Edge for Mac 99.0.1150.55 took off. Despite repeated attempts by Microsoft to promote the browser, its primary use continued to be as a means for users with fresh Windows installations to download and install Chrome or Firefox.Therefore, even though it was bundled with every Windows 10 installation, Edge never managed to gain more than 4 or 5 percent market share, falling significantly behind Chrome and hanging in the same territory as Opera and Safari (the latter of which, of course, is only available for Macs).
Abandoning this failing strategy, Microsoft chose to adopt Chromium, the open source browser engine that forms the basis of Google Chrome and several other smaller browsers. Switching to Chromium would allow Microsoft to immediately solve any compatibility issues that EdgeHTML encountered as well as open up its browser to support for Chrome-based extensions, all while having the ability to design the browser’s look and feel in its own style.
Another benefit of adopting Chromium is multi-platform support. The original version of Edge was limited not just to Windows, but to Windows 10 specifically. A Chromium-based Edge could theoretically run just as well on the still popular Windows 7, Windows 8, or even macOS. And that’s exactly the path that Microsoft chose, announcing support for each of those operating systems.
The new Edge launched in preview mode last month, but only for Windows 10, with Windows 7, 8, and macOS versions promised for later. Now, even though Microsoft has yet to make an official announcement, Edge for Mac has arrived thanks to Twitter user and frequent Microsoft-leaker WalkingCat. For those eager for a Chromium-based browsing experience that isn’t tied to Google, here’s how to get up and running with Edge for Mac.
Download Edge for Mac
Just like its Windows 10 counterpart, Edge for macOS is available in two versions: Dev and Canary. The Dev version receives updates about once a week, and receives some degree of testing with each build. The Canary version, on the other hand, is updated as frequently as once per day, and represents the bleeding edge of development for the browser. It’s important to reiterate, however, that both versions are truly pre-release. They are meant for testing and their stability and integrity are not guaranteed. Therefore, while you can install either Edge Insider channel alongside your stable browsers, you shouldn’t rely on either for mission-critical work.
To install Edge for Mac, choose your desired Insider Channel, Dev or Canary, and download the corresponding version below.
Once the installer has downloaded, simply run it and follow the install prompts like any other macOS application. When the installation is complete, the browser will launch and give you the opportunity to import any bookmarks, passwords, or settings from your installed browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox.
You can also sign into your Microsoft account and sync this information from your Edge Insider browsers on your Windows PC, if available. One thing to note, however, is that while you can import bookmarks and other data initially, you currently cannot sync any changes to that data between the Edge Insider build and the original Edge or another browser on your Mac.
The fastest chromium-based browser!
Microsoft Edge is a free web browser rebuilt using the open-source Chromium project. Owing to the latest upgrade, Edge is now in the league of web browsers that directly compete with Google Chrome. Unlike its predecessor, Edge can be downloaded on multiple devices like Android, iOs, macOS, and all versions of Windows. The browser runs faster than all chromium-based browsers. It comes with additional features like tracking prevention, personalized tab layouts, 4K streaming, reward points, and a choice to accept or reject targeted advertising. Since Microsoft has worked on making the transition to Edge seamless, it’s a good choice for anyone looking for an alternative web browser.
Microsoft Edge vs Safari for Mac: Should You Make the Switch
A while back, Microsoft Edge was just the default Windows 10 web browser. After ditching the old EdgeHTML engine in favor of Chromium, it has finally started to gain serious traction. And rather surprisingly, Microsoft Edge is now also available on the Mac. But how does it stack against Apple’s own native Safari browser for macOS?
Safari runs like a charm on the Mac with great performance and battery life. But being based on the Chromium engine does give Microsoft Edge an advantage coming into unfamiliar territory. Google Chrome uses the same browser engine, so adopting Chromium guarantees Edge greater web compatibility.
I’ve used Microsoft Edge alongside Safari ever since its arrival on the Mac. Here’s my take on how Microsoft Edge fares against Safari on Mac.
USER INTERFACE
Microsoft Edge doesn’t attempt to do anything special compared to Chromium alternatives such as Opera or Vivaldi. But its user interface just works. The default tabs provide a search bar that you can comfortably type into and quick links to sites that you frequently visit. You do get a rather annoying news feed, but it’s something that you can quickly turn off.
