Microsoft All Set To Replace Edge’s Simple PDF Reader with Adobe Acrobat

Microsoft has joined hands with Adobe to integrate the Adobe Acrobat PDF rendering engine directly with Microsoft’s Edge browser, ending the term for its built-in PDF reader once and for all.

The new version with Adobe PDF Reader will roll out in March 2023 for Windows 10 and 11. It seems like Microsoft is planning to test this new integration for at least a year because they have no plans of retiring the existing PDF system before March 2024.

The report further mentioned that the new update would not be a financial burden on the users of Windows 10 and 11. It’ll continue to be free, just as it has been so far.

Microsoft is also expected to bring other Adobe tools, such as e-signature and documentation automation, to Edge.

For access to other advanced features, such as converting PDF files to other formats, editing texts and images, or combining files, the users will be required to pay for a subscription. If you already have an Acrobat subscription, you’ll be able to use the same features on Edge without paying extra.

This new development comes right after Microsoft announced the integration of ChatGPT-like features to Edge that’ll help users ask more open-ended questions with the conversational search engine.

The decision to bring Adobe Acrobat on board seems to be a part of a larger plan. As per reports. This isn’t the first time the two tech giants have partnered. Microsoft has already integrated Adobe PDF and e-signature tools with Microsoft Teams, 365, and Sharepoint.

The Plan Ahead

Moreover, to maintain transparency, Microsoft has also decided to add  Edge’s Acrobat engine to its Bug Bounty program, where independent developers will be incentivized to recognize system flaws.

Companies will have the option to decide when they want to opt-in or not until September 2023, giving them enough time to test how their existing system and apps work with the new PDF engine.

If users aren’t ready for the transition yet, they can opt out until March 2024, after which the existing PDF Reader will be permanently replaced.

Redmond has already started rolling out the new Acrobat PDF engine in phases. The changes will be noticed once it’s formally launched in March and will be uniformly distributed among all individual users by September 2023.

Since this new update is heavily targeted to businesses, Microsoft emphasized its security protocols for the integration. For businesses worried about the corrupted PDF files having the possibility to release malware into their enterprise network during the transition, Microsoft set up a special team for Vulnerability Research to oversee the integration and patch up all potential vulnerabilities.