What you need to know
- Microsoft Edge may soon support a full screen mode for viewing PDFs.
- The full screen mode hides the PDF reader toolbar, which could be useful during presentations.
- PDF full screen mode automatically fits content to the size of a screen and allows you to scroll through documents.
Microsoft is working on a full screen mode for viewing PDFs in its Edge browser. The feature was spotted by Leo Varela, who shared screenshots of the functionality on Reddit. The full screen mode is available through Edge Canary but is part of a controlled rollout. That means that even if you are on the latest build of Edge Canary, you may not be able to try out the feature.
Edge already has an option to view any PDF or website in full screen mode but doing so still shows the PDF reader toolbar. The new PDF full screen mode hides the toolbar and automatically fits the document to fill the screen. An option to view two pages will also be available.
While hiding the toolbar could be used when just browsing PDFs, the mode is likely designed with presentations in mind. If you are sharing your screen in a virtual call or meeting, PDF full screen mode lays out a document in a way that's easy to view without distraction.
Varela notes that the entry on the Edge roadmap titled "Page scrolling on PDF documents" may refer to the new PDF full screen mode. That feature is marked in development with a planned release date of Q1 2022, which would line up with the option being in testing now.
Microsoft Edge
An upcoming feature for Microsoft Edge will allow you to view PDFs in a full screen mode that hides the toolbar.
Sean Endicott is the news writer for Windows Central. If it runs Windows, is made by Microsoft, or has anything to do with either, he's on it. Sean's been with Windows Central since 2017 and is also our resident app expert. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com.
