Microsoft Edge comes pre-installed on every Windows device. It was rebuilt on the Chromium engine in 2020, which means it supports most Chrome extensions. On top of that, Microsoft adds its own features: Copilot AI for summaries and chat, vertical tabs, and Collections for saving web content into groups.

About 5% of people globally use Edge, but on desktop that number jumps to roughly 14%, putting it second after Chrome. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The browser offers three tracking protection levels (Basic, Balanced, Strict) and a Sleeping Tabs feature that pauses inactive tabs to free up memory.

Edge sends two types of diagnostic data to Microsoft: required data (security and update checks) and optional data (which URLs you visit, feature usage, crash reports). A Trinity College Dublin study found Edge had notably invasive telemetry compared to other major browsers. The Copilot AI feature shares your activity across Edge, Bing, and MSN by default. You have to opt out yourself.

Worth knowing

You cannot uninstall Edge from Windows. It runs background processes even after you close it. InPrivate browsing does not stop diagnostic data from reaching Microsoft. Since version 122, users in the European Economic Area get separate telemetry controls, but those controls are off by default. All browsing data is processed on US servers under US jurisdiction, no matter where you are.