Microsoft launches new MSN News beta for iOS and Android
Microsoft's new MSN News beta brings a revamped look and feel.

Microsoft has introduced a new MSN News beta for Android (opens in new tab) and iOS (opens in new tab), bringing along a complete revamp of the app with a new look and experience on both platforms. On top of the new look, Microsoft has tucked in a number of other tweaks that make the app feel more modern.
Though it's in beta, the revamp looks fairly polished from the outset. After going through an initial setup process, during which you choose topics that interest you, the app will default to a "My News" section that acts as an aggregator for the top headlines from topics you like. From there, you can use a pivot menu to swipe between topics, such as "Top Stories," "World," "Politics," and more. Across the bottom of the app, you'll find navigation options that let you quickly tab between your settings, interests, and more. There's even a dark theme toggle if that's your thing.
Here's a full look at what's new in this beta, according to Microsoft:
- A first-run experience helps get you set up quickly
- The look and feel is updated and tailored to Android
- Personalize the app by choosing from hundreds of topics to follow
- You can roam your interests across all your devices
- A widget gives you easy access to MSN News
- A dark theme makes it easier to read at night
- Local news is available for many cities
- You can scroll continuously from one article to the next
The new MSN News beta app is available for anyone to check out on Android by signing up to be a tester (opens in new tab) on Google Play. If you're using an iPhone, space through Apple's TestFlight program is fairly limited, so you'll have to sign up and wait for an invite.
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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.
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Looks much better now. Now much closer to the Windows 10 version and it apparently took over my news selection from there
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😎 Been using News360. Apparently they took out the windows 10 app as I can no longer find it. I sometimes get conspiracy theories stuff on it. Wonder if it’s because I’m signed in to my Google account which in turn tracks my YouTube stuff, where I do watch some of that stuff. But I don’t want that on my news feed. Anyways, I’ll give this a shot since I don’t use my Microsoft account for anything other than email... mostly.
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I hope MSN Weather follows suit. Its actually a great app on Windows 10 but the Android version looks and feels very dated.
I do use MSN News as an aggregator but they seem to surface what is essentially clickbait for middle-aged people, that and articles that remain in the feed forever. -
Yes, I am waiting for the weather app overhaul too.
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Who gives a .........., as if any android / ios user is interested in some MS news app. There is a million alternatives, of which 999.900 are better.
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Cool story
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Ha can really speak for the hole world of user
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Judging by your writing, you can't even speak for yourself.
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Adbolleman. I care. I use MSN apps on my iphone alot. I just downloaded this new news app its great. So...Please, complain elsewhere.
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Ahhhhh... The "MSN" brand. Smells so old
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Good to see Windows 10 apps making over to Android (and iOS) one at a time. But I wasn't using this app on my windows phone so I am not going to use it in my android either.
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Cool, I used it on my windows phone and also use it on my android when I switched over
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This is great, but what we really need is Movies & TV to be available on Android and iOS. In the wake of Groove Music's shuttering we need a sign that Microsoft is still committed to its other non-business services.
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You do know, Groove Music still is an awesome music app for your local, or OneDrive music files, right? They still update and continue improving it. Just because you can't purchase or use a subscription doesn't mean it's dead. I have 19,000 songs on OneDrive, it streams them perfectly, as well as local files.
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I know, but that doesn't make them any money. I'm fine with Groove sticking around as a standalone app, but the end of the music store makes me hesitant to spend any more money on say Movies & TV or especially the fledging Books section of the store. What's to stop them from cutting those in the future?
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Why us anything MS on an Android Phone? Anything unique about this app? Personalization...no other apps in the store to do this?