Nov 09, 2020 Microsoft has announced that Microsoft will support Edge on Apple's M1 SoC, but has not said anything (to my knowledge) about support for Linux on Broadcom's BCM-series SoC. So far, Microsoft's embrace of Edge-Linux (and WSL) has been aligned with (and more or less limited to) the needs of the Enterprise base. Microsoft is Bringing Edge Browser to Linux in October Updated on September 23, 2020 At the Ignite 2020, Microsoft announced that the Chromium-based Edge browser will have a Linux preview build in October this year. When announced the Edge browser in Jan 2020, Microsoft told us that they are planning for a Linux package as well. We're listening! The Microsoft Edge team wants to hear from you. As you use the preview channels, be sure to share your feedback using the send feedback button on the toolbar. You can also join us on the Microsoft Edge Insider Forum or on Twitter @MSEdgeDev.We share regular summaries of the top feedback we're hearing from our insider community, so you can see the most requested features.

Microsoft Edge is currently available as a stable browser on Windows and Mac, but as far as the Linux version is concerned, only a preview is offered to users on this platform.

But on the other hand, Edge for Linux is evolving at a pretty fast pace, and this week, Microsoft announced that Linux users can now sync their favorites in the browser.

Needless to say, you need to be logged int with a Microsoft account, but in addition, you also need to enable the MSA sign in flag to get the new capabilities.

“Microsoft Edge on Linux now includes the ability to login with your Microsoft account and sync your favorites, passwords, extensions, and more! As an insider, we would love your feedback on how well this experience works for you,” Microsoft said in an announcement this week.

Worth knowing is that AAD accounts are not yet supported, but once you provide your Microsoft credentials, you should eb able to configure the sync feature and decide what data you want to roam across devices. Favorites, passwords, and other browser data are currently supported.

Edge stable for Linux coming later this year?

The sync process doesn’t take more than a few seconds, and when you click your profile icon in the browser’s UI, you should see whether syncing is enabled or not.

The new feature is only available in Microsoft Edge Dev 91.0.831.x, so make sure you update to this version if you’d like to try it out.

Microsoft hasn’t yet provided an ETA as to when Edge for Linux is supposed to hit the stable channel, but most likely, the whole thing is supposed to happen later this year. I expect some info in this regard to be shared at the Build developer conference when Microsoft will also offer a thorough look at the new improvements coming to Edge browser.

When Microsoft announced plans to rebase its Edge browser on Chromium the chance of a dedicated Linux build went from pipe-dream to inevitability.

Chromium’s cross-platform codebase makes it the ideal foundation on which to build out a modern web browser. Three years since rumours first began swirling, Microsoft Edge for Linux is not only confirmed but it’s almost ready for testing.

Being the impatient sort we installed the Microsoft Edge Developer build on Ubuntu 20.10. This post will stop short of being a “review” per se (you’ll hear throughout this post: this is not a stable build) but I’ve included lots of screenshots and some general thoughts about how well the browser integrates with the default Ubuntu desktop.

Microsoft Edge for Linux Developer Build

Did I ever think I’d be writing a post about Microsoft’s flagship web browser being available for Linux? Heck no! And yet, here we are!

Many teeth have been gnashed over the point and purpose of a Microsoft-made web browser on a Linux platform. Some see Edge’s arrival as the latest bouquet in Microsoft’s blooming relationship with Linux and all things open source, but others? Well, they smell suspicion…

For their part Microsoft says its “motive” in bringing Edge to Linux is simply about making its technologies and services available to more users. Yes, even if they don’t run its Windows software (which is, after all, just one product/service in its portfolio).

Microsoft’s heavy presence in business, enterprise, and (increasingly) developer communities also plays a part. People who have to use Microsoft services at work get the chance to use the tech they’re familiar with and/or sync’d up with at home, on their Linux laptop, if they want.

But is there anything to interest casual Linux users too?

Edge is more than a Chrome clone; Microsoft had imbued Edge with custom touches and novel feature integrations. While many of these may sound superfluous to power-users they do, on other systems, round out the browser’s feature set.

Or to put it another way: Edge is a mass-market, all-user browser. It’s not aimed exclusively at any one audience, be that web developers, power users, or computer noobs.

So some of its “Added Value” may sound minor, trivial, or frivolous. Take Collections, for instance. This is essential just a souped-up bookmarking tool that lets you save content — not just web links — directly to the browser for future use.

Ms Edge Linux

You can create multiple collections in Edge, rename them, add notes to them, and export all of that data to other services (or copy of the links to the system clipboard).

On to integration. The Edge app launcher in the Ubuntu Dock does have a small right-click quicklist. This offers fast access to options to open a new window, a new incognito window, or quit the browser.

Sadly the Edge browser (like other Chromium browsers) does not use the system title/window bar by default. Edge draws its own window bar on Linux, with its own window control icons.

While the pale-grey bar Edge wears is not terribly distracting (unlike Vivaldi’s gaudy red window frame) some kind of GTK inheriting/colour detection (even if only an option) would be welcomed, I’m sure.

And Microsoft Account sync does not work in this build — but if you read this site regularly that will not be a surprise.

The good news is that many of Edge’s other features — yes, snarkypants, it does have some! — are present.

We’ve already touched on Collections, but there’s also an ‘immersive reader’ mode; integration with Bing; optional dark mode; web screenshot tool; and a variety of different New Tab page layouts (ranging from cluttered to calm);

You can install Chrome extensions on Edge easily. The first time you visit the Chrome Web Store using the browser it asks if you want to enable Chrome extension installs.

While I can’t vouch for the entirety of Chrome’s extension catalogue, all of the extensions I tried (yes, including the omg! ubuntu! one) worked as expected, as you can see above!

For an early version of Edge for Linux the browser feels fairly robust. It didn’t crash once during my test. Everything I asked of it, it did. From HD YouTube playback, to translating a Portuguese web page, to letting me play web games.

The app is fast to open and responsive in use. If Microsoft can maintain the friction-free feel it could win some new fans. Firefox isn’t slow, but a Chromium-based backend just feels so much faster in use (to me, anyhow).

Edge Browser On Linux Os

Download Edge for Linux Dev Build

Want to try things out for yourself? We have a guide on how to install Edge on Ubuntu.

It’s not yet clear when Edge for Linux will go stable, but Microsoft has formally announced that it’s in developer preview. You can Linux builds on this Microsoft repo page.

If you jump on Edge for some early-bird testing just keep in mind that it is development software. It’s not finished. It’s not stable. Heck, it’s not even fully functional. Ergo, don’t get irate about any issues you encounter!