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Microsoft edge - browser review from Microsoft. Microsoft Edge Browser - latest version

Looking for where to download Microsoft Edge? So you have come to the right place.

Microsoft Edge is a replacement for the old and worn out Internet Explorer browser for.

When it became clear that IE did not stand up to criticism and no matter what the developers tried to do new in it, it still works too slowly, they decided to change something.

The interface was completely redesigned, many new features were added and, in the end, the name was changed.

At least they write about it. But is it really so?

Is Edge really a new and fast browser, or is it just an old candy in a new wrapper? Let's figure it out!

Content:

A bit of history

Many users were skeptical about the new development. Some said it would be another version of IE with a different name.

In March 2015, Win 10 10049 was presented at one of the exhibitions. It was not a full-fledged Windows, but only a Technical Preview, that is, in fact, a demo sample.

It already had Microsoft Edge built in.

Interestingly, it was later announced that both Edge and Internet Explorer would be in the top ten. It is not very clear what exactly caused such a decision.

Microsoft representatives themselves say that the reason was the reluctance to use the Spartan engine in Explorer.

Today, in some versions you can actually see two browsers, in others there is only one.

There are Windows 10 users who for the first time ever hear that there is such a browser as Edge, because they don't have one on their computer.

It all depends on the assembly. This is especially true for pirated copies of the operating system. They may not contain most of the standard OS components at all.

Be that as it may, and ME is officially considered the successor of Explorer. Most likely, in the future, developers will decide to abandon the latter altogether.

In general, there are many interesting turns in the history of Microsoft Edge.

The main question is whether it was worth the developers to put so much effort and even for a moment to give up Internet Explorer's succession rights. We will now answer it.

Browser features

Several ME features can be found on the official microsoft.com site. It is about this:

  1. Longer battery life. It is written that this browser holds the battery much better than some others. So Opera allows you to work on battery power for 7 hours, Mozilla Firefox - 5, Chrome - 6, and Edge withstands almost 9 hours. Of course, it all depends on the configuration of the battery and many other characteristics, but the figures are quite impressive.
  2. Excellent as well as performing other operations with such. Also, the user can save certain pages in tabs (not in bookmarks, but directly in tabs!) And use tools to preview them. With all this, work with tabs is performed without closing the page on which the user is currently located.
  3. There is a convenient "Center", which allows you to get quick access to your "favorite" sites (the list is formed based on the history of visits), as well as the history itself and other user data. It opens after clicking on the corresponding icon. It is worth saying that this is really convenient, because usually all this data needs to be looked for in some kind of bowels of the operating system or the browser itself.

Rice. 2. Center for access to user data

  1. Ability to write directly on the page. The user can use a set of markers to make some notes or just draw something. Most often, this opportunity is used by those who just want to fool around. For example, you can draw a mustache or something else for someone. In general, it is non-standard and interesting.

Rice. 3. The function of drawing on pages in ME

  1. Own reading mode. By switching to this mode, the user gets rid of all sorts of unnecessary information. This can be, first of all, advertising, as well as all sorts of tags, markers, backgrounds, and the like. In addition, the user can save the article to his bookmarks in order to continue reading when it is convenient for him.

Rice. 4. Reading view in Microsoft Edge

Interestingly, in the same place, on the Microsoft website, the search function in the address bar is positioned as some kind of "amazingly new" feature.

This was the case in other browsers as well. Perhaps in Microsoft Edge this function works somehow faster or differently, but the fact that it was already there before is a fact.

But the developers are positioning it as something new.

In principle, the reading mode was also in earlier browsers. Therefore, so far, the new browser does not leave the impression that, in theory, it should.

Yes, there is something interesting and unusual in it, but this is not at all enough to win the market and the hearts of users around the world.

Judging only by the functions that are described on the official website, then, for sure, many will still want to download or and use them.

But this is only an intermediate conclusion. We will issue the final verdict later.

