Microsoft released the first stable version of its Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser in January 2020. The browser included basic sync functionality only initially and Microsoft added more options to the browser as the months passed by.
Microsoft Edge 83, for instance, introduced support for syncing extensions and extension data, and Edge 86 Enterprise sync functionality in.
It appears that Microsoft started the roll out of History and Open Tabs syncing in the company’s browser in January 2021. I checked Edge on multiple devices and they all had the sync functionality included.
To check whether extended sync is available, do the following:
- Load edge://settings/profiles/sync in the web browser’s address bar. You may also select Menu > Settings, and then Sync under Profiles to open the sync configuration page.
- You need to enable sync with a click on “turn on sync” in the interface, if the feature is not enabled. Syncing works only with a Microsoft Account.
- Once enabled, you will see all the available options including History and Open Tabs syncing.
Both options were disabled by default on the devices that I checked. It is a good idea to check the sync settings to make sure that the feature is enabled, or to enable it if it is not and wanted.
Here is what the options do when enabled:
- History — when enabled, will sync visited web pages to all devices with Sync enabled. You may access the browsing history of the Edge browser on this page: edge://history/all
- Open Tabs — the feature syncs all tabs that are open in Microsoft Edge when enabled; ideal for continuing where you left off without having to worry about missing tabs.
The two sync options close the functionality gap between Microsoft Edge and other browsers such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Now You: do you use your browser’s sync functionality?
Summary
Article Name
A year in the making, History and Open Tabs sync is finally coming to Microsoft Edge
Description
Microsoft’s Chromium-based Edge web browser supports syncing the browsing history and open tabs as of January 2021.
Author
Martin Brinkmann
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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