Microsoft's UI Overhaul for Edge: A Change of Plans
Last year, Microsoft unveiled a major UI update for Edge that would align it with Windows 11’s design language. The new design featured rounded tabs and a heavier use of blur effects across the interface. Now, the company is scrapping the UI refresh and is removing the flag to enable it from an upcoming version of Edge.
In February 2023, Microsoft made waves with the announcement of “the new Bing and Edge” during a special event at its Redmond headquarters. This gathering marked the introduction of Bing Chat, a service that would evolve into Microsoft Copilot. Positioned at the forefront of Microsoft’s new AI initiative, the company sought to give Edge a fresh aesthetic to complement its innovative features.
During the event, Yusef Mehdi from Microsoft took the stage to unveil the revamped design of Edge. He enthusiastically proclaimed, “we’ve just updated Edge with a new look and feel … it’s sleeker, it’s lighter,” highlighting the introduction of rounded tab buttons and an enhanced use of blur effects throughout the browser interface. After years of mirroring Chrome’s appearance, Microsoft was eager to carve out a distinct identity for Edge, likely buoyed by its optimism surrounding Bing Chat and Copilot. This redesign was also intended to create a seamless alignment with Windows 11 and Microsoft’s broader design ethos.
The current Edge UI (top) vs the scrapped new UI (bottom)
Despite the excitement surrounding the new UI, it has been over a year since its announcement, and the anticipated launch remains elusive. Initially, users could enable the new interface through flags, but recent updates to Microsoft Edge indicate that this option will soon be discontinued. The latest version of Edge Canary has already removed the flag entirely.
A Microsoft spokesperson has confirmed to Windows Central that the company is stepping back from the rounded tabs design introduced last year, effectively abandoning plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the Edge interface. While some elements of the new design, such as the border around webpages and the repositioned user button, will persist, the majority of the anticipated changes will not be implemented.
The rationale behind this decision remains unclear, especially considering the new interface’s clean lines and its strong alignment with the aesthetic of Windows 11. As a result, the Edge browser will continue to resemble its long-standing appearance, which closely mirrors that of Google Chrome—a similarity that seems unlikely to be coincidental.
