Edge unwantedly adding border around text

Anonymous
2025-02-07T15:21:20+00:00

When I add text to a pdf in edge, suddenly it it adding a box around the text. It doesn't show up until I hit enter. It's super annoying and I'm sure I did something to turn it on but I can't figure out how to turn it off.

Microsoft Edge | Read PDFs | Windows 11

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Anonymous
2025-02-11T09:28:47+00:00
  1. Open the Edge browser.
  2. Type "edge://flags" in the search bar at the top.
  3. When the page opens, type in and search for PDF.
  4. Set “New PDF Viewer” to “Enabled”.
  5. Check whether the problem still exists.

This worked for me.

***Moderator note: Source***

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Anonymous
2025-02-08T15:32:27+00:00

I'm seeing the same issue on various computers. The version of Edge is the same (133.0.3065.51) on affected and unaffected systems.

Here is what it looks like: Broken

Here is what it should look like: Working

Resetting Edge does not resolve the issue.

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-02-11T16:37:16+00:00

    Martin, can you confirm if an upcoming release of MS Edge will enable this feature by default OR fix the problem with the old PDF reader? I'm glad this Flag based fix works but as of now we cannot deploy Flag settings via Group Policy and for many organizations configuring the flags on a user by user basis isn't feasible.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-02-11T19:38:36+00:00

    Dear Laura g5,

    Welcome to the Microsoft Community

    I understand that the addition of an unwanted border around text in PDFs when using Microsoft Edge's built-in PDF viewer can be frustrating. It's likely that a setting or toggle ended up being activated inadvertently.

     

    Let's go through some suggestions to try to resolve this issue.

     

    Check for Annotation Tools

    Microsoft Edge includes annotation tools for PDFs that might add shapes or borders around text. Ensure these are not active when you’re adding text.

    Double-click your PDF file to open it in Microsoft Edge.

    Look at the toolbar at the top of the PDF viewer.

    Ensure that tools like "Add Text", "Draw", "Highlight", "Underline", or "Add Notes" are not mistakenly activated.

     

    Reset Edge Settings

    Disclaimer: Please back up all your personal files first, such as Favorites, to ensure you do not lose data.

    If the above steps don't work, resetting Edge settings may revert any changes that could be causing the issue.

    Open Edge, click on the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, then select Settings.

    In the Settings menu, navigate to Reset Settings on the left sidebar.

    Click Restore settings to their default values.

    Confirm the reset by clicking Reset.

     

    Try using a Beta version of Edge to see if the problem goes away.

     Become a Microsoft Edge Insider | Microsoft Edge

    Image

    If the problem persists, utilizing an alternative PDF viewer can serve as a temporary solution.

     

    If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to ask!

    Best Regards,

    Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    We tried Beta Edge and reset, but we still only got the box. any advice?

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-02-11T22:31:57+00:00

    Yayyyyy!!!! It worked - thank you so much!!

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