The Microsoft Edge web browser will finally support browser extensions in Windows 10’s “Anniversary Update”, coming this summer. If you’re using an Insider Preview build of Windows 10, you can install extensions in Edge now.
Microsoft will also be releasing a tool that can easily convert existing Chrome extensions to Edge extensions, as the two are very similar. Firefox’s new extension framework will be much like Chrome’s, too.
This Only Works on Insider Preview Builds (For Now)
You’ll need to be using the Insider Preview version of Windows 10 to install browser extensions. Extension support was added to build 14291, so you should be able to use either the Slow ring or the Fast ring. However, you may need to use the Fast ring to install the latest extensions Microsoft offers. The latest Insider builds of Windows 10 are adding new extension capabilities to Edge.
When the Anniversary Update is released, you’ll be able to browse and install extensions in the Windows Store. For now, you’ll have to sideload them.
If you’re on a stable build of Windows 10, you can still install bookmarklets in Microsoft Edge to get some extension-like functionality.
How to Install Extensions in Microsoft Edge
To install extensions in Microsoft Edge, open the Edge web browser, click or tap the menu button in the top-right corner of the window, and select “Extensions.” If you don’t see an Extensions option in the list here, you’re not using an Insider Preview build of Windows 10.
You’ll see the extensions panel, which will list all your installed extensions. Click or tap the “Get extensions from the Store” and you’ll be taken to the MIcrosoft Edge extensions page on Microsoft’s developer site. When Windows 10 is released, this link will just take you to the extensions storefront in the Windows Store app.
As of build 14316, Microsoft is currently offering the Microsoft Translator, Reddit Enhancement Suite, Mouse Gestures, OneNote Clipper, and Pin It (for Pinterest) extensions. More extensions will be added in future preview builds.
To download an extension, click the “Download” button next to the extension and click “Save” on the download bar to save it to your computer. Click “Run” to run the extension’s .exe file once it’s downloaded.
The extension’s installer will extract it to a folder in your Downloads folder. A “Readme” file will open in Notepad, showing you information about the extension and any known issues.
You can install the extension once you’ve run the .exe file. Click Edge’s menu button again and select “Extensions” to view the Extensions panel. Click the “Load Extension” button.
Select the extension’s folder in your Downloads folder, and click the “Select Folder” button. Edge will install the extension and it’ll appear in the Extensions pane.
How to Use, Configure, and Uninstall Extensions
The extension will appear in your list of installed extensions. To view more information and configure it, tap the extension in the list.From here, you can enable the “Show button next to the address bar” option if you’d like to see the extension’s icon on Edge’s main toolbar. If you don’t, the extension’s icon will just appear inside the menu.
You can also click the “Options” button to view and customize the extension’s options and view its permissions at the bottom of the pane here. The “Reload extension” button will force Edge to restart the extension, which could be helpful if you experience problems with the extension.
You can also disable the extension by setting it to “Off” or click “Remove” to uninstall it from here.
However you’ve configured your extensions, you can click or tap the extension’s icon on the main toolbar or inside the menu to activate it.
You can also right-click an extension’s icon on the toolbar or in the menu and select “Manage” to access its settings, or use the “Show next to address bar” option to quickly choose where an extension’s icon appears.
When Edge extensions finally launch, Edge should quickly have a large number of extensions to choose from. Microsoft is giving Edge’s extension ecosystem a big kick-start by making it easy for developers to port their existing Chrome extensions over.