How To Install the Microsoft Edge Beta

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Microsoft will soon have a major update for Edge, the built-in web browser that comes with Windows 10. Now based off the open-source, industry standard Chromium engine, it provides a browsing experience similar to Google Chrome or Apple's Safari browser, which the vast majority of site designers target and pros use.

Tools You'll Need:

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Before You Begin:

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At the time of this writing, this version of Microsoft Edge is beta, meaning there will be problems, bugs, and non-working features.

If you demand a more stable browsing experience, and do not want to test out the latest features, stick with the current 'main stream' version of Microsoft Edge that comes with Windows 10, or use another browser, such as Firefox or Chrome.

Microsoft plans to release this version of the Edge browser in a stable version on January 20, 2020.

2. Install Microsoft Edge (Beta)

Microsoft offers the Edge beta through their Insider program. This guide will help you using the current version of Microsoft Edge to download and install the Edge beta.

1. Open the current version of Microsoft Edge, and browse to the Microsoft Edge Insider.
   

1. Select Download Beta Channel.
   

1. Carefully review the License Terms. When you understand and agree and are ready to continue, select Accept and download.
   

1. At the bottom of your browser, select Run to start the installer.
   

1. Windows will ask permission to let the installer run. Select Yes.
   

1. Edge beta will install automatically, wait will it downloads additional items and sets everything up.
   

3. Edge Beta First-Time Setup

After installing Edge Beta will open for the first time and ask a few simple questions to customize the browser to your needs.

1. In Edge Beta, the first time it opens, a welcome screen is shown. Select Get started.
   

1. You'll be asked how you want new tabs to be shown. Choose the option you like best, then select Next.
   

1. Edge Beta will find your Microsoft account and offer to sync your browser data, that way should you reinstall, use the non-beta version, or switch computers, your Favorites, Passwords, and other settings will follow you automatically. Select Next.
   

1. To further personalize your browsing, you may choose to share your browsing history. Select Confirm.
   

1. Microsoft Edge Beta is now installed and setup to use. You can launch it at any time from the icon on your desktop.
   

4. Microsoft Edge Beta Basic Features

This guide will highlight key portions of the new Microsoft Edge Beta browser you may find useful or helpful.

Basic Navigation Controls

Basic navigation in Edge Beta is like most other browsers, using the icons at the top of the window.

Back

Go back one page in your browsing history.

Forward

Go forward one page in your browsing history.

Refresh

Refresh or reload the page you're currently on.

Add Favorite

Add the current page as a favorite.

Favorites

Visit or Manage your favorite websites.

Send Feedback

Report problems or problematic sites you see when using the Chrome Beta browser.

Edge Beta is made available to a wider audience, to get feedback when something goes wrong, so Microsoft can fix it before the final release.

Settings and More

Access all the settings and options, as well as your history, favorites, and logins for the Edge Beta browser.

Import Favorites

Edge Beta can bring your favorites or bookmarks from your main web browser, so you don't have to rebuild or seek out the pages you visit most frequently as you test the new Edge browser.

1. Select the Menu in the top-right, then point to Favorites and select Import.
   

1. Select which browser you'd like to import from, the profile, then select Import.
   

1. Once complete, select Done.
   

Change Homepage

Your Homepage is the first page your browser opens to when you start it.

1. Browse to the website you'd like as your homepage.
2. Select the Menu, then Settings.
   

1. In Settings, select the Menu in the top-right, and select On startup.
   

1. Place a dot next to Open a specific page or pages, then select Use all open tabs.
   

Change Default Search

Microsoft offers Bing as the default search engine, but there is a way to change that to another if you want.

1. Select the Menu, then Settings.
   

1. Select the Menu in the top-left, then select Privacy and services.
   

1. Scroll to the very bottom, and select Address Bar.
   

1. Here, you can select which Search engine Edge Beta uses by default.
   

5. What's New Development Page

Microsoft Edge Beta is in constant development. As such, Microsoft is constantly adding new features and tracking known issues. It's recommended you check-in What's New regularly, and report any problems you encounter with the Browser, so Microsoft can work to fix them before the launch of the browser.

Explore New Features and Known Issues

1. Open the Microsoft Edge Insider What's New page.
   

Review the Try it and Known issue sections of this site, to know what new features Microsoft if focusing on developing, and what problems they are currently working to fix.

Try it

These are new features recently added that Microsoft is asking for feedback on.

Known issue

Problems Microsoft is currently working on, as well as recently fixed bugs.

Report Issue

Because this version of the Edge browser is in Beta, you will encounter problems and bugs. You can use the feedback button to report them.

1. Select the Send feedback icon at the top of the Edge Beta browser.
   

1. Fill in the short questionnaire about the nature of the problem you've encountered and select Send.