Microsoft Edge Has Quietly Become Worth Using - Here Is What Is New
Most people open their browser out of habit. Chrome loads, and that is that. But if your business runs on Microsoft 365, there is a reasonable case that Edge is now the better choice for day-to-day work - and a few of its newer features are genuinely useful for anyone managing multiple projects or clients.
The problem with sticking to an old browser habit is that you miss tools that are already included in software you are paying for. Edge is built into Windows and connects directly with Microsoft 365. That means features designed to help you work faster are already there - most people just have not looked.
The most practical addition for busy professionals is Workspaces. Think of it as a way to group your open browser tabs by project or client. You give each workspace a name and a colour, and switch between them with a single click. When you close the browser and come back the next morning, everything is exactly where you left it. For anyone juggling multiple matters or client files at once, that kind of organisation removes a lot of the low-level friction that quietly eats into your day.
Edge also now includes a built-in VPN called Edge Secure Network. A VPN - a virtual private network - encrypts your internet connection so that your activity cannot be easily intercepted. Microsoft provides 5GB of free VPN data per month. This is particularly useful when staff are working from a café, airport lounge, or any public Wi-Fi network. It is not a full enterprise security solution, but it adds a meaningful layer of protection for everyday browsing without requiring any setup. If you want to understand how this fits into a broader approach to keeping client data safe, the cybersecurity page covers the fuller picture.
A few other features are worth knowing about. Autofill has improved significantly, so staff spend less time re-entering names, addresses, and contact details into online forms. Web Capture lets you take a screenshot of any webpage - or a selected section of it - and drop it straight into a document or email. Copilot, Microsoft's AI assistant, sits in the Edge toolbar and can help draft a quick email or summarise a page without switching applications. Read Aloud does what it sounds like: it reads web content out loud, which is handy when you need to step away from your desk but stay across something. If you want to get more from the Microsoft 365 tools your business already has, there are specific settings worth enabling across the platform.
None of these features require a new subscription or any special configuration. If your business already uses Microsoft 365, the browser and most of these tools are already available. Getting value from them is mostly a matter of knowing they exist and taking ten minutes to set them up properly. It is also worth checking whether your business devices are capable of running these tools well, since older hardware can undercut even the best software.
If your team is not getting much from the Microsoft tools you are already paying for, that is worth a conversation. ITstuffed works with professional services businesses across Canterbury to make sure Microsoft 365 is set up and used well - not just installed and forgotten. A 15-minute IT Fit Check is a good place to start.