Microsoft confirms plan to kill its legacy PDF reader in Edge quickly

Two years in the past, Microsoft changed the built-in PDF reader within the Edge browser, however the truth is that many customers have continued sticking with the outdated legacy PDF reader to today.

Again in 2023, the PDF engine in Edge was converted to Adobe’s PDF engine, however the rollout solely made it the default engine on client units. Enterprise units needed to choose into the brand new engine, whereas client units may swap again by tweaking a browser flag setting.

Now Microsoft has confirmed its intent to pressure ALL customers onto Adobe’s PDF engine, Home windows Newest experiences. Beginning September 2025, admins should apply an opt-out coverage in the event that they need to delay the PDF engine rollout on their PCs. That delay will solely final till early 2026, when Microsoft plans to formally retire the legacy PDF engine in Edge.

The primary criticism towards Adobe’s PDF engine is that customers are requested to pay to entry a number of superior and not-so-advanced options, akin to modifying textual content and pictures, changing between codecs, merging paperwork, and extra. It’s one more reminder of how Microsoft appears to nickel and dime its customers at each alternative.