Microsoft has started distributing the stable version of Microsoft Edge 142 (142.0.3595.53), which includes several new features, improvements, and bug fixes. Here are the details.
Auto-Open Feature Rollback Underway
Microsoft has identified an issue in the initial implementation of the Auto-Open feature in Edge 142. The feature did not fully respect user preferences, causing the sidebar to appear even when visibility was set to Off. Microsoft is rolling back these changes in phases over the next month to restore proper sidebar behavior.
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User and Admin Controls for Auto-Open
Users who wish to disable the Auto-Open pane can do so manually through Edge settings. Additionally, the system automatically disables the feature if a user closes the pane three times consecutively without interaction. Administrators retain control via policy settings: setting HubsSidebarEnabled to "False" or enabling the sidebar_auto_open_blocked flag in ExtensionSettings will suppress the feature organization-wide.
Stability and Security Improvements
Edge 142 resolves a critical issue in headless mode that previously disrupted core functionalities such as Print to PDF and Screenshot. The update also introduces a new configuration step for Microsoft Information Protection (MIP) enforcement, ensuring continued document protection through the Microsoft Edge management service. Existing MIP settings remain active until administrators opt to update them.
Enhanced Scareware and SmartScreen Integration
Organizations with both Scareware blocker and SmartScreen enabled now benefit from improved threat reporting. A new setting “Share detected scam sites with Microsoft Defender SmartScreen” allows Scareware blocker to forward verdicts to SmartScreen. Administrators can manage this capability using the ScarewareBlockerSendDetectedSitesToSmartScreenEnabled policy.
New Administrative Policies for Scareware Blocker
Two additional policies offer finer control over scam site handling. The ScarewareBlockerAllowListDomains policy excludes trusted domains from analysis, while ScarewareBlockerBlocksDetectedSitesEnabled enforces blocking of sites flagged as potential tech scams. Both policies require the base ScarewareBlockerProtectionEnabled policy to be active.
User Interface Improvements
Edge 142 introduces a more intuitive method for creating tab groups: users can now drag one tab onto another to form a group. This behavior is configurable via the “Drag to group tabs” toggle in Edge settings.
The browser also refines how it handles external links. When applications like Microsoft Teams or Outlook recommend a specific Edge profile for opening links, Edge now prioritizes the application’s recommendation over the user’s default profile setting. Administrators can disable this behavior using the EdgeOpenExternalLinksWithAppSpecifiedProfile policy.
Refined Autofill Behavior
Autofill now prompts users to confirm whether to save a newly entered address, ensuring data is stored only with explicit consent. This change reduces unintended entries in the suggestion list. The feature is rolling out gradually; users who do not see it immediately should expect availability in the coming weeks.
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