Microsoft Pdf Reader Free Download Windows 10
While Microsoft Edge has supported PDF documents for a long time, up until now, it only included a limited number of features that led users to choose alternative applications to cover all the basic functionalities to work with this type of file format.
However, starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709), Microsoft Edge is getting a number of significant improvements that now make the browser a good choice to view and edit PDF documents on a PC.
Alongside the new Fluent Design touches, performance improvements, and new features to work with EPUB files, Microsoft Edge adds many PDF enhancements, including better viewing, navigation, and annotation tools, Windows Ink as well as support for fill in forms, and more.
Download this app from Microsoft Store for Windows 10, Windows 8.1. We recommend Microsoft Edge for reading PDF, Windows XPS Viewer for XPS. App for TIFF files. Entertainment Software Rating Board EVERYONE.
In this Windows 10 guide, we'll walk you through the steps and highlight the most important features on Microsoft Edge that make it a dream to work with PDF files.
How to set Microsoft Edge as your default PDF reader
Although by default, Windows 10 sets Microsoft Edge as your default PDF reader, if you've been using another software to handle this type of document, you can quickly set the browser as your preferred PDF reader.
Simply go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, click the Choose default apps by file type link. Then scroll down and click the app that is currently set a default for .pdf, and select Microsoft Edge from the list.
Once you've completed the steps, you can simply double-click a PDF document, and it'll open in the web browser.
How to navigate a PDF document using Microsoft Edge
On the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft Edge is getting a lot of PDF improvements, some of which you'll notice immediately in the toolbar.
Table of contents
On the left side of the toolbar, there is a new button to access the table of contents for the document in supported files. Inside the flyout, you can then click any heading to jump to that part of the PDF.
If the document doesn't include table of contents, you can always click the page number on the far left side of the toolbar to enter the page number you want to read. Or you can use the search button to query part of the text to find a specific section.
Rotate
Microsoft Edge also includes a number of options for better viewing and navigation. Alongside the 'Fit to page' and 'Zoom out' and 'Zoom in' buttons, this new version adds a new Rotate button that will come in handy when you're working with scanned documents, which often don't have the proper orientation.
Layout
There is a new Layout menu, which you can use to switch between one-page to two-page view, and there is also an option to allow continuous scrolling for better navigation on long documents.
Quick Tip: In order to reveal the PDF toolbar, click anywhere in the file, and click anywhere again to hide it.
How to edit a PDF form using Microsoft Edge
Perhaps one of the biggest improvements on Microsoft Edge is the ability to fill in PDF forms on the web (or locally stored on your device) within the browser, and then save the form for printing.
Just open the PDF form, edit the fields and select the options using the drop-down menu as required. Then click the Save button in the top-right corner, or click the Save as button to keep a copy of the form.
Best Pdf Reader For Windows 10
How to annotate a PDF document using Microsoft Edge
The Windows 10 Fall Creators Update also adds a version of Microsoft Edge that includes support for PDF annotation with a highlighter, notes, and the ability to ask Cortana.
When you open an unprotected PDF document, you can select some text to access the new menu with four buttons.
Highlighter – Allows you to choose the highlight color and the option to remove a highlight.
Note – Opens up a notepad (similar to Sticky Notes), which you can use to add comments. Once you're done typing the note, click the checkmark button in the top-right corner, or the trash can button in the bottom-right to delete.
Copy – Lets you copy the selected text to the clipboard, which you can then paste into another document.
Cortana – Selecting a word or some text, you can also click the Cortana button to open the assistant flyout and research the word or text.
It's also possible to select some text on the document and right-click to access the same options, but in a traditional menu style that includes the name of each option, instead of buttons.
Annotating PDF documents with Windows Ink
Another interesting feature coming with Microsoft Edge is the ability to add notes to PDF documents using Windows Ink.
This feature was previously only available for web pages, but you can use your digital pen, mouse, or touch to annotate PDF documents with natural handwriting.
Simply click the Add Notes button next to the Share button to get started. The tools available are limited compared to annotating a web page, but you can change the pen and highlighter color and size, and there is also a Touch Writing button that allows you to use your finger as a pen on touch-enabled screens. Additionally, you also get an eraser to undo strokes.
