Microsoft today announced the launch of a beta version of its upcoming Microsoft Edge browser, which is available today for Windows and macOS users.

Previously, the Microsoft Edge browser was available as a preview build, but Microsoft has now graduated to an official beta. Microsoft's beta channel represents more stable software than the preview channel.

microsoftedge
Microsoft has said that its aim with Microsoft Edge is to create better web compatibility with better performance for customers while making sure there's less fragmentation of the web for web developers. During the preview period, Windows and Mac users downloaded Edge more than a million times, and Microsoft received more than 140,000 individual pieces of feedback to improve the browser.

Microsoft Edge for Mac is designed to be similar to the Microsoft Edge experience on Windows, but with "user experience optimizations" that are designed to make it feel more Mac-like.

The beta version of the Edge browser features new personalization options, such as tab page customization, dark theme support, and extensions from the Microsoft Insider Addons store or other Chromium-based web stores like the Chrome Web Store.

Tracking prevention has been added to protect users from being tracked by websites, built-in Microsoft Search for Bing, and Internet Explorer mode with Internet Explorer 11 compatibility.

Microsoft is also expanding its Microsoft Edge browser security program to the beta channel, offering rewards of up to $15,000 for the discovery of high-impact vulnerabilities.

The new Microsoft Edge beta can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft website. There's still no word on when the Edge browser will see a launch, but it's likely there will be a few more months of beta testing before that happens.

Top Rated Comments

nutmac Avatar
77 months ago
For what it's worth, I greatly prefer Microsoft Edge over Google Chrome. Essentially the same app minus Google creep features.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rjohnstone Avatar
77 months ago
What a sad day for the World of web development...
Why would you say that?
There is no proprietary features like the old IE days.
Its compliant with all current web standards.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Unggoy Murderer Avatar
77 months ago
Why would you say that?
There is no proprietary features like the old IE days.
Its compliant with all current web standards.
It's not so much about browser standards compliance, it's more that the most popular rendering engine (Blink, used by Chrom/e/ium, Opera and now Edge) is effectively controlled by a non-neutral party. Sure, it's "open source", but ultimately Google calls the shots.

It's also worth mentioning, Chrome is bloated with a huge amount of non-standards, some of which Google utilises to give it an advantage over other browsers when using Google products. Use YouTube in Chrome, then try running it in Firefox - you'll see different behaviours.

I strongly discourage anyone from using Chrome, there are better browsers available - especially on the Mac. While I'm sure Microsoft will be carrying out data collection too, I trust Microsoft with my data a lot more than Google.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chucker23n1 Avatar
77 months ago
Why would you say that?
There is no proprietary features like the old IE days.
Its compliant with all current web standards.
It's also more monoculture, though.

These days, "web standards" are largely whatever Google deems worthy of pushing through the consortium. They 'conveniently' already have a working implementation, and the W3C has basically given up on a proper standardization process, instead calling HTML a "living standard". It's gotten a lot harder for Mozilla and others to compete.

(The story is more complicated than that, and Microsoft sure isn't innocent, but yes, losing a browser engine is a net loss.)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roland.g Avatar
77 months ago
Downloading Edge on a Mac would be like voluntarily asking to be injected with a disease or virus, and not in a vaccine method approach.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Amazing Iceman Avatar
77 months ago
Weird... The version I already have installed (78.0.244.0) is newer than the one on that link (77.0.235.9).
[doublepost=1566328447][/doublepost]
No thanks, I keep Safari.

Edge runs like crap on my work computers, crashes continuously.
Then your IT Department sux.
My team maintains a 10,000+ users network. Everyone uses Edge, no crashes or odd issues.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...