The browser features a slightly larger-than-average address bar, which makes performing Omnibox searches a breeze. The nifty profile icon also allows you to manage, create, and use multiple profiles conveniently. At the same time, the Edge menu gives instant access to browser settings, extensions, progressive web apps, and other features.
However, Microsoft Edge does feel rather clunky and rough. Animations and transitions feel jarring, and I’ve often experienced input lag while navigating the user interface. However, those issues aren’t that serious to put a dent in your browsing experience. After a while, you won’t even notice.
On the other hand, Safari feels smooth and polished to near perfection. But its tiny tab strip and address bar aren’t exactly geared toward great user experience. The fact that you have to use the confusing menu bars whenever you want to configure the browser seems rather dated.
PERFORMANCE
It’s almost impossible to beat Safari on the Mac in terms of performance. After all, Apple knows its hardware and software the best. But Microsoft Edge doesn’t lag behind with its new Chromium engine. In my experience, Microsoft’s browser performs almost on par with Safari.
Furthermore, Microsoft Edge technically has better compatibility with websites, once again, due to Chromium engine integration. So if you have trouble accessing a site in Safari, you can almost guarantee that it would load up just fine in Edge.
But what about battery life? Just like any native macOS application, Safari excels in that department. But Chromium has improved its efficiency over the years on the Mac. So don’t expect any rampant battery draining issues with Edge.
PRIVACY PROTECTION
Safari provides native protection against third-party cookies that monitor your browsing activity across websites. You can also ramp things up with content blocking extensions, which help a lot to thwart even more web trackers while improving page load times.
Microsoft Edge also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to preserving your privacy. The browser comes with an integrated content blocking module dubbed Tracking Prevention. It offers three different levels of protection (Basic, Balanced, and Strict), which range from blocking tracking cookies, malicious scripts, to personalized advertisements.
EXTENSIONS SUPPORT
Starting with version 13 of Safari for macOS, Apple completely dropped support for legacy extensions, which was a terrible move (at least in my opinion) despite the concerns over privacy. Hence, the current crop of ‘supported extensions’ is minimal.
Also, most compatible extensions require a fee to work in the first place. As a power user, I now find Safari a hard sell on the Mac.
The new Microsoft Edge, however, offers an impressive and growing library of extensions. Just head over to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store. You can find a ton of add-ons that can dramatically boost your productivity, enhance your shopping or social media experience, and more.
To make things even better, Microsoft Edge lets you install extensions designed for other Chromium browsers such as Google Chrome.
DATA SYNCING
While Safari is great at syncing bookmarks and passwords via iCloud to your iPhone and iPad, the browser isn’t available outside the Apple ecosystem. Therefore, accessing your data on other platforms is often next to impossible. On Windows, the most you can do is sync your Safari bookmarks to Chrome or Firefox. And yes, better forget Android altogether.
Microsoft Edge for the Mac, on the other hand, is truly cross-platform. You can easily access your browsing data (bookmarks, passwords, extensions, etc.) not just on the iPhone and iPad, but also on Windows and Android. Of course, you must have a Microsoft Account to sync your Edge browsing data, but it’s incredibly easy to create one.
PICK YOUR WEAPON WISELY
Edge for Mac is shaping up to be a terrific web browser on the Mac, with unique features such as Collections starting to differentiate it from the myriad Chromium clones out there. It also receives frequent updates and feature revisions, something that Safari sorely lacks.
Both browsers offer solid privacy-related features, so a switchover depends completely on what else you prefer. If you like a user interface that’s easy to use, an extensions library that allows for endless possibilities, or the ability to sync your data across multiple platforms, then Microsoft Edge is worth trying out.
For those of you who don’t stray out of the Apple ecosystem much, love the performance and battery life in Safari, or its pure stability and reliability, it’s just better to stick to the Mac’s native web browser.
Next up: Decided to go with Microsoft Edge on your Mac? Check the next link to easily import your browsing data from other browsers to Microsoft Edge on your Mac.