14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft rolled out Windows 10 build 21313 earlier today, and one of the biggest changes is the demise of Microsoft Edge Legacy.
The browser, originally called Project Spartan and offered as the default browser in the early days of Windows 10 on the market, is being replaced by its Chromium-powered sibling.
The new Microsoft Edge version runs on the same engine as Google Chrome and is available on more platforms, including Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Linux, and macOS.
“With the release of Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 21313, Microsoft Edge Legacy will be replaced by the new Microsoft Edge. This will be the case for Windows 10 Insider Preview builds moving forward. With Microsoft Edge, it’s time to expect more. You get world-class performance, with more privacy, more productivity, and more value as you browse,” Microsoft announced today.
“And if you’d like to try out upcoming features in Microsoft Edge, join the Microsoft Edge Insider Program. Be one of the first to see what’s new by downloading the Microsoft Edge Canary, Dev, or Beta channels from the Microsoft Edge Insider website.”
Change happening on stable Windows 10 devices
Microsoft has also announced that the April 2021 Patch Tuesday rollout would remove the legacy version of Microsoft Edge from Windows 10 devices, which means the Chromium-powered browser would be the only browser going forward.
In other words, Microsoft will ship an update that will specifically remove the old browser and install the new one. If you’re already running the Chromium-powered browser, then Windows 10 devices will only get the update to delete the original Edge, all in an attempt to make the transition as smooth as possible.
The Chromium-powered Edge can also be downloaded on all platforms where it’s available not only in stable flavors, but also as Canary, Dev, and Beta builds.