What's new in Microsoft Edge

There are some completely unique innovations in this browser that deserve our attention. It is about this:

Rice. 5. This is what the ME start page looks like

  • In addition to Windows Hello, SmartScreen is used to provide the highest level of security. This is a technology that checks all open and used sites for viral elements and other threats.
  • Even if some problem does get to the computer or only to the browser, due to the fact that each page is opened as a separate process, all data will remain intact. This all really helps to ensure a high level of user security.

As you can see, there is still something interesting in this program and there is a lot of it. This makes me happy.

But the main criterion for evaluating any program is reviews, because they are based on the practice of using the software. Therefore, let's go directly to them.

Microsoft Edge is the new default browser for. It has WebNote for taking notes on your own pages and for sharing features, Reading View and Reading List support, and Cortana, which provides additional information and helps you complete tasks while browsing the web.

Microsoft Edge is intended to replace the standard Internet Explorer in the future, but for now, both of these browsers will be included in Windows 10. For example, Internet Explorer will keep older websites running for a while. Today, the standard browser Windows Internet Explorer, despite the fact that this solution is integrated into the system, has a small share of users' liking. Neither the increased performance in the latest versions, nor the Metro version for tablet-based users helped to gain popularity for this browser. The presence of at least some user audience in Internet Explorer is explained by only one fact - it is a browser built into the system, which is used, as a rule, either by beginners, not knowing that there is something better on the software market, or by users of companies who, by virtue of internal corporate policy is prohibited from installing third-party software on work computers.


Microsoft Edge runs on the new EdgeHTML engine, an evolutionary continuation of the Trident engine that Internet Explorer is based on. The new browser inherits a few organizational aspects from the old one, but still, for the most part, Microsoft Edge is a completely different browser, with a different structure, and it is aimed at the modern user.

So let's take a look at the main new features of the Microsoft Edge browser.

Performance

Microsoft Edge is a fast browser. It starts up pretty quickly by itself and quickly copes with loading Internet pages. But to say that it can compete with well-known browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera or Firefox is probably premature now.

Interface

Microsoft Edge is a Windows 10-style Metro / ModernUI app. Microsoft's new browser has a simple yet very nice look and feel with a friendly user interface. Perhaps the only thing that spoils the appearance of the browser is the gray window design, which can be changed in the browser settings by choosing a dark theme.

At the top left are navigation and web page refresh buttons, in the middle is a combined address and search bar, and at the top right are browser toolbar buttons for accessing some functions and menus.

Microsoft Edge inherits from Internet Explorer organizing user bookmarks in the form of a "Favorites" section. In the new browser, we will see only a different design for storing selected sites.

Adobe flash player

Microsoft Edge browser comes with built-in Adobe Flash Player, which means that users are spared from installing and updating it. Moreover, the flash player can be disabled in the browser settings.

It makes sense on the part of the Microsoft Edge developers to consider such a step, because users of devices based on Windows 10 will probably have to save bandwidth when using the mobile Internet.

Safety

Microsoft Edge has a built-in SmartScreen filter to help protect your computer from malicious sites and malicious software downloads.

Browser search engine

The default search engine in Microsoft Edge is Bing, which is also a Microsoft project. In the browser settings, you can change the search engine, for example, to or, which nevertheless have implemented support for the OpenSearch 1.1 technology.


Organization

Unlike Internet Explorer, in Microsoft Edge we will not see the tricky settings, in which Microsoft experts themselves are likely to get confused at times. This time, the menus and browser settings are as simple as possible.

The Microsoft Edge menu contains the minimum options necessary for web surfing.

And browser settings are neatly placed in a single list in the pop-up panel on the right.

Microsoft Edge contains very few settings, and most likely it will not suit many users who are accustomed to advanced browsers such as Google Chrome, Firefox or Opera, which, in addition to the built-in functionality, provide advanced capabilities due to installed extensions (add-ons).

However, Microsoft Edge has its own functionality that Microsoft is focusing on.

Let's consider them.

