Method to Set-Up Microsoft Edge as your Default Browser in Windows 10
Edge is the latest Internet Browser introduced by Microsoft. It was previously called Project Spartan. With the name change to ‘Edge’, Microsoft wanted to keep the legendary ‘E’ from Internet Explorer and continue with its brand value. Edge was first introduced in Windows 10 Insider Preview 10158 and will come along with Windows 10. With the introduction of Edge, users who are still using Internet Explorer can transfer their Favorites and Bookmarks to Edge, without any problem. This article discusses the various methods by which you can back up your favorites and bookmarks in Internet Explorer to Edge.
Using Spartan and Upgrading to Edge Insider Preview
For instance if you have been using Spartan and now you wanted to upgrade to Edge Insider Preview, you have to take the back up of favorites, cookies, history and reading list, to Spartan, as this cannot be transferred to Edge. Microsoft provides the following steps:
- You have to have a copy of favorites from;
%localappdata%/Packages/Microsoft.Windows.Spartan_cw5n1h2txyewy/AC/Spartan/User/Default/Favorites
- Then you have to save them to %userprofile%\Favorites.
- After the upgrade, you have to open Microsoft Edge and select ‘Settings’ and then select ‘Import Favorites from Another Browser’. Then you have to select Internet Explorer to have your favorites in your %userprofile% directory to Edge.
Why Edge than Internet Explorer?
Edge is a simple and fast browser when compared to Internet Explorer. It supports HTML5 and also supports obsolete tools like ActiveX and Silverlight. Edge provides more swifter and protected view which appears to be innovative than traditional Internet Explorer. You can opt for Edge at first preference only if you are looking for a basic browser with minimum user friendly features.
Ways to Import Favorites and Bookmarks
Most of the softwares are transferred from previous version when you upgrade your system to Windows 10. Likewise Favorites from Internet Explorer and bookmarks from Chrome or Firefox can be easily transferred to Edge. Just follow the ongoing steps. First tap on three point menu which can be found on the top right, then select ‘Settings>> Import favorites from another browser’ and tap on the browser from which you would like import the details and then select ‘Import’. Suppose if the same user uses many Chrome profiles, then only the bookmark from the main profile will be transferred. You are also allowed to turn-on and off the favorites bar from the menu shown above.
On the other hand if you are doing a new installation or has bought a new device with Windows 10 installed in it, then you can transfer the bookmarks from older browser to HTML file. Then you can have them in the similar browser in Windows 10. Then you have to exactly follow the above procedure.
Edge favorites are stored in the Insider Preview of Build 10158 as: “C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_xxx\AC\MicrosoftEdge\User\Default\Favorites”. It is impossible to add new bookmarks with the help of this folder.But on the contrary you are allowed to delete certain entries from the same folder. We are hoping that Microsoft will fix the bug by the time it will launch new Windows 10.
Customizing Home Page
Internet Explorer can be opened with multiple Home pages opened at the same time. Likewise Edge can also be opened. However the user can set one or more particular Home pages which will open up whenever the browser is opened. For that you have to open ‘Settings Menu’. From there you give your priorities like ‘Start Page, New Tab, Previous Page or Specific Page’ underOpen With. You can also multiple pages under the option named Custom.
Tailoring Your Top Sites
Similar to Chrome and Firefox, in Edge also you can load your New Tab Page with the icons of those websites that you prefer the most. This can be adjusted in ‘Settings>>Open New Tabs With’ either options of A Blank Page or Top Sites or Top Sites and Suggested Content. The user is allowed to remove as well as add the name of Top sites in the list. The new ones can be added only if you visit them atleast for one time.
Addition of Home Button and Alter Default Search Engine
Edge is launched along with a Home Button. But you can alter this by going to ‘Settings>>View Advanced Settings>>Show the Home Button’. Now you are allowed to add another Home Button to the browser. Everyone is aware of the fact that the official search engine of Edge is Bing. But you can alter this also under ‘Advanced Settings’. You have to careful about the fact that before adding a new search engine, you have to open its page with the help of your browser. Then only you will be able to add another search engine instead of Bing.
Keyboard Shortcuts
There are many Keyboard shortcuts supported by Edge to make your browsing experience better. They are as follows:
CTRL + / supposedly accesses the Omni bar, but we couldn’t reproduce this.
CTRL + Enter completes a website address with http:// and .COM if you only type the name, e.g. MakeUseOf.
SHIFT + Enter adds .NETand…
CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER completes a .ORG address.
CTRL + 1 jumps to the first tab, CTRL + 2 to the second, and so on.
CTRL + G opens your Reading List.
CTRL + H opens the History.
CTRL + I opens your Favorites.
CTRL + D will let you add a new favorite.
CTRL + J opens your Downloads.
CTRL + K will clone the current tab.
CTRL + T opens a new tab.
CTRL + N opens a new window.
This list doesn’t end here. You can find certain other shortcuts from other browsers if you want to expand the list.
Forthcoming Features
Edge will be launched with syncing features which works same as in Chrome and Firefox. This will help you to backup bookmarks, passwords, history and tabs to user’s OneDrive Account. Now Edge doesn’t have support for extensions. The developers were able to include it in Edge only with the help of some tricks. These are expected to be added with Edge only after the official launch of Windows 10.
