Master the new version of Microsoft’s web browser by adopting best practices and discovering its hidden functions.
One thing is certain, Microsoft has undoubtedly made the best decision possible by adopting Chromium to build the new version of Edge. Faster, but above all easier to use, the new Edge version Chromium has nothing to do with its ancestor.
The interface of Microsoft’s web browser, similar to that of Chrome, is now much more intuitive, the browser is faster, and above all, it has a store that is rather well supplied in terms of extensions. In just a few months, Microsoft Edge has found its audience and even managed to win ahead of Firefox.
And if, however, you are still undecided about adopting it, make up your own mind by using it for at least a few hours. To help you, you will find, in the lines which follow, some tips and hidden functions which, once mastered, will allow you to take full advantage of the Microsoft web browser.
- Download Microsoft Edge for Windows 10 (Free)
- Download Microsoft Edge for Windows 7/8 (Free)
- Download Microsoft Edge for macOS (Free)
1. Create collections
Microsoft Edge integrates a very practical function, Collections, which allow you to save, annotate and organize thematically the web pages that you consult, or to save only certain contents which are there.
You can easily create new collections by clicking on the + button displayed at the top right of the window, next to your profile picture.
The order of the web pages you save can be changed, as can the notes. You can also choose to add a simple image or a portion of text to your collection.
Once all your collections have been created, you can export them to Word or Excel documents which will allow you to better use the data collected.
2. Pin a site to the Windows taskbar
If your first instinct when opening your computer is to go to your favorite site, know that it is possible in Edge to directly pin a web page to the Windows taskbar.
To do this, go to the page in question, click on the main Edge menu, and then from the Additional Tools menu, choose Pin to taskbar.
Customize the name if necessary and confirm by clicking on Pin. You should see a direct access button to the desired website added to the Windows 10 taskbar.
3. Turn a website into an app
Some websites are developed as online applications. Microsoft Edge allows, if you wish, “to install” these web apps on your computer in order to use them as such, in an individual window. This is for example possible with streaming platforms like Deezer or Spotify, with Twitter or with the various online Microsoft Office office suite tools.
To install a web app, go to a compatible site, click on the browser’s main menu, then in Applications, click on Install this site as an application.
If necessary, customize the name of the webapp and validate its installation on your machine by clicking on Install.
The installed web application will launch like a real application, except that it will open in an Edge window without an address bar.
4. Install Chrome extensions
While the extension catalog Microsoft offers for its Edge browser is pretty well stocked, you might not be able to find an extension that you usually use on Chrome.
No problem, since Edge is now on Chromium, it is quite possible to install Chrome extensions in Microsoft’s web browser. To be able to install them, however, you will need to activate a function. Click on the main menu of Edge, and enter the menu dedicated to Extensions.
At the bottom left of the Extensions page, choose to Allow extensions from other stores. Once this option is enabled, all you have to do is go to the Chrome Web Store to find and install the extension you are missing.
5. Use read mode
Read the content of a web page without being disturbed by everything around? It’s possible. Microsoft Edge incorporates a reading mode which, when activated on a web page, allows all the content (text and image) to be reformed within a minimalist interface and to get rid of all the superfluous elements annoying for reading.
To activate, click on the book and speaker icon to the right of the URL of the current page. Be careful, however, some websites are not compatible with reading mode and therefore will not display the activation button.
Once activated, you can ask Microsoft’s browser to read the content of the page aloud, change the text size and theme of the page, or use grammar tools in the displayed text.
6. Use different themes
Like many tools, Microsoft Edge gives users the option of choosing a dark theme or a light theme. To change it, click on the main menu and go to Settings. Then go to the Appearance section where you can set your preferred default theme.
7. Configure your start page
By default, the Microsoft Edge start page displays a search box as well as quick access to the last viewed pages. But this start page can be personalized.
To do this, launch the browser and click on the cogwheel displayed at the top right of the start page.
Three layouts are available: Minimalist (default), Artistic with a background image, or Informative to integrate the Microsoft News feed.
8. Modify the search engine
While Edge has become efficient, there is still one default setting that you will probably like to change the first time you use it: the search engine.
Microsoft requires, Edge uses by default Bing, the search engine of the Redmond firm, not really known for its efficiency.
To change search engine, click on Edge’s main menu and go to Settings. Then enter the section Confidentiality and services then, at the bottom of the page, enter the menu Address bar.
Deploy the Search engine used drop-down menu in the address bar and choose the one that suits your use.
Please note, however, that the selected search engine will only be activated for a search from the Edge address bar. When you open a new tab, the search box on the start page will automatically launch your queries on Bing.
9. Configure Edge as the default PDF reader
While all web browsers can open PDF files, not all of them offer as many options as Microsoft Edge. The Redmond firm’s web browser, in addition to opening PDFs, includes a reading aloud system, but above all allows you to annotate documents by drawing on them.
To configure Edge as the default PDF reader, open Windows 10 Settings, and go to the Applications menu. Then enter the Default applications menu and click on Choose default applications by file type.
In the window that opens, scroll down the list of file types to .pdf, and if you haven’t already, click on Choose a default application and select Edge.
10. Automatically translate a web page
If you happen to visit foreign sites, especially to make certain purchases, but you are not multilingual, Microsoft Edge may automatically translate the pages for you.
When you visit a foreign language page, Edge should automatically display a small icon of Microsoft Translator, its translation tool, in the address bar, as well as a window asking if you want to translate the page or not. .
A click on the Translate button will suffice to start the translation of the page. Once the Microsoft Translator icon has changed to blue, the content of the page is in principle completely translated into French.