Microsoft Edge has evolved significantly from its early days, transforming into a Chromium-based browser that offers excellent performance, privacy features, and seamless integration with Microsoft services. If you're a Chromebook user who needs access to Microsoft 365, prefers Edge's features, or simply wants to try a different browser, you'll be pleased to know that installing Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook is straightforward.
This guide will walk you through the installation process step by step, ensuring you can get Edge up and running on your Chromebook without any hassle. The video tutorial below provides a visual walkthrough of the entire process, which you may find helpful to follow along with these written instructions.
Before You Begin: Compatibility Requirements
It's important to verify that your Chromebook meets the necessary requirements before starting the installation process. This tutorial will only work on Chromebooks with an Intel or AMD CPU that have Linux Apps Support (also known as Crostini) enabled. Unfortunately, Chromebooks with an ARM64 architecture CPU are not compatible with this method, as Microsoft Edge for Linux doesn't currently support ARM processors.
To check if your Chromebook supports Linux Apps, you can review our comprehensive list of all currently supported Chromebooks with Linux Apps (Crostini) support.
Why Install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook?
You might wonder why you'd want to install Edge when Chrome is the default browser on Chromebooks. There are several compelling reasons:
- Microsoft Services Integration: Edge offers superior integration with Microsoft 365, Outlook, and other Microsoft services, making it ideal for users who work within the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Vertical Tabs and Collections: Edge includes unique productivity features like vertical tabs and collections that help organize your browsing experience more efficiently.
- Privacy Features: Edge includes robust tracking prevention and privacy controls that some users prefer over Chrome's approach.
- Performance Testing: Having multiple browsers available allows you to test web applications and websites across different rendering engines and configurations.
- Personal Preference: Some users simply prefer Edge's interface, feature set, or the way it handles certain web applications.
Installation Process
Installing Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook involves downloading the Linux version of the browser and installing it through the Linux container on your device. Here's what you need to do:
Step 1: Enable Linux Apps
If you haven't already enabled Linux on your Chromebook, you'll need to do so first. Navigate to Settings > Advanced > Developers > Linux development environment and turn it on. This will download and set up the Linux container on your Chromebook, which typically takes a few minutes depending on your internet connection.
Step 2: Download Microsoft Edge
Visit the official Microsoft Edge download page to get the installer package:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge
When prompted to select your download, choose the .deb package for Linux. This is the format compatible with the Debian-based Linux environment that runs on Chromebooks. The file will download to your Chromebook's Downloads folder.
Step 3: Install Microsoft Edge
Once the download completes, locate the .deb file in your Downloads folder. Right-click (or two-finger tap) on the file and select "Install with Linux (Beta)". The system will handle the installation process automatically, which may take a minute or two to complete.
After installation finishes, you'll find Microsoft Edge in your app launcher within the Linux apps folder. Simply click on it to launch the browser for the first time.
First Launch and Setup
When you first open Microsoft Edge, you'll be greeted with the initial setup process. You can sign in with your Microsoft account to sync your bookmarks, passwords, and settings across devices, or you can choose to use Edge without signing in. The browser will also prompt you to customize your privacy settings and choose your preferred new tab page layout.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you encounter any problems during installation or while using Edge, here are some common solutions:
- Installation fails: Ensure your Chromebook's Linux container is fully updated by opening the Terminal app and running system updates.
- Edge won't launch: Try restarting your Chromebook's Linux container by right-clicking on the Terminal app and selecting "Shut down Linux".
- Performance issues: Allocate more resources to your Linux container in Settings > Advanced > Developers > Linux development environment.
- Display scaling problems: If Edge appears too large or small, you can adjust the display scaling in your Chromebook's display settings.
Get Help and Support
If you have any questions about this installation process or encounter issues not covered in this guide, please don't hesitate to reach out via a YouTube comment on the video above. We're here to help and typically respond to questions promptly!
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