How to Configure the Edge Web Browser and Migrate from Chrome

Are you looking to make Microsoft Edge your primary browser? If you’re tired of Google Chrome’s resource-hogging features and performance issues, you can switch over to the Microsoft recommended browser.

Traditionally, switching the browser was not an easy task. You could have hundreds of bookmarks, Website login credentials, credit/ debit card information, and other data that has become a daily part of your digital life. After switching to a completely new browser, you would need to manually start from scratch, and fill up everything again. Not only was it a troublesome task, but it could also take so much of your time and effort. Fortunately, switching browsers is no longer a difficult task today. Modern browsers can automatically import data from other browsers without having you do anything.

New Edge with Chromium Engine

In 2020, Microsoft released a newer version of Microsoft Edge built with the open-source Chromium engine. It offered many improvements in terms of performance, stability, compatibility with modern websites, privacy, and security. The Chromium project-based Edge supports most Google Chrome extensions that are available for download at Google Chrome Store. It supports syncing your passwords, Web history, favorites (bookmarks), contact information, browser settings, and other items. 

Edge also introduced a new feature called ‘Collections’ that allowed users to pick up text and images from Websites and store them for later usage. The more secure Edge offered a privacy-friendly feature that disabled webmasters from tracking users and their activities. The new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge blends technology from both the Chromium engine and Microsoft’s very own technology.

Import Data from Google Chrome at a Later Time

To import data from Google Drive at some later point in time, just follow the procedure given below:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the Menu icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select Settings.
4. Choose Import Browser Data on the new page.
5. In the Import from the drop-down box, choose Google Chrome as the source browser.
6. You’ll be given the choice to select the data to import. Select the data you want to import.
   1. Favorites or bookmarks
   2. Saved passwords
   3. Personal info
   4. Payment info
   5. Browsing history
   6. Settings
   7. Open tabs
   8. Extensions
7. Click on Import.

Import Data from Google Chrome at First Run

During your first usage of Microsoft Edge, the browser will prompt you to set it as the default browser and then import data from other browsers. Follow the Steps # 3 – 6 above.

Set Edge as the Default Browser

After importing your data, you can set the Edge as your default browser as follows:

1. Click on the Menu icon.
2. Select Settings.
3. Click on the Default Browser tab on the left.
4. Click on the Make Default button.

Manually Export & Import Bookmarks

In Google Chrome:

1. Click on the Menu icon on the top right.
2. Select Bookmark | Bookmark Manager.
3. In the new tab, click on the menu icon and select Export Bookmarks.
4. Type a name for the Bookmarks file and click on Save.

In Microsoft Edge

1. Click on the Menu icon.
2. Select Favorites.
3. Click on the Menu icon in the pop-up.
4. Select Import Favorites.
5. Select Favorites or bookmarks HTML file option in the Import from the drop-down box.
6. In the Check what to import, tick the Favorites or bookmarks option.
7. Click on Choose File and select the Bookmarks file you saved with Google Chrome.

Note: During this manual import procedure, some of your bookmarks may be missing or misplaced in the wrong folders.