Reading mode

Browser Reading Mode is not a new feature. Some browser plug-ins offer an easy-to-read format by removing unnecessary web elements from the site page and leaving only the text block and images of the article itself. Such extensions can be completed with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Yandex Browser and other browsers based on Chromium and Firefox platforms. Microsoft introduced Reading Mode back in the Metro version of Internet Explorer 11, which was included in Windows 8. This idea, as you can see, the software giant has implemented in Microsoft Edge.

Reading list

The Reading List is another pretty cool feature. Any article that interests you, which at the moment does not have time to read in its entirety, can be sent to the Microsoft Edge Reading List and returned to this article when it is convenient.

By and large, the Reading List is no different from ordinary browser bookmarks, nevertheless, this is a good idea so that users do not clutter up "Favorites" and at the same time do not lose information that may be useful to them.

Notes on site pages

In Microsoft Edge, you can draw and write on the pages of any site, and then save a web note that way.

This function will certainly not be in demand by a huge user audience, nevertheless, there should be such tools in the browser to pick up (especially from users of devices with touch screens). Show someone a product you like on the Internet with your own notes, point out the author of an Internet publication to his mistakes - but you never know for what cases you need a convenient editing option over web pages.

Cortana

Runet users can only dream of the possibility of the browser working in a single process with the integrated voice assistant of the operating system.

Results ...

Microsoft wanted to create a new browser, and for the most part they succeeded. Microsoft Edge is unlike any other browser on the market today.

Will the novelty be expected to be a success? Most likely, yes. Any solution integrated into the system will always have its own user audience. If Microsoft Edge, being an integrated solution, will also constantly evolve, and in the right direction, success and its own stable audience will be ensured for this browser.

For a long time, Internet Explorer was the default browser in the Windows operating system. It did not suit most users for a number of reasons and was mainly used to load other browsers after reinstalling the system. In Windows 10, Microsoft introduced a new browser - Microsoft Edge.

Differences between Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer

The main question that tormented most of the users of the operating system from Microsoft was whether the browser update would be another attempt at rebranding, or whether the new default browser would really change from the previous one. Let's consider their main differences:

  • completely different program code - Microsoft Edge is not an updated version of the previous browser with a different name. These two products exist in parallel and work in different ways. Microsoft hasn't even stopped supporting Internet Explorer in case there are people who prefer it;
  • fast and optimized engine - Microsoft Edge works much faster than its predecessor, in terms of stability and speed it can even compete with browsers such as Google Chrome;
  • the ability to install custom extensions - people need extensions, and Microsoft finally figured it out. The ability to install various plugins will allow you to customize the browser for yourself for a comfortable work; Edge has many extensions today
  • personal user experience - Microsoft Edge is positioned as an assistant for everyone. That is why, already with a search query, it collects additional information, and also allows the user to mark interesting places himself. There is even an opportunity to leave notes directly on the pages of sites with subsequent saving. All this makes the browser very user-friendly;
    Notes will allow you to change pages to your liking
  • convenient settings - Internet Explorer was delivered as is. In Edge, even without extensions, there is a flexible system of settings, up to changing the default color scheme. In the settings you can change the color scheme of the browser
  • Launching Microsoft Edge Browser

    The new browser is built into every Windows 10 system natively. But if you have an outdated version of the OS from Microsoft installed, you won't be able to start it. You can try to do this in several ways:

  • open any page on the Internet - while this browser is used by default, it will be used to open links and search queries;
  • run the executable file located along the path: C: /Windows/SystemApps/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe;
    To start, click on the executable file MicrosoftEdge.exe
  • use a shortcut that is likely to be found in your version of Windows 10 on the desktop or taskbar. If not, you can take it out there.
  • Thus, launching a new browser on Windows 10 is not difficult.

    Problems launching Microsoft Edge browser

    The obvious disadvantage of the browser is its "lifespan". This is a completely new program, and it still has a lot of improvements and fixes to go through. Although the developers update Edge on a regular basis, problems with launching the browser on various configurations may already arise, for example, due to an incorrect update or viruses that have damaged some of the program files. If waiting for an official patch is unacceptable for you, you can try to solve them on your own.

