Microsoft Edge Canary Shows Potential Shift From Favorites to Bookmarks
Microsoft Edge may replace its Favorites feature with Bookmarks in a future update to align with Chrome and ease user migration.
Key points
- The change is currently visible in the Canary version of Microsoft Edge.
- The update aims to make the browser interface more similar to Google Chrome.
- Leo Varela, a browser change tracker, identified the modification on social media.
Microsoft Edge may soon replace its Favorites feature with a standard Bookmarks system. This potential change is currently visible in the Canary version of the browser, indicating it could reach the stable release in a future update. The modification appears designed to align Edge more closely with Google Chrome.
Leo Varela, who monitors changes to Edge and Chrome, spotted the alteration and highlighted it on X. According to Windows Central, this switch could help people transitioning from Google’s browser to Microsoft’s product. The change addresses a difference in terminology between the two Chromium-based browsers.
View the original post on X
Context and Background
The user interface for adding sites in Edge already resembles that of Chrome. When users click the star icon to add a site to the Favorites bar, the visual presentation is nearly identical to bookmarks in other Chromium browsers. Despite this visual similarity, the underlying terminology remains distinct.
Statcounter data shows Chrome holds a 66.36 percent market share globally. Safari follows with 18.27 percent, while Edge sits in third place with 6.04 percent. On mobile devices, Chrome’s dominance is even more pronounced, and Edge has essentially no market share. These figures underscore the prevalence of Chrome as the de facto standard for web browsing.
Who Is Affected
Most non-technical users still associate Microsoft Edge with Internet Explorer or assume it is inferior to Chrome. In everyday conversations, browser preferences often reveal that users connect Edge to its predecessor rather than recognizing its modern capabilities. Tech enthusiasts frequently describe Edge as Chrome with a Microsoft paint job, but this view is not held by the broader public.
The change targets users who may be unaware that Edge uses Favorites instead of bookmarks. Varela noted that the switch could be made to make Edge appear more like Chrome. This adjustment is not about core functionality but rather about making the user experience feel more natural to the majority of web users.
What should you do?
Users interested in testing the new interface can switch to the Canary version of Microsoft Edge. This experimental build allows for early access to features that may not be stable or fully ready for widespread use. Monitoring official Microsoft announcements will provide confirmation when the change reaches the stable channel.
What to do and how to stay safe
- Check the Canary version of Edge to see the proposed interface changes firsthand.
- Monitor official Microsoft blogs for confirmation of the feature moving to stable releases.
- Review your current browser settings to understand how Favorites are currently organized.
- Provide feedback through Microsoft’s designated channels if you use the Canary build.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Bookmarks feature replace Favorites in Microsoft Edge?
The change is currently only in the Canary version, so a specific release date for the stable version has not been announced.
Why is Microsoft changing Favorites to Bookmarks?
The change aims to make Edge more similar to Chrome, helping users transition from Google’s browser more easily.
