Edge for Android begins prep for the launch of the new Edge powered by Chromium

By Sean Endicott
published

Microsoft Edge on Android is getting ready for the release of the new Microsoft Edge.

Microsoft Edge on Android
Microsoft Edge on Android (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft Edge on Android is preparing for the launch of the new Microsoft Edge.
  • Edge on Android now refers to Microsoft Edge Legacy and the new Microsoft Edge.
  • The new Microsoft Edge launches on January 15, 2020 for Windows and macOS.

The new version of Microsoft Edge that's powered by Chromium launches on Windows and macOS on January 15, 2020. As that release is only a couple weeks away, some Microsoft apps are getting ready for the switch. Microsoft Edge on Android now refers to the new Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge Legacy in its sync settings.

Within the Sync to settings section for Edge for Android, the app now lists two destinations to sync to, the new Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge Legacy. It also includes a note that clarifies that, for now, people will have to sign in to their Microsoft accounts to sync favorites, passwords, and other data. It specifies that the new Microsoft Edge will not sync with Microsoft Edge Legacy.

See more

The new Microsoft Edge is powered by Chromium and has been in beta testing for months. In addition to being compatible with more websites, it also supports extensions built for Chrome. The new version of Edge officially launches on January 15, 2020 on Windows and macOS. It will be available on both Windows 7 and Windows 10. There is a version of the new Microsoft Edge that is compiled for ARM64, but that will not become publicly available on January 15, 2020.

Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com (opens in new tab).

10 Comments
  • So, it went from sync to edge beta to new edge.
    I just want tab syncing to finally be enabled
  • Hope Android get's the new icon soon.
  • Is coming in January towards the official release date.
  • "Microsoft Edge on Android now refers to the new Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Edge Legacy in its sync settings." Nope, just the "Latest Edge beta on Android" as anyone can see from Zac Bowden's tweet. My current Edge install on my phone does not have this option.
  • mine went from "Latest Edge beta on Android" to "The new Microsoft Edge" this morning when edge updated.
  • Are you saying that you are running the stable version of Edge on Android and it has been updated to include the two syncing options? That's what Andrew was referring to, i.e. the Edge beta on Android has been updated with these syncing options but the stable version has not.
  • The regular version of the app has both options as well. I have a Huawei P20 Pro and in Canada
  • If you have the latest update, it does have this option. Tap on your profile icon and you should see the sync option. In that list, you will see, sync to. When you tap on it, it will be defaulted to legacy, but you can select the New Edge.
  • Edge was updated on my phone this morning and syncing was set to new Edge by default. Not sure whether that has anything to do with the fact that I've been using new Edge in Dev for some time and haven't touched old Edge much at all in that time. Maybe if you have used new Edge synced to your account then it will choose that, otherwise it chooses old Edge. It also automatically added a profile for my work account, which is cool. It says syncing is not yet available for that account but it's a good step in the right direction.
  • I'd be interested to see how battery life compares to old Edge once new Edge is live