How to Update Microsoft Edge on Desktop and Mobile

Microsoft has said goodbye to EdgeHMTL in favor of the popular Chromium rendering engine for its new Edge browser. Thanks to this and other initiatives, Microsoft Edge is now available on all major platforms and you can even use it on Mac. In addition, the mobile apps for Android and iOS (although not based on Chromium) appear refined and have several interesting features to set them apart from the competition.

Compared to before, Microsoft Edge also has a faster update cycle, thanks to the open source Chromium project. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the browser is updated.

Let’s see how you can update Microsoft Edge on desktop and mobile. But first, let’s see why you might want to do this.

Why you should update Edge

The latest updates to Microsoft Edge ensure the best possible experience on your desktop or mobile computer, in addition to fixing security holes. Therefore, updating it is good practice. As per Microsoft Edge’s update schedule, you can expect new browser updates every six weeks.

The latest Edge updates often contain feature additions, bug fixes, and performance improvements. I’m sure you’ll be eager to try them as much as we do. Having said that, browser security is a major concern in keeping it up to date.

Since the internet is sleepless, new browser exploits often appear. Microsoft therefore makes a point of correcting all known vulnerabilities as soon as possible. True, new updates can introduce new issues as well. But, these are rare and often a minor inconvenience. So the benefits of updating Microsoft Edge Chromium tend to outweigh these shortcomings.

Update Microsoft Edge (Windows and macOS)

Microsoft Edge updates work the same in Windows and macOS versions of the web browser. Like many other browsers, Microsoft Edge supports new updates and installs them automatically.

That said, it’s always a good idea to manually check for the latest updates. This ensures that you have installed the latest version of Microsoft Edge without relying on an automatic update feature which may or may not work properly.

Step 1: Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the window to open the Edge menu.

2nd step: Point to Help & Feedback, and click About Microsoft Edge.

Step 3: A new tab should open and invite Microsoft Edge to check for and install the latest updates. Usually, a browser update finishes within a few minutes.

Restart Microsoft Edge for the updates to take effect. Save any work you’ve opened, then click Relaunch on the About tab in Microsoft Edge.

If you see the “Microsoft Edge is up to date” notice, you have already installed the latest Edge updates. You can check at another time to see if more recent updates are available.

If you can’t follow the steps above on a Windows 10 PC, you may have the pre-Chromium version of Microsoft Edge installed. To update it you need to update Windows 10 itself – open the start menu, type Windows Update, and press Enter. Then click on Check for updates.

It is better to upgrade to the Chromium version of Edge because it comes with a lot of features, frequent updates, and wider compatibility.

Update Microsoft Edge (Android and iOS)

If the apps on your iPhone or Android smartphone are set to update automatically, chances are you have the latest updates for Microsoft Edge already installed. If not, or if you want to make sure the latest updates are installed, you need to visit the App Store or Play Store to manually update Microsoft Edge.

Update (Android)

On Android, updating the browser is like updating any other application. Go to the Google Play Store and search for Microsoft Edge. If the browser has a pending update, you should see an Update button. Tap on it to install the update.

Update (iOS)

On iOS, open the App Store and search for Microsoft Edge. If you see an update listed, press the Update button to install it.

Keep the browser up to date

New features in Microsoft Edge are always great to use. But browser security and stability are just as important, if not more. Edge is the way you interact with the internet, so keeping it secure should be a top priority on desktop and mobile.

That said, malicious sites may display pop-up notifications asking you to update the web browser. Microsoft never sends such notifications. We strongly recommend that you avoid interacting with them. They will usually end up downloading malware onto your device. Always use the instructions you just followed above to update the web browser manually.