Microsoft Edge Chromium offers a truly seamless cross-platform browsing experience. Not only is it available in multiple iterations of Windows, but you can also use it on macOS. This was not the case with the older version of Microsoft Edge, which was pretty bad too.
Combine the increased desktop presence of Microsoft Edge Chromium with Android and iOS versions and you’ll have a consistent browsing experience no matter what device you use. That’s why you should sync your browsing data.
This way, you can continue surfing the web with seamless access to your passwords, bookmarks and settings on any of your devices. Below, let’s check out how you can install Microsoft Edge Chromium to start syncing your browsing data.
Create a Microsoft Account
If you already have a Microsoft Account, you are good to go. Otherwise, you’ll have to create one – it’s a requirement to sync your Microsoft Edge Chromium data across devices.
Setting up a Microsoft Account is free; You can create an email address from scratch or use an existing address for your Microsoft Account.
Access to a Microsoft Account also brings a host of other benefits; for example, five gigabytes of free storage on OneDrive, unlimited free access to the Office Online suite, etc.
When you’re done, it’s time to sync your browsing data in Microsoft Edge Chromium.
Desktop (Windows and macOS)
The Chromium version of Microsoft Edge works similarly on both Windows and macOS. Not only is it significantly faster compared to the older version of Edge, it also supports a large library of extensions, including those for other Chromium-based browsers. It also lets you save passwords and even provides a full-fledged bookmark manager you can work with.
After enabling the Sync function in Microsoft Edge Chromium, you can sync your bookmarks, passwords, settings and autofill data. At the time of writing, the ability to sync extensions, open tabs and history is not available. But the developers have made it clear that this will be possible soon.
To synchronize your browsing data with your other devices (passwords, bookmarks, etc.), you must first sign in to the browser using your Microsoft Account credentials and then specify the types of data you want to sync. You can find the entire process listed below.
Stage 1: Open the Microsoft Edge menu – click the three-dot icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Click Settings.
Step 2: Make sure the Profiles side tab on the right of the Settings screen is selected.
Stage 3: Click the Option labeled Sign In.
Note: If you’ve previously signed in to Microsoft Edge Chromium but haven’t turned on Sync, simply click Sync instead. Next, click Turn on Sync and then skip to Step 6.
Step 4: Sign in with your Microsoft Account credentials.
Step 5: Click on the option labeled Customize.
Step 6: Select the data types you want to sync and then click Confirm.
Note: It was not available at the time of syncing extensions, opening tabs and writing history.
This prompts Microsoft Edge Chromium to sync your data with Microsoft servers. Log into the browser on another device and after enabling Sync, you can access your data.
Note: If you want to manage your sync settings later, go to the Edge Settings panel, select the Profiles side tab, then click Sync.
Mobile (Android and iOS)
Microsoft Edge is also available on Android and iOS. If you want to sync your browsing data (password, bookmarks and autofill data) with your Microsoft Edge Chromium on desktop or other mobile devices, the following steps will help you do that.
Stage 1: Tap the three-dot icon at the bottom of the Microsoft Edge screen, then tap Settings.
Step 2: Go to the Accounts section and then tap Sign in with Microsoft Account. Sign in with your Microsoft Account credentials. Your Microsoft Account will then appear under the Account section. Tap.
Note: If you’re already signed in to Microsoft Edge when opening the browser for the first time, you don’t need to sign in again.
Stage 3: Tap the option labeled Sync. Select the data types you want to sync and then return to the previous screen.
Note: The ability to sync open tabs, history and payment information was not available at the time of writing.
Step 4: Specify that you want to sync with Microsoft Edge Chromium and not with the old version of Microsoft Edge.
And that’s it. Your data should sync seamlessly across your devices from now on. If you want to enable or disable data types in Sync, go to Microsoft Edge Settings, tap your Microsoft Account and then Sync.
living on the edge
By syncing your passwords, bookmarks, and other data in Microsoft Edge Chromium, you can use the browser on pretty much any device. You no longer have to switch browsers just because you had to switch between Windows and macOS. Worse still, no need to manually export or import data between browsers.
Next: InPrivate Browsing windows in Microsoft Edge Chromium can pose a serious threat, especially when children are around. Here’s how to turn them off.