Edge extension support on Android will give you a genuine reason to switch from Chrome, as long as Microsoft doesn’t mess it up
Extension support separates Microsoft Edge on Android from Google Chrome.
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What you need to know
Microsoft Edge on Android should soon get a major boost in the form of extension support. Edge Canary for Android now has a flag that allows you to enable extensions within the mobile browser. Well-known Edge expert Leo Varela shared the news on X (formerly Twitter) and showed off some of the extensions that are already supported.
Extensions are incredibly popular on desktop browsers, but surprisingly few popular mobile browsers support them. Firefox and Samsung Internet work with extensions but Google Chrome for Android does not. And of course, Edge did not support extensions until Microsoft began testing the functionality in Edge Canary.
Now, if you like Microsoft Edge and extensions, you don’t have to pick between the two, at least if you’re an Edge Canary user.
It will be possible to install extensions in Edge for Android!:https://t.co/18lG5nYyad pic.twitter.com/Sj744tPo6zJanuary 31, 2024
Saving Microsoft Edge
Adding extension support to Microsoft Edge for Android could help the browser compete with Google Chrome. Edge is barely a footnote when it comes to mobile usage, holding just a 0.24 market share,according to Statcounterin December 2023. Microsoft Edge as a wholedidn’t even register as “dominant enough"to warrant being under European Commission Digital Markets Act regulations.
I use Edge on a regular basis, but a large part of that is due to my job. I have to keep up to date on the latest Edge features and bugs to cover the browser. I like several elements of it, including its layout and general design, but it’s nothing special when it comes to browsing.
While not unique to Edge on Android, extension support could go a long way in differentiating Edge from other browsers. I doubt many will convert from Google Chrome to Microsoft Edge due toMicrosoft renaming its browser, but the addition of extensions could move the needle.
At this point, it’s not clear how many extensions will be supported. Will Microsoft allow a vast library of extensions like it does on Edge for computers or will it be a small, curated list?
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How to use extensions on Microsoft Edge for Android
The number of extensions you can use right now within Microsoft Edge Canary on Android is quite limited. At the time of publication, only three extensions can be installed: Dark Reader, uBlock Origin, and Global Speed. You can install or uninstall those three and in my testing, they work well, but that’s it for now.
I hopped over to the Microsoft Edge Add-on store but the option to get any of the extensions is grayed out.
That being said, you can use extensions within the mobile browser, and I assume the general process will remain the same, so here’s how to do it:
Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
