The new version of Edge is built with code from the Chromium project, but in the standard configuration, extensions are installed exclusively through the Microsoft Store. Fortunately, that is fairly easy to adjust.
Last week the new Edge browser came out of the beta phase and would initially be offered to Windows 10 users via the cumulative update that appeared on Patch Tuesday. The legacy version based on EdgeHTML would then be replaced by the new Blink-based browser, complete with the new logo.
But if you look at the taskbar (in the standard configuration as delivered by Microsoft) you will still see the old blue E and not the vortex of the new version, unless you have installed it separately. You download the browser separately via Microsoft via this site. This version overwrites the old browser.
Last week, we conducted several tests to map Edge’s performance for a few days, and that produced impressive results. Only Blink-based Opera came out better then (although we have now been able to conclude with additional tests on our own equipment that Blink-based Brave is even better), but with that you compromise on working memory and battery life. In short, Edge offers a good balance between performance and load.
Edge is also nowadays multi-platform and apart from versions for older Windows environments there are also versions for macOS (there is even a version for Linux coming) and mobile platforms Android and iOS available. All in all Edge makes a flying start and there are reasons to consider a switch from Chrome (performance, load, privacy).
In the standard equipment, various browser extensions are available for Edge, in particular popular extensions such as Adblock Plus, LastPass, Ghostery, Pocket and more. These become offered through the Microsoft Store and although there are quite a number of extensions available, the total offer is not in comparison with Google’s own Chrome Web Store.
The reason that Microsoft wants to be a gatekeeper is probably because the company does not want Edge to have a possibly bad reputation if extensions turn out to be unreliable – Microsoft would then have to rely on Google’s validation – or cause instability within Edge due to added code from Microsoft. Both scenarios are not desirable for the Windows 10 maker.
That does not mean that it is not possible to use extensions from the Chrome Web Store, but Microsoft requires that you are aware of the possible issues and, despite that, choose to add extensions. That is why Edge refers to the Microsoft Store and not to the Chrome Web Store. But furthermore it is simple to add Chrome extensions.
To do this, open the menu (the three dots at the top right) and go to Extensions. Alternatively you can edge: // extensions type in the address bar. At the bottom left you see a slider Allow extensions from other stores. If you turn this on (it turns blue), you can also install it outside the store. Microsoft then issues a warning that these extensions have not been verified and may affect performance. click on Allow.
Please note that if you disable this option later, for example due to an instability issue, you will also disable all extensions installed outside of Microsoft.
Alternate way: Start Edge and navigate from there to the Chrome Web Store. In addition, Google has added a message since last week that you can now add extensions to Edge. Click in the blue bar Allow extensions from other stores. click on Allow at the warning that these extensions have not been verified by Microsoft. Now you can add any extension from the Chrome Web Store.
