The old Microsoft Edge is now called 'Edge Legacy'

Edge
Edge (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • A Microsoft support document refers to the older EdgeHTML-based Microsoft Edge as "Edge Legacy."
  • The Chromium-based Microsoft Edge is just called "Microsoft Edge."
  • The clarification should make things easier as Edge Legacy gets older.

Microsoft has two versions of Microsoft Edge, and that can cause confusion when it comes to names. Most people have referred to the Chromium version of Edge as "the new Microsoft Edge" and specified if instead referring to the older version of Edge. Now, a support document from Microsoft refers to the EdgeHTML-based version of Microsoft Edge as "Microsoft Edge Legacy." The newer Chromium-based Microsoft Edge is just that, "Microsoft Edge."

The clarification will make things easier as Microsoft Edge Legacy becomes older and less used. This change will be particularly useful for enterprise and IT where precise wording is needed to solve administrative issues or file support tickets.

It doesn't make much sense to call the Chromium version of the browser "the new Microsoft Edge" forever or to have to always specify if referring to the Chromium or EdgeHTML versions of the browser. Eventually, there will just be one Microsoft Edge in regular use, so people should get used to that name now.

Microsoft Edge Legacy is still the default browser on Windows 10 PCs, but Microsoft is pushing people towards Microsoft Edge (the new one that we won't have to refer to as new going forward).

Microsoft Edge has earned positive reviews on Windows 10 and macOS alike. It's also available on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1. It renders websites well and works with Chrome extensions, which greatly expands the browser's functionality.

One of the most useful new features of the new Microsoft Edge is the ability to install progressive web apps. This allows you to create dedicated windows and Start Menu icons for progressive web apps like Disney+, Hulu, and Kindle Cloud Reader.

How to install Disney Plus as a Windows 10 app

Microsoft continues to add features to Microsoft Edge. Recently, Microsoft rolled out Collections to the beta version of Microsoft Edge.

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.