14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has started testing a new interface for downloads in Microsoft Edge, and the new UI is available right now in the Canary build of the browser.
As you probably know if you already tried the new Microsoft Edge browser, the application comes with almost the same download experience as Google Chrome.
So when you start downloading a new file, you should see the download bar at the bottom of the screen, after which you can enter a dedicated UI where you can manage files and see more information, like file size and everything else.
However, not only that the download bar eats up valuable space on the screen but is also outdated and lacks essential information that can be read easily.
Microsoft fixing the download UI
So now Microsoft has come up with a new approach that comes down to a dedicated UI which can be accessed with a single click on a dedicated button in the toolbar.
There’s a new download icon showing up when you begin downloading files and displaying information in a flyout. This is an approach that’s also being used in other browsers, such as Opera, and it’s definitely good news that Microsoft is working on adding it to Edge too.
For the time being, however, it’s worth knowing that this new experience is only available in the Canary channel, so it’d take a while until it makes its way to the stable ring.
However, you can give it a try right now by downloading the Canary build, and then the moment you download a file, you should see a new icon showing up in the toolbar. From that point, the new flyout is visible as long as you download files, with the classic download bar no longer displayed in the browser.