    First of all, if your browser stops opening pages or is doing it slowly, you should pay attention to temporary files. Clearing them can bring Microsoft Edge back to its original speed. And it is performed as follows:

  • Open your browser options and scroll down to the section on clearing data. Click on the corresponding button to select the cleaning items. Click on the "Select what you want to clear" button to go to the browser data clearing menu
  • A list of items for which data can be deleted appears. The most important thing is to delete the cached data and cookies, but you can leave the checkboxes on some other items as well. Select the items required for cleaning and click "Clear"
  • Click "Clear" and wait for the process to finish.
  • There is another way to clean up data - with the help of special programs. For example, in CCleaner it is very easy to do this:

  • Run the program and click "Analyze". In the list on the left side of the screen, select the items to analyze.
  • When the check is complete, click the "Clear" button.
    Analyze with CCleaner and clean up
  • Wait until the end of cleaning and close the program.
  • Video: How to Clear Temporary Files in Microsoft Edge

    Performing a factory reset

    If the browser stops working immediately after starting or refuses to function normally, you can reset the settings. This is done through the "Run" window:

  • Open the Run input line with the Win + R keyboard shortcut.
  • Enter the query inetcpl.cpl there and then click "OK".
    Enter the command inetcpl.cpl in the Run window
  • A special menu will appear for your browser settings. You need to open a tab with additional options.
    Go to the "Advanced" section in the settings
  • Select the "Reset Internet Explorer Settings" action. Despite the different name, the settings are still stored in a similar way, so this is exactly what is required.
  • Confirm the reset and restart your browser. The problem should go away.
  • You can also create a new account for factory reset. This action will create a completely offline folder with browser files that will not get corrupted or modified. For this:

  • Press Win + I to open settings in Windows 10 and go to the "Accounts" section.
    Go to the accounts section through Windows settings
  • In the "Family and other users" tab, select to add a new user to the device.
    Click on the button "Add a user for this computer"
  • To avoid online registration, click on the line "I do not have login details ...".
    When creating an account, specify the parameter "I do not have login information for this person"
  • In the next window, select to add a new user without using a Microsoft account.
    To create a local account, click "Add user without Microsoft account"
  • Enter your account information. You don't have to come up with a complicated password, since you are creating this local profile for only one specific task.
    Enter your account information and remember it
  • In the new account, go to C \: Users \ new_record_name \ AppData \ Local \ Packages \ Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. This is where Microsoft Edge settings are stored. Copy the folder along the same path to your main account with confirmation of the file replacement. The problem will be solved.
  • Useful Microsoft Edge browser settings

    Examining the settings of your new browser will help you optimize it for the best experience. It is worth knowing about the following options:

  • configuring extensions - it is very easy to open a window with extensions. It is located at the very bottom of the settings tab, which is marked with three dots in the browser panel. Just go to this section and you can install any extensions to your browser; To select extensions, open the appropriate item in the drop-down menu
  • the new reading mode will translate the page into an easy-to-read view from the screen. To enable it, click on the book icon located on the top panel;
    Clicking on the book icon will turn on reading mode in the browser
  • all public browser apps have a Share button. It allows your friends to get information about your current online activity;
    With the help of a special button you can share information with your friends
  • in the advanced settings for Microsoft Edge (the "Advanced options" button in the basic settings), you can configure cookies. For example, their blocking or correct operation; In advanced settings, you can enable or disable cookie support
  • there you can also configure the use of a plugin for data flash or block pop-ups. You can also control the Adobe Flash Player plugin via settings
  • Download Microsoft Edge browser updates

    To automatically download browser updates, Windows Update must be enabled. Its configuration is done in this way:

  • Open system settings by pressing Win + I and go to the "Update and Security" section.
    Go to the "Update and Security" section to access the update settings
  • On the Windows Update tab, you will see a notification if an update needs to be installed. Install it if necessary and then go to Advanced Options.
    Update the system if necessary and then open "Advanced options"
  • For your convenience, switch the automatic installation to the reboot notification installation mode. This will help you shutdown programs gracefully before upgrading.
    Configure restart scheduling notifications when you refresh your computer
  • Make sure the "Postpone Updates" checkbox is unchecked.
    Uncheck "Postpone Updates"
  • Disable or uninstall Microsoft Edge

    If you decide to use a different browser, it is a good idea to get rid of Microsoft Edge. But since this browser is built into the system by default, it is not so easy to remove it completely.

