Internet Explorer is dead, and Edge, Microsoft‘s new browser, has never finished convincing users. This has forced the company to make the hard decision to break with its own web engine, adopt Chromium and create a new browser from scratch based on it. This is how Edge Chromium was born, a browser that brings everything good from Google Chrome and eliminates everything bad (especially privacy) to try, for the third time, to conquer users.
Users who want to try this web browser can do it easily. Microsoft has been offering several development versions for months that allow us to get an idea of how this new browser works. And the truth is that it is leaving users a good taste. Although it is true that it is difficult to banish Google.
After several months of development, Microsoft is already finalizing its development. If all goes well, the company will launch this new browser on January 15, 2020. And in addition, Microsoft hides an ace in the sleeve to make all Windows 10 users try this new web browser: send it through Windows Update .
You won’t have to install Edge Chromium, Microsoft will do it for you
As the company has confirmed, Microsoft plans to send this browser to all users through Windows Update as soon as it reaches its stable version.
Users who use Windows 10 April 2018 Update (version 1803, which, in addition, no longer has support) or any later version, will automatically receive this web browser.
The company wants to rely on Windows Update to bring this new browser to as many users as possible. And also to make sure that users use updated and secure versions. Microsoft intends to release feature updates for Edge Chromium (new versions) every 6 weeks .
And as for the security patches, these will arrive as soon as necessary.
What if I don’t want Edge?
At first, Edge Chromium was to be installed by default on Windows 10 20H1 and other users could install it manually by downloading it from their website . However, this browser will now be mandatory for everyone, and will be installed without us having to do anything.
If any user does not want to have the new Edge Chromium on their computer, all they can do is pause and postpone Windows Update updates . Of course, remember that these updates can only be delayed a certain amount of time. Sooner or later we will end up going through the hoop.
Microsoft works on one of the most important issues: extensions
Although the current Edge is compatible with extensions, only a handful of developers have opted for it, which has been a key aspect of its failure.
Now, after adopting the Chromium engine, things will change, although Microsoft must also do its part. The company has already opened the Microsoft Edge Addons Store to developers, which will be the new extension store for its browser.
In it, developers will be able to upload their own extensions that, being a Chromium-based browser, will not need many changes compared to Chrome. Even this browser will allow us to install any Chrome extension that currently exists, although we will have to do it by hand.
As of January 17, 2020 , Microsoft will block sending new extensions to the original Edge, although the current ones will still be able to be updated without problems.
