Update: You can now officially install Microsoft Edge on macOS
A Microsoft web browser is on Apple's OS for the first time in 16 years
UPDATE (21 May): Microsoft has officially released the preview version of its Chromium-based Edge browser for macOS and it's available for download from the Microsoft Edge Insider website now. Mac keyboard shortcuts, and Touch Bar and trackpad support are also in the pipeline.
Last year Microsoft announced huge changes to its Edge web browser, including the fact that it was moving to the open source Chromium engine (which its chief competitor Chrome uses), and the company revealed it would also run on MacBooks and Mac computers.
It now appears that you can download and install and early version of Microsoft Edge for macOS right now.
Microsoft Edge Canary 76.0.151.0 has been spotted online by Twitter user WalkingCat, and while Microsoft hasn’t officially announced it, the download looks legit.
Microsoft Edge for Mac Canary 76.0.151.0 https://t.co/T35gz9kpAIMay 7, 2019
If you want to try it out on your Mac, it’s safe to do so – though remember this is an early version of the web browser that’s used for testing, so expect bugs and unfinished features. If you want a more dependable experience, wait until the final version.
- Microsoft confirms Edge will be able to use Google Chrome Extensions
- The best web browser 2019
- Best internet security suites of 2019
We’ve already heard about new features coming to the new Chromium-based Edge web browser during Microsoft’s Build 2019 developer conference, so we could hear more about the Mac version of Edge soon.
Returning to Mac
The fact that Microsoft is releasing its Edge web browser on macOS is remarkable for a few reasons. Not only was Edge originally a Windows 10-only browser, but it sees a Microsoft-made web browser available on a Mac for the first time since Internet Explorer - and that was 16 years ago, when Microsoft ceased the updates.
Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Now, a Microsoft web browser might not be something many Apple users have been clamouring for, but it will offer an alternative Chromium web browser for those who don’t want to trust their data with Google and its Chrome browser.
Making Edge available on a range of platforms is a smart move by Microsoft – as even with the advantage of it coming installed by default in Windows 10, the web browser has struggled to gain users compared to its competitors.
With macOS 10.15 Catalina arriving later this year, we might see the final version of Edge for Mac launch alongside it.
Could Edge find success on macOS where it failed on Windows? Stranger things have happened...
- Here’s our pick of the best Macs of 2019
Via Reddit
Matt is TechRadar's Managing Editor for Core Tech, looking after computing and mobile technology. Having written for a number of publications such as PC Plus, PC Format, T3 and Linux Format, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. He’s personally reviewed and used most of the laptops in our best laptops guide - and since joining TechRadar in 2014, he's reviewed over 250 laptops and computing accessories personally.