Once you're done annotating, you can just click the Save button from the toolbar to save your changes.
It's worth noting that you can only annotate unprotected PDF documents.
How to print a PDF document using Microsoft Edge
If you ever need to print a PDF form or document, Microsoft Edge makes it an easy task.
Just open the PDF, edit as required, click the Printer button in the toolbar, and click the Print button after selecting your printing preferences.
How to use Read aloud on a PDF document using Microsoft Edge
In order to make PDFs more accessible to everyone, Microsoft Edge also includes a new feature that users can use to hear text from PDF documents and forms aloud.
You can right-click the page and select the Read aloud option to hear the words of that page. Alternatively, you can click the Read aloud button from the toolbar to let Microsoft Edge read the text aloud.
Pdf Download For Windows 10
While in 'Read aloud' mode, a new toolbar will appear with controls to allow you to play/pause, skip to next or previous paragraph, and you can also click the Voice settings button to change the reading speed and voice.
Wrapping things up
Starting with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, Microsoft Edge includes a number of improvements that make the browser a suitable replacement for third-party PDF reader software.
However, the browser still lacks some professional features like the ability to create PDF files, add a watermark, compare file changes, export files as Office documents, and convert Office documents to PDFs. Though, seeing the way that Microsoft is continuously improving the experience, it wouldn't be a surprise to see at least some of these features being introduced in future releases.
While we're focusing this guide on the new PDF features on Microsoft Edge, in order to make the guide more complete, we also mentioned features that were previously available on the browser (e.g., Print, Fit to page, Zoom in and Zoom Out).
More Windows 10 resources
For more helpful articles, coverage, and answers to common questions about Windows 10, visit the following resources:
Unlike the previous version of Windows, Windows 10 doesn’t ship with the Reader app. Those of you who have used Windows 8/8.1 will know that the native Reader app was the official PDF reader app in Windows 8/8.1. In other words, in the previous version of Windows, we could easily read PDF documents without the help of third-party software.
The Reader app has been omitted from Windows 10 for unknown reasons. In Windows 10, the new Microsoft Edge reader is the default app to open PDF files but that you can change the default PDF reader to a third-party software. Although the new Edge browser allows you open and view PDF files, a dedicated app would have been nice.
Since almost all major web browsers support PDF files and allow you view PDF files within the browser, most users will never need to install a dedicated PDF reader to open and view PDF files.
PDF readers for Windows 10
There are plenty of PDF viewers available but most users prefer using Adobe PDF Reader. While we recommend you download and install the official Reader app (the one in Windows 8/8.1) from the Windows Store as its good on both desktop as well as touch devices, many of you might want to download Adobe PDF Reader only.
That said, if you’re on touch device, Adobe Reader touch is certainly the best free PDF reader app out there for Windows 10 as it offers more features compared to the Reader app.
If you often need to view PDF files, you can download Adobe Reader Touch, or the desktop version of Adobe PDF reader, or the official Reader app.
Adobe Reader Touch
Go for Adobe Reader Touch if are running Windows 10 on a tablet, phone or any other touch device. Adobe Reader Touch is developed for devices that supports touch inputs but supports traditional desktops as well.
Download Adobe Reader Touch (Store link)
Reader app from Microsoft
Although the official Reader app is not available in Windows 10, one can install the app from the Windows Store. Its simple user interface makes it one of the best free PDF reader apps out there for Windows 10.
Download Reader app (Store link)
Adobe Acrobat Reader DC (free)
The desktop version of Adobe PDF Reader is probably the most downloaded PDF reader application for Windows. As said before, there are plenty of alternatives out there with better set of features but most users prefer using the tried and tested Adobe PDF Reader.
Gaaiho PDF Reader
Microsoft Pdf Reader Free
Sometime back, we reviewed the free version of Gaaiho PDF Reader. If you’re looking for a free PDF reader with great set of features for your Windows 10, you should try out Gaaihoo PDF Reader first before trying out anything else.
This free desktop PDF viewer allows you edit PDF files by adding comments, handwritten signatures, bookmarks, stamps, and annotations. The user interface of the tool is looks very identical to Office 2013/2016 and is very elegant.
Have you installed a dedicated PDF reader in Windows 10?