If you're running the Chrome browser on Windows 10 or 11 and suddenly find yourself running Microsoft Edge instead, you're not alone. The Verge's Tom Warren reports that he and many other users on social media and Microsoft's support forums have suddenly discovered that Chrome browsing sessions are mysteriously replicating in Edge.
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Without an official comment from Microsoft, Warren speculates that the tab switching occurred due to a bug or an awkwardly passed dialog that triggers a feature in Edge that is intended to make it easier to switch browsers. The setting, accessible by typing edge://settings/profiles/importBrowsingData into the browser's address bar, offers the option to import recent browsing data from Chrome every time you launch Edge, as opposed to the one-time import that Firefox.
Assuming this is a bug, this data entry problem is hard to distinguish from some truly official, easy-going tactics by Microsoft to promote Edge.
Microsoft has also used system notifications, special Edge pop-up messages, and full-screen messages after the update about “recommended browser settings” to convince Windows users to use Edge and Bing.
See also: Microsoft will soon get rid of a series of features from Edge
Edge is based on the same Chromium as Chrome, and most users probably won't notice much difference in how most pages display in either browser. However, Edge focuses on products and services , starting with a Microsoft account but also expanding to coupon codes and other purchase notifications, the Microsoft 365 suite of apps, and genetic AI tools like Image Designer and the Copilot chatbot.
Lately, Microsoft has become more aggressive in how it promotes everything from signing in to your Microsoft account to Microsoft 365 and Game Pass subscriptions. This has made a “clean” Windows install seem a lot less clean than it used to. If this Edge data transfer is a bug, it’s troubling that it’s not immediately obvious whether it’s a bug or something Microsoft did intentionally.
Microsoft Edge offers a number of advanced features that enhance the user's browsing experience. One of these is the 'Collections' feature, which allows users to organize and save information from different websites in a single location. In addition, Microsoft Edge includes the 'Enhanced Privacy Protection' feature, which gives users control over the data collected by websites and used for advertising.
See also: Microsoft Edge Workspaces: Available in limited public preview
Microsoft Edge also features the 'Extensions' feature, which allows users to add extensions from the Microsoft Store or the Chrome Web Store, offering greater flexibility. Another advanced feature is the 'Integrated Search with Microsoft Bing', which offers users fast and efficient web searching.
Finally, Microsoft Edge includes the 'Work Mode' feature, which makes it easier to view and manage multiple tabs and windows, improving user productivity.
Source: arstechnica
