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Why Does My PDF File Size Explode When Adding Text in Microsoft Edge?
Understanding the Edge PDF File Size Bug
Users report a significant problem where adding minimal text to a PDF in Microsoft Edge causes the file size to increase drastically. For instance, adding just 20-30 characters can inflate a document from 66KB to 55MB, or even 1GB in extreme cases. This bloat makes standard tasks impossible, as many email services like Gmail cap attachments at 25MB. The issue appears to stem from the integration of the “New PDF Viewer,” which is powered by the Adobe Acrobat engine. While this update aims to improve functionality, it currently generates excessive metadata or formatting overhead during saves.
Immediate Solution: Disable the New PDF Viewer
You can resolve this error by reverting to the legacy PDF engine through the browser’s experimental settings. This workaround effectively stops the file size inflation immediately.
Steps to Fix the Issue:
- Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
- Type edge://flags into the address bar and press Enter.
- Type New PDF Viewer in the search box at the top of the page.
- Click the dropdown menu next to “New PDF Viewer” and select Disabled.
- Click the Restart button that appears at the bottom of the screen to apply changes.
Alternative Workarounds and Official Status
If the primary fix does not work, some users have found success by changing their browser font settings. Go to Settings > Appearance > Fonts and switch the “Standard Font” to Arial. Another reliable method is to use the “Print to PDF” feature instead of saving directly; this flattens the document and removes the bloated metadata, though it may make future edits harder.
Microsoft is aware of this glitch, but there is no confirmed release date for a permanent patch. Until an official update rolls out, disabling the specific flag remains the most effective way to maintain reasonable file sizes for professional use.