Recently, we reported that Microsoft has started removal of the legacy Edge app from the OS. This information is now officially confirmed. New Microsoft Edge will replace Microsoft Edge Legacy with April’s Windows 10 Update Tuesday release.
Microsoft Edge Legacy debuted in summer 2015 with the release of Windows 10. Battery efficiency, touch optimizations, and some additional features made Edge quite an interesting alternative to mainstream browsers but it failed to gain traction and reach a wide audience. Also, it was plagued with bad compatibility and slow updates. Eventually, Microsoft decided to start all over and turn to Chromium, so now we have the new Edge app.
Today's announcement sheds some light on the legacy Edge removal.
- The new Edge will be available as part of the Windows 10 cumulative monthly security update that is coming on April 13, 2021.
- The change affects all Windows version starting with Windows 10 version 1803 and later.
- If the new Microsoft Edge is already installed, applying this update will not reinstall the new Microsoft Edge and will only remove Microsoft Edge Legacy.
- EdgeHTML—the rendering engine for Microsoft Edge Legacy—will continue to be supported and will be included in Windows 10, as it is used by Store apps.
In our opinion, EdgeHTML will eventually be replaced by newer technologies.
The new Microsoft Edge offers better compatibility and tight integration with the Microsoft's security ecosystem. Microsoft claims it "more secure than Chrome for companies running Windows 10".
If you are a legacy Edge user, you can switch to the newest app right now by installing it manually from the official website.
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