What is Microsoft Edge?
Author: Domeny.ForSale editorial team Published
In brief: Microsoft Edge is Microsoft’s web browser — a program for opening websites, using webmail, watching videos and working with online applications. It comes standard with Windows, but you can also use it on other supported computers and mobile devices. It is not a search engine, nor are you required to use it: you can use it alongside Chrome, Firefox or Safari.
What is Microsoft Edge used for?
In Edge, you enter a website address or a search query in the bar at the top of the window. When you enter an address, the browser opens that particular website; when you enter a question, it sends it to your selected search engine. It also lets you open multiple pages in separate tabs, save favourites and download files.
A browser and a search engine are different tools. Edge is the application you use to browse the internet, while Bing and Google are services that help you find websites. Bing is often Edge’s default search engine, but you can choose another in the settings. Changing your search engine does not require changing your browser.
Edge should not be confused with Internet Explorer, Microsoft’s older browser, either. It is a separate product. In business environments, it may offer a special compatibility mode for older applications, but the average user does not need it for everyday browsing.
How is Edge similar to Chrome?
The current desktop version of Edge is based on Chromium, an open-source project that also forms the basis of Google Chrome. This shared foundation means the two browsers handle many websites and web technologies similarly. It does not, however, mean they are the same program.
Microsoft and Google add their own interfaces, services, settings and features. Edge is more closely integrated with Microsoft accounts and tools, while Chrome is more closely integrated with Google services. The differences are particularly noticeable when synchronising data and working with tabs day to day.
Edge supports many extensions developed for Chromium-based browsers. An extension is an add-on that introduces a new feature, such as integration with a password manager. Install only the add-ons you need, from a trusted source, and check their permissions — some can read the contents of the pages you visit.
There is no basis for considering Edge always faster or more resource-efficient than Chrome. Results depend on your hardware, the number of tabs, extensions and the pages you open. The most useful approach is to test it on your own device with a similar set of tasks.
Which features can be useful day to day?
Besides simply opening websites, Edge offers tools that can be useful for study and work. The availability of particular options may depend on your operating system, browser version, region and policies set by an administrator.
- Vertical tabs let you place the list of open pages at the side of the window. They can make it easier to identify tabs when their titles no longer fit in the top bar.
- Sleeping tabs limit the activity of unused pages, which may reduce the use of your computer’s resources.
- The PDF reader lets you open documents without a separate application and use the available tools, such as highlighting passages.
- Page translation and read-aloud features help you access content in other languages or listen to text.
- Synchronisation lets you transfer selected data, such as favourites and passwords, between devices after signing in to the appropriate account.
You may also encounter integration with Copilot, an AI-powered assistant, in Edge. The scope of this integration changes, so check Microsoft’s official help for current features and terms of use. The assistant’s answers need to be verified, especially when they concern health, law or money.
Privacy and security: what should you check?
Edge has tracking prevention mechanisms and Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, which helps warn you about suspicious websites and downloads. These safeguards reduce risk, but they do not guarantee that every website you visit or file you download is safe.
InPrivate is a browsing mode in which, after you close all its windows, the browser does not retain the session’s history locally and deletes the associated site data. It does not provide anonymity from your internet service provider, employer or the service you visit. Downloaded files and saved favourites remain on the device.
Before using Edge regularly, review the privacy and synchronisation settings, as well as website permissions for the camera, microphone, location and notifications. Be particularly careful about saving passwords on a shared computer. On a company device, some options may be enforced by an administrator.
How can you check whether Edge is a good choice?
Suppose you work in Windows, use Outlook in your browser, open PDF documents and usually have a dozen or so tabs open. Edge may suit this way of working, but your choice should be based on convenience and compatibility with the services you use, not merely on the program’s presence in your operating system.
Try it without removing your existing browser:
- Update Edge and open the websites you use most often.
- Check sign-ins, video calls, file downloads and the extensions you need.
- Set your preferred search engine and review the privacy options.
- Only after a successful test should you decide whether to import your favourites and set Edge as your default browser.
To start, complete one typical task in Edge — for example, working with email and a PDF document. This will let you assess its usefulness without transferring all your data.
See also: What is Brave?
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