Microsoft Edge, the default browser on Windows 10, is making the leap to mobile. On October 5, 2017, Microsoft announced preview versions of Edge for iOS and Android, bringing its cross-device sync capabilities and a unique “Continue on PC” feature to smartphones and tablets.

The iOS preview is available immediately through Apple’s TestFlight program, while Android users can sign up for an upcoming beta. This marks the first time Microsoft’s in-house browser ventures outside the Windows ecosystem, signaling a strategic pivot toward meeting users wherever they are.

A New Frontier for Microsoft’s Browser

For years, Microsoft’s browser efforts were tightly coupled with Windows. Internet Explorer was once the dominant browser, but the rise of mobile computing saw Google Chrome and Apple Safari claim the lion’s share of phone browsing. With Edge on mobile, Microsoft aims to bridge the gap between desktop and mobile experiences, courting users who want their data to follow them across devices without juggling multiple browser accounts.

The mobile Edge apps are not full ports of the desktop EdgeHTML engine. On iOS, Apple requires all third-party browsers to use WebKit, the same rendering engine that powers Safari. On Android, Edge will use Google’s Blink engine (a variant of the engine that drives Chrome). This hybrid approach means the mobile versions prioritize compatibility and performance on their respective platforms, while the true EdgeHTML engine remains exclusive to Windows 10.

The standout feature of Edge mobile is Continue on PC. With a single tap, users can push an open webpage from their phone to a Windows 10 PC. The feature works in reverse: on a Windows 10 PC, you can also send a page to your phone, though the initial mobile preview focuses on phone-to-PC sharing.

Continue on PC requires signing into the Edge browser on both devices with the same Microsoft account. Once set up, a phone’s share menu includes an option to “Continue on PC.” The user can choose which Windows 10 device should receive the link, and it opens automatically in Edge on the chosen PC. This is particularly handy for transitioning from reading a news article on a small screen to continuing on a full-sized monitor, or for quickly transferring a shopping page found on a phone to a desktop for easier checkout.

Microsoft demonstrated the feature as an answer to Apple’s Handoff and Chrome’s “Send to Your Devices,” but with a tighter integration into Windows 10’s notification system. Unlike Chrome’s approach, which often requires a couple of extra taps, Continue on PC aims for a seamless, one-click experience.

Syncing Your Digital Life

Beyond Continue on PC, the Edge mobile apps sync all the essentials: Favorites, stored passwords, and Reading List items. This means a bookmark saved on a work PC automatically appears in the Edge app on an iPhone, and a password saved during a late-night shopping session on a tablet is ready to use on the desktop the next morning.

Reading List sync is especially useful for long-form content. Add an article to Reading List on a PC, and it appears in the mobile app for offline reading during a commute. Conversely, a page added on the phone while browsing on a subway can be pulled up later on a desktop.

Microsoft tied these sync features to Microsoft Account credentials, making them accessible to anyone who uses Windows 10, Office 365, or other Microsoft services. The company emphasized that synchronization is encrypted end-to-end, with data passing through Microsoft’s secure cloud.

Getting the Preview

On iOS, the preview is distributed via TestFlight, Apple’s platform for beta testing apps. Interested users must install the TestFlight app from the App Store and then follow a link provided by Microsoft to enroll. Because TestFlight limits the number of testers, early birds will have an advantage. Microsoft indicated that initial spots were limited but would expand “soon.”

For Android, the process is different. Users can sign up on a Microsoft web page to receive an email when the beta becomes available in the Google Play Store. Microsoft did not give a specific date, saying only that the Android beta would arrive “shortly” after the iOS launch. The company hinted that the Android version might offer additional features due to fewer platform restrictions, but initial releases would be functionally similar.

Under the Hood: Not EdgeHTML, but Still Edge

Purists might balk at the idea of Edge running on WebKit or Blink rather than EdgeHTML. However, during the announcement, Microsoft explained that its goal was to provide a consistent Edge experience across platforms, even if the underlying rendering engines differ. The familiar Edge interface—with its minimalist design, top address bar (on phones), and Hub for favorites and reading list—is replicated on mobile.

Critically, by using native engines, Edge mobile avoids the battery and performance pitfalls that would come from trying to force EdgeHTML into Apple’s locked-down iOS environment or Android’s diverse hardware. EdgeHTML optimizations for Windows 10’s compositing and DirectX graphics simply don’t translate to mobile GPUs. The trade-off means that Edge on iOS will render pages similarly to Safari, and on Android, similarly to Chrome—but with Microsoft’s sync and sharing features layered on top.

