Microsoft launches first Edge preview build for Mac

What you need to know

  • Microsoft's Edge preview is now officially available for testing on macOS.
  • The first build, which previews Microsoft's new Edge built on Chromium, is available through the Canary channel.
  • Special enhancements for the Mac experience, such as support for the MacBook Pro Touch Bar, are in the works for future releases.
  • Dev channel releases, which update every week, are expected to launch "very soon," according to Microsoft.

Microsoft today officially launched its first preview build of the new Edge browser for macOS. Though Mac builds were previously leaked, this marks the first official release from Microsoft, opening up testing on the Canary development branch.

In its blog post announcing the launch, Microsoft says that its goal with the new Chromium-based Edge on Mac is to the same browsing experience present on Windows, but with tweaks to make Edge feel "at home" on macOS. Some of the initial tweaks available at launch include changes to adhere to "macOS conventions for fonts, menus, keyboard shortcuts, title casing, and other areas."

Going forward, Microsoft says to expect to see further changes to the look and feel of the browser as testing wears on. The company also has some Mac-exclusive experiences in store, including support for the MacBook Pro Touch Bar through things like website shortcuts, tab switching, and video controls.

Edge Touch Bar Controls

For now, only the Canary preview channel, which receives the most frequent updates, is available for testing on Mac. However, Microsoft promises the Dev channel, which updates once a week, will be available "very soon."

See at Microsoft

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Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl