If PDF comments are not showing in Microsoft Edge, the issue is almost always caused by limitations of Edge's built-in PDF viewer. Edge does not fully support all annotation types and often hides comments in preview mode. Downloading the PDF and opening it in a full PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat Reader) usually resolves the issue.
Why PDF Comments Don’t Show in Microsoft Edge
Edge Built-In Viewer Limitation
Microsoft Edge uses a lightweight PDF viewer.
What Edge cannot do reliably
- •Display all comment types
- •Show comment sidebars
- •Render replies or threaded notes
- •Show annotations created in Adobe Acrobat
Edge may show highlights but hide the actual notes.
Preview vs Download Problem
Edge preview mode often hides annotations.
Typical behavior
- •Comments missing in browser preview
- •Same file shows comments after download
- •Printing from preview removes comments
This is expected Edge behavior, not a broken PDF.
Annotation Display Disabled
Some Edge versions hide comments by default.
Happens when
- •Comments panel is collapsed
- •Viewer UI resets after updates
- •Zoom or reading mode interferes
Even then, Edge still lacks full comment support.
Flattened or Exported PDF
If comments don’t show anywhere, not just in Edge, the PDF was likely flattened.
Flattened PDFs permanently merge or remove comment layers.
Quick 2-Minute Fix (Works in Most Cases)
1Step: Download the PDF (Do NOT Preview)
- •Right-click the PDF link
- •Select Save link as
- •Do not rely on Edge preview
2Step: Open in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- •Open the downloaded file in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- •Click View → Comment
- •Enable the comments sidebar
Comments usually appear instantly.
3Step: Use the Print Trick (Very Important)
If comments are still hidden:
- •Open the PDF in Adobe Acrobat Reader
- •Press Ctrl + P
- •Under Comments & Forms, choose Document and Markups
- •Enable Summarize comments if available
- •Print or Save as PDF
This forces comments to appear next to the pages.
When Edge Will Never Show Comments
Edge cannot display comments if:
- •The PDF uses advanced annotation types
- •Comments were created in Adobe-specific formats
- •The PDF contains layered or reviewed comments
In these cases, Edge is not the right tool.
When the PDF Is Actually Broken
If comments do not show in:
- •Edge
- •Adobe Acrobat Reader
- •Chrome
- •Print preview
Then the PDF is:
- •Flattened
- •Exported without comments
- •Corrupted
You must request the original file with comments enabled.
FAQs
Why do comments show in Adobe but not in Edge?
Because Edge’s PDF viewer does not fully support PDF annotations.
Can I enable comments in Edge?
Only partially. Edge cannot display all comment types.
Why do highlights show but notes don’t?
Edge renders highlights as graphics but hides note metadata.
Is this a Microsoft Edge bug?
No. It is a known limitation of Edge’s PDF viewer.
Related Solutions
- •PDF Comments Not Showing — General comment issues
- •PDF Comments Not Showing in Chrome — Chrome viewer limits
- •PDF Preview Not Working — Preview pane problems
- •PDF Is Corrupted How to Fix — Structural issues