How to enable ‘EPUB Support’ in Microsoft Edge

Classic Edge supported EPUB file reading. However, after switching to Chromium, the new Edge removed its support. Microsoft took close to 4 years to bring the feature back into Edge browser testing. Edge with “EPUB support” is now available in the Canary version.

Timeline of events leading to the addition and removal of EPUB Support:

• In 2017, with Windows 10 Creators Update, Micorsoft introduced  EPUB file format support in the Edge browser.
• Edge with EPUB Reader built-in makes it easier to read your favorite ebooks.
• In 2019, Microsoft removed EPUB support from the Edge browser. The company confirmed on a support page “Microsoft Edge will no longer support e-books that use the .epub extension”. Since then, users have had to rely on EPUB apps from Microsoft or other third-party apps to read ebooks.
• Microsoft had to rebuild most of the Legacy Edge features in the new Edge. Some features, such as Set Tabs aside, the reading list including the ability to read EPUB books, were removed.
• On July 19, 2023, the feature is now available to a few users via controlled rollouts in Canary 117.0.1980.0 and later. Here is how you can enable and start reading EPUB books with the extension “.epub” in the new Edge browser based on Chromium.

How to Enable EPUB Support in Microsoft Edge

1. Ensure Edge tabs and Windows are closed,  right-click on its shortcut on the desktop
2. Select Properties
3. In The Target filed after msedge.exe”, give space and add --enable-features=msEdgeEpubReaderEnabled
4. Click Apply and OK.
5. Launch Edge browser.

Micorsoft turns Edge as EPUB Reader on Windows 11/10, here is how you can use it to read EPUB books

1. Download an EPUB file to your hard drive
2. Drag and drop the file onto a new tab to open in the Edge browser. The EPUB file will now load in Edge to display its contents instead of downloading.

   

3. You can able to view the table of contents and bookmark pages.

Please note that the addition of EPUB support to Edge has not been officially announced by Microsoft. It is currently hidden in the preview version. There is no guarantee for the features tested in Edge insider channels to make it into a stable verison.

Final words: Since the removal of EPUB support from Edge, Microsoft has insisted on using EPUB Reader apps available in the Microsoft Store. However, with the new Canary version, Microsoft has quietly added the feature back to the new Edge.