Microsoft has put a new extension called Microsoft Edge Insider on the Microsoft Store. It is built for the preview channels of the upcoming Chromium-based Edge, and it is another sign that the first public builds are close. The extension went live just a day after the setup files for the new Edge leaked online.
What the Microsoft Edge Insider extension does
According to its Store description, the extension brings the “latest Microsoft Edge Announcements, Features, Known Issues, and Fixed Issues directly in Microsoft Edge”. Instead of reading a blog or a forum to see what changed in a build, testers will get the news inside the browser.
When you set it up, the extension asks you to pick a branch. Three are listed:
- Canary: the newest builds, with the least testing.
- Dev: builds with a bit more testing.
- Beta: the most stable preview.
The release notes and known issues you see match the channel you choose.
How to get the extension
- Open the Microsoft Store on Windows 10.
- Search for Microsoft Edge Insider.
- Click Get to install it.
- When the Chromium-based Edge preview is installed, open the extension and choose your branch.
For now it does very little, because there is no official build to use it with. It becomes useful once Microsoft releases the first Insider build.
What came next
Microsoft released the first official builds on April 8, 2019, through the Microsoft Edge Insider Channels. Canary and Dev came first. Canary updates daily and Dev weekly, and both can be installed side by side, each with its own icon and name. Microsoft said Beta and Stable channels would come later, along with Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and macOS.
If you already test Windows itself, the setup will feel familiar. Our guide to installing Windows Insider Preview builds explains how Microsoft’s channel system works.
Today
The new Edge has long since replaced the old one and is no longer a preview. Microsoft’s support pages list it for Windows 11 and Windows 10 (32-bit and 64-bit) and for macOS. The Edge Store now carries extensions such as the OneNote Web Clipper. To stay on the newest version, see how to update Edge.