Early testers noted that the mobile interface feels polished, with a dark theme option and a reading view that strips away clutter. The app also respects system-level content blockers on iOS, a nod to power users who rely on ad-blocking extensions.

The Strategy Behind Cross-Platform Edge

Bringing Edge to mobile is part of a broader Microsoft strategy to decouple its services from Windows. Under CEO Satya Nadella, the company has increasingly embraced cross-platform development, offering Office, Cortana, and other key tools on iOS and Android. Edge is the latest—and arguably most symbolic—addition.

By making Edge available on competing platforms, Microsoft acknowledges that many of its customers divide their time between a Windows 10 PC and an iPhone or Android phone. For these users, the default mobile browsers (Safari or Chrome) offer little incentive to use Edge on the desktop. But if Edge can sync passwords and send tabs seamlessly, the desktop version becomes more appealing.

It also sets the stage for future integrations. Microsoft could eventually tie Cortana into the mobile browser, enabling voice-controlled web searches or proactive suggestions based on browsing history. The company already offers a “Set aside tabs” feature on Windows 10, and continuing that across devices is a logical next step.

Competing in a Crowded Field

The mobile browser market is notoriously difficult to crack. Google Chrome dominates Android, preinstalled on most devices. Safari rules iOS, leveraging its system-wide integration. Third-party options like Firefox and Opera survive on niche audiences. Edge enters this fray with a clear differentiator: deep Windows 10 integration.

For Windows users, the value proposition is straightforward. If you use Edge on your PC for its battery efficiency, Cortana assistance, or smooth scrolling, you now have a reason to install Edge on your phone too. The Continue on PC feature alone could sway users who frequently move between devices.

However, Edge on mobile lacks extension support—a key Edge desktop advantage over Chrome. While the desktop Edge gained extension compatibility in 2016, the mobile versions launch without any add-ons. Microsoft says it’s evaluating options but offered no timeline.

Privacy-conscious users may also ask hard questions. Does syncing passwords across platforms via a Microsoft account introduce new privacy risks? Microsoft promises the same enterprise-grade security as other Microsoft 365 services, but the perception of sending credentials to a cloud service could deter some.

What’s Missing in the Preview

The preview build omits several features that desktop Edge users enjoy. Tab preview and tab set-aside are absent from the mobile versions. The PDF reader and inking capabilities that make Edge popular on touch-enabled Windows devices are not part of the first release. And while the desktop Edge supports Flash (with click-to-run), mobile Edge follows Apple’s and Google’s lead in blocking Flash entirely.

Microsoft highlighted that the preview is explicitly for gathering feedback. The TestFlight description encourages users to report bugs and suggest features. The Android beta will have a similar feedback loop.

The Road Ahead

Microsoft’s announcement made clear that the preview is just the beginning. The company plans regular updates, with hopes of a general release in the coming months. Long-term, Edge on mobile could gain unique capabilities tied to Microsoft’s AI and productivity suites.

One intriguing possibility: linking Edge mobile to Windows Timeline, a feature introduced in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (2017) that lets users see a chronological list of their activities across devices. With Timeline, you could find a website you visited on your phone and reopen it on your PC as if you never switched devices. While Timeline was not part of the initial preview, its integration seems inevitable.

For now, the Edge mobile preview represents a concrete step toward a more connected Microsoft ecosystem—one that doesn’t force users to choose between their preferred phone and their Windows workflow. The test batches rolling out on October 5, 2017 will show whether Microsoft can translate its desktop vision to the small screen.

How to Try Edge Mobile

  • iPhone users: Install Apple’s TestFlight from the App Store. Then, visit Microsoft’s Edge Insider page to request an invitation. Spots are limited.
  • Android users: Go to the Microsoft Edge for Android sign-up page to receive an email when the beta launches. A Google account is required to access the Play Store beta channel.
  • Windows 10 users (prerequisite): Make sure you have the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update (version 1709) or later for full Continue on PC functionality. Earlier versions may support the feature but require a manual download of the “Continue on PC” extension from the Microsoft Store (this was previously available as a standalone utility).

Microsoft urges participants to share feedback through the in-app feedback tool, directly shaping the future of the browser.

The Edge mobile preview lands at a time when the browser wars are heating up again, with Firefox Quantum arriving soon and Chrome tightening its integration with Google services. For Microsoft, the mobile expansion is a necessary move to stay relevant in a world where the PC is no longer the center of digital life.