Just a few years ago, no one expected Microsoft Edge to make its way to the Mac. Yet here we are. Microsoft abandoned the old EdgeHTML engine that had run Edge for so long on Windows 10 and instead adopted Chromium. This made it relatively easy to release Microsoft Edge on Apple’s desktop operating system.
Switching to Chromium has made Microsoft Edge a terrific browser in every possible way. It is widely compatible with almost any website, supports loads of extensions, comes with lots of privacy-related features and more.
But perhaps most excitingly, you can access and sync your browsing data across all major desktop and mobile platforms.
Microsoft Edge is also not just a niche Chromium browser – it has a rapidly growing user base and Microsoft is dedicated to improving it. Regular feature and security updates are pretty much standard on the scale of Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
If you want to give Microsoft Edge a shot on Mac, this guide will help you install it.
Installing Microsoft Edge Chromium on Mac
On your Mac, go to the Microsoft Edge download page using any installed browser such as Safari. The site will automatically detect the correct operating system – click the Download button for macOS to get the Microsoft Edge installer package.
The download weighs around 150MB (may vary in later versions). Once complete, navigate to your Mac’s Downloads folder and then double-click the downloaded file.
Click Continue on the Microsoft Edge Installer that appears.
Then it’s a simple matter of following the onscreen instructions to install the web browser.
At the final stage of the installation process, click Move to Trash to get rid of the installer package; this is unnecessary and helps free up space on your Mac. Finally, click Close to exit Microsoft Edge Installer.
Initialization
After the installation procedure, Microsoft Edge Chromium will launch automatically on your Mac. If not, go to your Mac’s Launchpad and click the Microsoft Edge icon to launch it.
The browser should greet you with a splash screen – click Get started.
It will then try to guide you through three steps to help you set up your browser: import data from Chrome, choose a new tab page layout, and sign in with a Microsoft Account.
Once in the real web browser you have more control over all these actions so skip these steps to go to the main browser area.
New Tab Layout
There’s a lot going on in Microsoft Edge Chromium tabs. At the top of the screen is a search bar, shortcuts (or quick links) area, and a news feed that you can access by swiping down. If you like the default layout, feel free to stick with it.
But if you want to change that, start by clicking the gear-shaped icon in the upper right corner of the screen.
You will then see three different page layouts: Focused, Inspiring (default), and Informative.
It will show both an Inspirational and Informative background image (daily updated) and a news feed. Informational can be quite distracting, as it puts the news at the center of your attention. The feed is less inspiring than outside the normal view.
If it’s focused it gets rid of the background and puts your focus on the shortcuts and search bar – you can still swipe down to access the news feed.
Select Custom if you want to turn off news for any layout or create your own layout.
Then you can select Content Off to turn off the news feed completely. You can also disable or enable quick links and tab background using the toggles provided.
Customize the look
Besides changing the tab layout, you can further customize the look of Microsoft Edge by going to the Microsoft Edge Settings panel. To do this, open the Edge menu (click the three-dot icon at the top right of the screen) and then click Settings.
Once in the browser’s Settings screen, switch to the Appearance side tab. You can then make a number of changes, such as changing the font and font size in use, adding a Home button to the UI, hiding the Favorites and Collections buttons.
You can also enable a dark theme or have it match the system color scheme on your Mac – choose Dark or System Default using the menu next to Theme. You can also use this workaround to render web pages in dark mode.
Import Browser Data
Microsoft Edge Chromium allows you to easily import browsing data from Chrome, Safari or Firefox. This makes the browser switching process much easier. Start by going to Edge Settings > Profiles > Import Browser Data.
Next, you will be greeted with a pop-up box where you can select the browser to import your data. Click Import after selecting the data forms you want to import.
Then use the Favorites and History options in the Edge menu to view your imported bookmarks and history. You can access other forms of data (passwords, payment information, etc.) from the Profile section of the Settings screen.
Since Chrome is also based on the Chromium engine, Microsoft Edge offers more options when importing data from Google’s browser (such as the ability to choose the exact browser profile from which to import your data). Check out this walkthrough for more details.
Sync Your Data
Microsoft Edge Chromium allows you to sync your browsing data with other devices (iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows). This also helps you securely store your data on Microsoft servers.
Start by going to Edge Settings > Profiles. Click Sign In and then enter your Microsoft Account credentials when prompted. If you don’t have a Microsoft Account, you can create one for free – it’s worth it.
On the Sync Your Profile pop-up page that opens, click Customize.
Then you can specify the exact formats of browsing data you want to sync – Favorites, Settings, etc. When you’re done, click Confirm.
Note: At the time of writing, Microsoft Edge does not yet support syncing history, open tabs, extensions, and collections to other devices.
To manage your Microsoft Edge Sync settings later, go to Edge Settings > Sync.
Install Extensions
Microsoft Edge sports support for a good and growing library of extensions. Start by going to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store. Then you can search for the extensions you want to install or filter them by category – Productivity, Accessibility, Social, etc.
If you see an extension you like, click Get, then click Add Extension.
After installing an extension, you can access the extension by clicking its icon on the right side of the Microsoft Edge address bar.
To manage your extensions, open the Edge menu and click Extensions. You can then disable, enable or remove any extension. You can also access the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store from this screen itself.
Microsoft Edge even lets you install extensions from other Chromium-based browser stores, primarily the Chrome Web Store. Check out this step to learn more.
default search engine
Bing is the default search engine for address bar searches in Microsoft Edge Chromium. But you can immediately change it to Google or Yahoo. Start by going to Edge Settings > Privacy and Services > Address Bar.
Click the drop-down menu next to ‘Search engine used in address bar’ and then select Google or Yahoo.
You can also set other search engines (like DuckDuckGo) as default and even point the new tab page to another search engine. But the process is somewhat complicated.
Tracking Prevention
Forget installing third-party content blocking extensions. Microsoft Edge comes with its own built-in Anti-Tracking module that makes it super easy to protect your privacy.
Start by going to Edge Settings > Privacy & Services. Select an appropriate Tracking Blocking level — Basic, Balanced (default setting), or Strict.
Basic blocks the least number of trackers but keeps malicious scripts at bay. The balanced level prevents third-party scripts from tracking you and helps prevent personalized ads. And Strict blocks almost all trackers and ads, though it can break certain sites in the process.
Default Browser
It’s best to take Microsoft Edge Chromium step by step before making it the default browser on your Mac. But if you want to cut the chase, here’s how to do it.
Go to Apple menu > System Preferences > General. Use the drop-down menu next to Default Web Browser and select Microsoft Edge.
This should make Microsoft Edge the default browser on your Mac so any links you click open automatically.
living on the edge
You are now ready to use Microsoft Edge Chromium on your Mac. The browser has many other options and features – progressive web apps, InPrivate browsing mode, etc. Don’t be afraid to try these. If you mess things up, you can always reset the browser.
Also, keep in mind that Microsoft Edge receives regular updates that improve browser security and performance. While it usually updates itself automatically, it’s always best to confirm this yourself once in a while – to do so go to the Edge menu > Help & Feedback > About Microsoft Edge.
Next: Don’t like Microsoft Edge Chromium? Here’s how to completely remove it from your Mac.
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