Forum Discussion
MicrosoftRoadmap for PDF reader in Microsoft Edge
Update - March 1st, 2021: We've published an updated version of this roadmap. Check out Aditi's update over here, and we encourage you to continue to drop your PDF reader feedback into the comments of that post!
Over the course of last year, we worked hard on building a powerful PDF reader that fulfils the needs of compatibility, reliability and security for you and your organization.
The feedback we received from you with the Edge Insider builds has been really encouraging, and here are some of the most asked features that are available today, across Windows and Mac:
- Create highlights with Highlight mode: Draw attention to parts of the PDF that you find interesting with Highlights. With Highlight mode, you can now create highlights directly by selecting text, as you would do with a highlighter and paper.
- Fill PDF forms
- Ink on PDF files with colors and stroke width of your choice
- View PDFs in Dark mode
- Open Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) and Information Rights Management (IRM) protected PDF and view permissions
- Accessibility support including keyboard accessibility, screen reader support, and capability to view PDFs in high contrast mode
- Read Aloud
Here are the features we’re currently working on:
- Smoother scroll experience: We are bringing the smooth scroll of Legacy Edge to the modern browser. (Edge 086: In Canary, Dev, and Beta today)
- Table of Contents: You will soon be able to view the contents of PDF files and navigate through the file with the same. (Edge 086: In Canary, Dev, and Beta today)
- Text notes: With this, you will be able to add their own notes to text in PDF files. These notes will travel with the PDF.
- Protected PDF files: Microsoft Information Protection adds a layer of security to your documents. It ensures that only the users who have certain permissions as view, copy, annotate can take those actions on the file. Hence, no matter where the document goes, the data of your organization remains secure.
- Viewing labels of protected files: You will soon be able to view the sensitivity labels
- Viewing MIP files protected in other tenants: This will enable you to view the files protected in other organizations, or in other tenants in the organization.
- Digital signatures: View and validate certificate based Digital signatures on signed files.
- Accessibility improvements: With this, you will be able to fill PDF forms using screen readers, and navigate through PDF documents using caret mode.
We are actively looking at feedback from you about the features you find important.
Please feel free to comment below, or submit detailed feedback through the browser (Shift+Alt+I).
194 Replies
Very nice.... the listed features in road map are most full to every one. And also please add some most basic requirement for all like adding and deleting pages in a file. And also add a feature of book marks.
URGENT!!
I found a big issue, if you leave open Edge .pdf files with new draw notes open, when you enter the standbymode, and go back, trying to save the file, it saves, but no notes remain in the files.
Please fix it.I am so happy with what Microsoft Edge is doing regarding PDF reader. I will be so grateful if you add the percentage of that the user read the pdf book
Aditi_Gangwar Please improve also the quality of handwrite. The old Edge was the perfect PDF editor. Now it very bad and pixelated. If this will not be improved I have to use another PDF editor. Or is there a way to use again the old version?
- When I annotate a pdf located in Onedrive on ios the changes/annotations are automatically saved on the pdf.
In Windows 10 on new Edge browser I have to save the annotated file locally and then upload it to Onedrive. Very annoying!
Please add the same function on Windows. Aditi_Gangwar We need a feature where we can continue to pages that was last opened. Currently I have to scroll back to pages if I dont remember the page number.
including this, two page viewer is another requirement where we can actually read pdf like a book having two pages side by side.
I also think inking could be more smooth
How about leaving the pdf feature in the current browser as it is and creating a new standalone pdf reader based on (legacy) Edge browser codebase? Aditi_Gangwar
I'd like to see a button that enables users to directly "Open in Word".
Perhaps also a button that enables user to open in desktop app for people that might use Adobe etc.
Aditi_Gangwar I spoke up before about PDFs on Windows and the gap that needs to be filled by Microsoft. Working in IT for a law firm, one thing I can tell you that's very important with PDFs, in that space, is being able to work with Table of Contents... I know you mention using TOC to navigate is in the roadmap...but I am referring to the adding new bookmarks, updating and/or removing existing ones, re-ordering the TOC. You can do all of the above in the free adobe reader, but its not well optimized for touch / pen devices like Surface line. I really think MS needs to advance basic PDF functions that are standards and work across various apps supporting PDFs natively to windows without the need for extra software.
These would be the standard comment tools needed... Bookmark / TOC creation, text tools for Markup (highlight text, underline text, strike out text, comment bubble / sticky note, add note to replace text (strike out with a comment about what needs to change), add text comment (basically just lets you type over the image anywhere you click), drawing tools for pen use (mostly already there, but could use more options kinda like what's already in Whiteboard app)I continue to use Adobe Reader because it is fast on my old machine and....
I can type in notes on the document. Like my invoices, I type in the date when it was payed and the reference number in my bank.
It's a simple but helped me from getting from paper to electronic archive with my bills!
Love your forum!
All the best!
Viggo Evensen
Norway