    Disable Microsoft Edge manually in Windows 10

    Manual shutdown means changing the default browser. Indeed, it is enough to assign a different browser that will interact with all links, and you can forget about Microsoft Edge.

  • Open the settings of your device, for example, through the start menu. Open Settings from the Start Menu
  • Go to the System section and select the default apps tab.
  • Click on the current default browser and choose any other one instead.
    Install the required default application instead of the current browser
  • Video: How to Uninstall Microsoft Edge from the System

    Removing the browser through the "Explorer"

    Another option is to go to the browser settings location and completely delete the entire folder. This is a rather crude method, but it does not require any special knowledge or programs from you. Where is this folder mentioned earlier:

  • Navigate to the above path in your local user store and find the Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe folder there.
  • Right click on this folder and select "Copy" from the list. Save the folder in a different section.
  • Delete the folder from the current section.
    Edge will stop working when you delete the settings folder
  • Copy Microsoft Edge settings before uninstalling to help restore its functionality if necessary.

    Uninstalling Microsoft Edge via PowerShell

    You can also uninstall your browser via PowerShell. Enter the name of this utility in the "Start" menu and run it. Then follow a series of steps:

  • Enter the Get-AppxPackage request and confirm the entry. A list of system programs will be displayed on the screen.
  • Find Microsoft Edge in the list and copy the value of this item.
    Find the line Microsoft Edge in the list and copy the information
  • Substituting this value, run a command like Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_20.10532.0.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe | Remove-AppxPackage.
  • Upon completion of these manipulations, the original browser of your system will be completely turned off.

    Uninstall Microsoft Edge using third-party software

    There are quite a few programs out there to disable or uninstall the Microsoft Edge browser. But they work on a similar principle, so it is enough to consider only one. Download the free Edge Blocker program from the official website:

  • Run the program. You will see the main program window with two possible actions.
  • A simple click on the Block button will disable your browser.
  • The Unblock button, in turn, will return it to a working state.
    With Edge Blocker you can easily turn your browser off and on
  • With the help of such a program, you can control this browser and turn it on only when necessary.

    How to install Microsoft Edge after uninstalling

    The way to restore Microsoft Edge using a command or create a new user is yours. But there is another way to install the browser after uninstalling:

  • Run PowerShell as an administrator.
    Select Run as administrator from the context menu to launch PowerShell
  • Enter the command Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach (Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$ ($ _. InstallLocation) \ AppXManifest.xml" -Verbose). The installation of the program will begin.
    Enter the command to install the browser
  • Upon completion of the installation, a corresponding notification will appear. After restarting the computer, the browser will be ready to use.
    After notification of successful installation, restart your computer
  • The new browser from Microsoft is doing its job pretty well. When properly configured, it can replace other browsers, which in itself is a great achievement for the default browser. If Edge doesn't suit you, you can always uninstall it or disable it.

    The choice of a browser is extremely important, because the experience of using the Internet largely depends on it. And, in addition to the many solutions on the market that go separately, there is also the Microsoft Edge browser that comes with Windows 10. Below we will figure out the specifics of configuring the application, how to install it correctly and how to uninstall it.

    What is Microsoft Age

    Microsoft Edge is Microsoft's new browser designed to replace the outdated Internet Explorer. The name change also has advertising value - many users ignored the release of new versions of Internet Explorer, having had bad experience with this browser in the past. As such, Microsoft Edge is being marketed as a completely new web experience.

