How to Update Microsoft Edge on Desktop and Mobile

Microsoft has said goodbye to EdgeHMTL in favor of the popular Chromium rendering engine for its new Edge browser. Thanks to these and other initiatives, Microsoft Edge is now available on all major platforms and you can even use it on Mac. Also, the mobile apps for Android and iOS (though not Chromium-based) look flashy and pack a few great features to make them stand out from the competition.

Compared to its predecessor, Microsoft Edge also has a faster update cycle thanks to the Chromium open source project. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the browser is kept up to date.

Let’s check out how you can update Microsoft Edge on desktop and mobile. But first, let’s check out why you might want to do this.

Why Should You Update Edge?

The latest updates for Microsoft Edge fix vulnerabilities and provide the best possible experience on your desktop or mobile device. Therefore, it is a good practice to update. According to the Microsoft Edge update schedule, you can expect new browser updates every six weeks.

The latest Edge updates often contain feature additions, bug fixes and performance improvements. I’m sure you’ll be as eager to try as we are. However, the security of the browser is the primary concern to keep it up to date.

Since the internet is sleepless, new browser exploits are popping up frequently. That’s why Microsoft is committed to fixing all known vulnerabilities as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, new updates can also bring new problems. But these are rare and usually a minor inconvenience. So the benefits of keeping Microsoft Edge Chromium up to date outweigh these shortcomings.

Update Microsoft Edge (Windows and macOS)

Microsoft Edge updates work the same on both Windows and macOS versions of the web browser. Like many other browsers, Microsoft Edge takes care of new updates and installs them automatically.

That said, it’s always a great idea to manually check for the latest updates. This allows you to install the latest version of Microsoft Edge without relying on an auto-update feature that may or may not work properly.

Stage 1: Click the three dots in the upper right corner of the window to open the Edge menu.

Step 2: Hover over Help & feedback and click About Microsoft Edge.

Stage 3: A new tab should open and prompt Microsoft Edge to scan and install the latest updates. Typically, a browser update is completed within a few minutes.

Restart Microsoft Edge for the updates to take effect. Save any work you’ve opened, and then click Restart on the About Microsoft Edge tab.

If you see the ‘Microsoft Edge is up to date’ notification, you have already installed the latest Edge updates. You can check at another time to see if newer updates are available.

If you are unable to follow the steps above on a Windows 10 computer, you may have installed a pre-Chromium version of Microsoft Edge. To update, you must update Windows 10 itself; open the start menu, windows update, and press Enter. Then click Check for Updates.

It’s best to upgrade to the Chromium version of Edge as it includes lots of features, frequent updates, and broader compatibility.

Update Microsoft Edge (Android and iOS)

If you’ve set apps on your iPhone or Android smartphone to update automatically, chances are you’ve already installed the latest Microsoft Edge updates. If this is not the case or you just want to make sure you have the latest updates installed, you should visit the App Store or Play Store to manually update Microsoft Edge.

Update (Android)

Updating the browser on Android is like updating any other app. Go to Google Play Store and search for Microsoft Edge. If the browser has a pending update, you should see an Update button. Tap this to install the update.

Update (iOS)

On iOS, open the App Store and search for Microsoft Edge. If you see an update listed, tap the Update button to install it.

Keep the Browser Updated

It’s always tempting to use new Microsoft Edge features. However, browser security and stability are just as important, if not more so. Edge is how you interact with the internet, so keeping it safe should be a top priority on both desktop and mobile.

However, malicious sites may display pop-up notifications asking you to update the web browser. Microsoft never sends such notifications. We strongly recommend that you avoid interacting with them. They mostly download malware on your device. Always use the instructions you followed above to manually update the web browser.

Next: Anti-tracking is a great built-in security feature in Microsoft Edge. Find out how and why you should use it in the next article.