Microsoft is bringing its Edge browser (the one you use on Windows 10) to Android and iOS. However, it’s not in the way you might think. The company isn’t porting the actual Microsoft Edge browser to other platforms. Instead, it’s just making available the Edge experience to devices that don’t run Windows.
According to the company, this was one of the most common requests from users, and now it’s a reality. Using Microsoft Edge on iOS and Android, you get features like Favorites, Reading List, New Tab Page, and Reading View that works across your Windows 10 device and phone.
Perhaps one of the main reasons Microsoft is bringing this experience to non-Windows devices is to improve its new continuity feature that is part of the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update. The new feature allows you to start reading an article on your phone and continue reading on your PC, or save it to read it later.
However, in the future more features will be added, such as password, history, and tabs syncing.
Remember that you’re not getting the full-blown version of Microsoft Edge, on phones, the browser won’t be using Microsoft EdgeHTML rendering engine. Instead, the iOS version will be using Apple’s Webkit, and the Android version will be using Chromium Blink engine to load webpages.
Microsoft Edge is now available as preview, and you can get it now on iPhone or Android phones following this link to sign up. Of course, you’ll only have access as long as you’re running the latest Windows 10 Insider Preview build on your PC.
Initially, Microsoft Edge for iOS and Android will be available only in the United States and only in English, but there are already plans to expand the preview to more regions and other devices, such as the iPad.
Microsoft Launcher
Alongside the Microsoft Edge coming to non-Windows devices, the software giant also announced that its updating its Arrow Launcher experience for Android, and it’s getting rebranded to “Microsoft Launcher”.
In this update, the Microsoft Launcher introduces a new interface using the Fluent Design System, so it looks more beautiful than before.
The experience is even more customizable than before, and your recent photos and documents using Continue on PC — a new feature introduced with the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update.
You can pin your icons of important people right on the home screen for quick access as well. Eventually, you’ll be able to call, send text messages, and interact with notifications directly into those contacts.
Similar to Google’s feed on your Android phone, Microsoft Launcher includes “The Feed” with content tailored to your likings.
Along with all the customization options, it’s possible to customize things like colors of the backgrounds and create new environments to make you more productive.
Microsoft Launcher is now available as preview, and you can get it immediately by becoming a tester.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.