Office Compatibility Issues

Fix the Unsupported Browser Error in Acrobat Sign for Word

Olivia Miller Oct 23, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users encounter an unsupported browser error when using the Acrobat Sign add-in in Microsoft Word.

How to Fix the Unsupported Browser Error in Acrobat Sign for Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to send a document for signature using the Acrobat Sign add-in after Internet Explorer 11 has been disabled or removed.
Observed behavior: An "unsupported browser" error appears, preventing the user from accessing the Acrobat Sign add-in features.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active internet connection and administrative permissions on your computer to run online repairs for Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.

Solution 1Recommended

Repair Applications and Reinstall the Add-in

Performing an online repair of Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat, followed by reinstalling the Acrobat Sign add-in, updates the underlying web components and resolves the error.

This error usually occurs because older versions of the add-in rely on Internet Explorer 11 web components to render the interface. Running an online repair forces the applications to update and use modern rendering engines like Microsoft Edge WebView2 instead.

Repair Adobe Acrobat

Open the Windows Control Panel, go to 'Programs and Features', select Adobe Acrobat from the list, click 'Change', and choose the 'Repair' option. Follow the on-screen prompts.

Repair Microsoft Office Online

In the same 'Programs and Features' window, select your Microsoft Office suite, click 'Change', and choose 'Online Repair'. This will thoroughly check and fix any corrupted or outdated Office components.

Remove the Acrobat Sign Add-in

Open Microsoft Word, go to the 'Insert' tab, click on 'Get Add-ins' or 'My Add-ins', locate Acrobat Sign, and select 'Remove' to delete it from your installed list.

Re-add the Acrobat Sign Add-in

Still in the Add-ins menu, search for 'Acrobat Sign' in the Office Store and click 'Add' to reinstall the latest, fully-updated version of the add-in.

Restart and Test

Close all Microsoft Word windows entirely, reopen your document, and try using the Acrobat Sign add-in again to send your document.

Repair Applications and Reinstall the Add-in

Browser Update Required: Ensure your default system browser is set to a modern browser like Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome to prevent future compatibility issues.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Built-in PDF and Signature Workflows

If third-party add-ins in Microsoft Word constantly cause compatibility issues and browser errors, switching to WPS Office is an excellent choice. WPS Office includes robust, built-in PDF tools that allow you to sign and manage documents natively without relying on temperamental legacy browser components.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office from the official website and easily install it on your computer.
2. Open Your Document: Open your .docx or PDF file directly in WPS Office with zero formatting loss.
3. Sign Natively: Navigate to the PDF tab and use the built-in signature tools to seamlessly sign or request signatures.

Free, lightweight, and easy-to-use Office suite.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats.Built-in PDF editing and electronic signature features.No dependency on external browser add-ins.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does removing Internet Explorer 11 break the Acrobat Sign add-in?

Older versions of the Acrobat Sign add-in used the Internet Explorer 11 web engine to display content inside Word. Once IE11 is removed, the add-in cannot load until the applications are updated to use modern web engines like Edge WebView2.

Can I fix this error by just changing my default browser?

Changing the default browser alone usually does not fix this issue, as the Office application strictly requires updated internal components to render add-ins. You must perform an Online Repair of Office to update these embedded web view components.

What is an Online Repair in Microsoft Office?

An Online Repair is a built-in Windows troubleshooting tool that downloads and replaces damaged or missing Office installation files, effectively updating the application and fixing deep-rooted integration bugs.

Office App Problems