (2015 and 2019).This correlation may suggest Microsoft’s intent to encourage upgrades across its software platforms.

Enhanced Features and User Benefits

Microsoft Edge will introduce an upgraded built-in PDF reader, powered by Adobe’s advanced rendering engine. This upgrade guarantees that all existing functionalities remain intact while providing users with a more robust PDF experience, including improved rendering quality, faster performance, enhanced security protocols for PDF management, and increased accessibility options.

Update: To ensure a premium user experience, the commercial deployment of the Adobe Acrobat PDF engine within the Edge PDF reader has been rescheduled for September 2025. Moreover, the existing legacy PDF engine is slated for removal in early 2026.

Transition from Legacy PDF Solutions

The previous blog post detailing the transition and the phasing out of Edge’s legacy PDF solution indicated that the removal was initially planned for early 2025. However, the timeline has since evolved:

Transitioning to the Adobe Acrobat-powered PDF reader will provide users with a distinctly enhanced PDF experience. This new solution promises superior fidelity in color and graphics, optimized performance, robust security for managing PDF files, and improved accessibility features such as enhanced text selection and read-aloud capabilities—all at no additional cost.

Immediate users—those without managed devices—will experience these upgrades right away, while organizations with managed devices will see gradual deployment. This staggered rollout allows ample time for thorough testing and a smooth transition for users, adhering to a quality-focused approach, leading to potential adjustments in key milestone dates based on feedback gathered during testing. As previously indicated, the legacy PDF engine is now expected to be phased out in 2025, with updates to this timeline forthcoming.

Further Information and Resources

For additional insights, users can visit the Microsoft 365 roadmap entry here under entry 489231. To read the Tech Community blog post about these updates, click here.

For those interested in a deeper dive into this update, follow the source link for images and detailed information: Source & Images.

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