    Application features

    Although this browser is a receiver of Internet Explorer, it still has a number of significant differences from it. For instance:

    • Own, more flexible engine.
    • Extension support.
    • More convenient use on mobile devices, using the stylus and voice assistant.
    • Pretty nimble real-time search.

    Convenience and flexibility, along with overall stability, make Microsoft Edge far more advantageous than its predecessor.

    How to install

    On Windows 10, Microsoft Edge is installed by default. So when using this operating system, it does not need to be installed separately.

    Although Microsoft Edge is installed by default in Windows 10, this OS also contains Internet Explorer installed. This is done for backward compatibility with existing systems.

    However, if your Windows 10 won't start Microsoft Edge, you can fix this by performing a factory reset. To do this, we do the following:

    1. Enter the command inetcpl.cpl in the Run window (accessed by pressing Win + R). Then confirm the command.
    2. A window will appear in which you will need to go to the "Additional" section.
    3. There you need to select reset Internet Explorer settings. Do not be surprised that this browser name appears in this window, this option also resets settings for Microsoft Edge.
    4. Confirm the reset by accepting the options offered.
    5. Try starting your browser again, it should now start without problems.

    And it's also worth considering that Microsoft Edge does not work when Windows Firewall is disabled.

    If you have a different operating system, for example, Windows 7 or Windows 8, then you will not be able to install and fully use the Microsoft Edge browser. The only way to use this browser in this case is to create a virtual machine. This option is most likely not rational, but if anything, you can easily find all the necessary instructions on the official Microsoft website: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/.

    If you fundamentally do not want to use a different browser, then you can always update your operating system to Windows 10.

    How to setup

    Microsoft Edge is a pretty user-friendly browser that is user-friendly. But you have just started using it, you may have some questions. Let's answer the most common ones.

    Setting the initial (start) page

    As the page that will meet you when you open the browser, you can set both recently visited pages and one of the default ones. To do this, follow these steps:

    How do I get the home button back?

    Despite the fact that you will not find the home page button in the usual place, you can easily enable its display in the options. This is done like this:


    How do I factory reset Microsoft Edge and clear data?

    In some cases, you may need to reset your browser settings without reinstalling it. This can fix minor problems with its work or help you hide the data about the visited sites. To reset Microsoft Edge, do the following:


    How to update

    Browser updates, as expected, fix bugs and introduce new features. But what if your Microsoft Edge browser suddenly stops updating automatically? It should be understood that this in itself is a malfunction of either your browser or the operating system. The only guaranteed solution here is to completely reinstall the browser. For this, there is a special script that must be activated in PowerShell. However, it is worth considering what you are doing these actions are at your own peril and risk.

    We do the following:

    How to disable or completely remove Microsoft Edge on Windows 10

    While Microsoft Edge performs much better than its predecessor, it is still not the preferred option for many. If you are used to your browser and want to get rid of the default intrusive program, you may need to disable or even uninstall Microsoft Edge altogether.

    There are several ways you can get rid of Microsoft Edge temporarily or permanently. You cannot delete it as a normal program, because it is supplied as part of the operating system. The simplest removal method requires the following:


    Another removal method is for advanced users only and uses PowerShell. To start it, just find it in the "Start" menu and open the executable file with administrator rights.


    Now that you have found the desired entry, all that remains is to perform a series of manipulations.

    1. Copy the value of the found entry into the Package FullName field. The entry might look like this: Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_20.10532.0.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe
    2. After that, run the command in PowerShell:

      Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_20.10532.0.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe | Remove-AppxPackage

    After executing all the commands, Microsoft Edge will be completely disabled.

    Disabling your browser using a third-party program

    For users who want to solve their problem literally "in one click" there is the option of using special programs designed specifically to disable Microsoft Edge. For example, Edge Blocker, developed by a group of enthusiasts, can help you. Do the following:

    If you still have questions about disabling Microsoft Edge, you can watch this video.

    Video: How to Disable Microsoft Age

    We examined what are the advantages of the Microsoft Edge browser, how to install and uninstall it if necessary. Now you yourself can consciously decide how exactly the browser you use.

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