The new Microsoft Edge adopts the Chromium open source project to create better compatibility for customers and less fragmentation of the web for web developers.
With Windows Holographic, version 21H1, the new Microsoft Edge is available to HoloLens 2 customers for the first time! Share feedback and bugs with our team via the Send Feedback feature in the new Microsoft Edge or via Feedback Hub.
Important
This new Microsoft Edge automatically replaces legacy Microsoft Edge, which is no longer supported in new releases.
Launching the new Microsoft Edge
The new Microsoft Edge (represented by a blue and green swirl icon) is pinned to the Start menu and automatically launches when you activate a web link.
Note
When you first launch the new Microsoft Edge on HoloLens 2, your settings and data will be imported from legacy Microsoft Edge.
Configuring policy settings for the new Microsoft Edge
The new Microsoft Edge offers IT admins a broader set of browser policies on HoloLens 2 than were previously available with legacy Microsoft Edge.
Here are some helpful resources for learning more about managing policy settings for the new Microsoft Edge:
Because of the volume of browser policies supported by the new Microsoft Edge, our team is unable to guarantee that each new policy works on HoloLens 2. However, we've tested and confirmed than the new Microsoft Edge equivalent of each legacy Microsoft Edge policy previously supported on HoloLens 2 work as expected. See Microsoft Edge Legacy to Microsoft Edge policy mapping to find the new Microsoft Edge equivalent of each legacy Microsoft Edge browser policy you were using with HoloLens 2.
There are at least two new Microsoft Edge policies that we know will not work with HoloLens 2:
EnterpriseModeSiteList
EnterpriseSiteListServiceURL
What to expect from the new Microsoft Edge on HoloLens 2
Because the new Microsoft Edge is a native Win32 app with a new UWP adapter layer allowing it to run on UWP-only devices like HoloLens 2, some features may not be immediately available. New scenarios and features may be supported over the coming months, so check this space for up-to-date information.
Scenarios and features expected to work:
First-run experience, sign in to profile, and sync
Websites should render and behave as expected
Most browser functionality (Favorites, History, etc.) should work as expected
Dark mode
Installing web apps to the device
Installing extensions (please let us know if you use any extensions that don't work properly on HoloLens 2)
Viewing and marking up a PDF
Spatial sound from a single browser window
Automatic and manual updating of the browser
Saving a PDF from the Print menu (using "Save to PDF" option)
WebXR and 360 Viewer extension
Content restoration to correct window, when browsing across multiple windows placed in your environment
Scenarios and features not expected to work:
Spatial sound from multiple windows with simultaneous audio streams
"See it, say it"
Printing
Top known browser issues:
The magnifier preview in the holographic keyboard is disabled for the new Microsoft Edge. We hope to reenable this feature in a future update.
Audio may play from the wrong browser window if you have another browser window open and active. You can work around this issue by closing the other active window that isn't supposed to be playing audio.
When playing audio from a browser window in "Follow me" mode, the audio continues playing if you disable "Follow me" mode. You can work around this issue by stopping audio playback before disabling "Follow me" mode or by closing the window with the X button.
Interacting with active Microsoft Edge windows may cause other 2D app windows to go inactive unexpectedly. You can reactivate these windows by interacting with them again.
Microsoft Edge Insider channels
The Microsoft Edge team makes three preview channels available to the Edge Insider community: Beta, Dev, and Canary. Installing a preview channel doesn't uninstall the released version of Microsoft Edge on your HoloLens 2, and you can install more than one at the same time.
Some environments may have network restrictions to account for as a consideration. To ensure a smooth experience with the new Edge enable these Microsoft endpoints.
You can use the new Edge to install web apps alongside Microsoft Store apps. For example, you can install the Microsoft Office web app to view and edit files hosted on SharePoint or OneDrive. To install the Office web app, visit https://www.office.com and select the App Available or Install Office button in the address bar. Select Install to confirm.
Important
Office web app functionality is only available when your HoloLens 2 has an active internet connection.
WebXR and 360 Viewer
The new Microsoft Edge includes support for WebXR, which is the new standard for creating immersive web experiences (replacing WebVR). Many immersive web experiences were designed with VR in mind (they replace your field of view with a virtual environment), but these experiences are also supported by HoloLens 2. The WebXR standard also enables augmented and mixed reality immersive web experiences that use your physical environment. As developers spend more time with WebXR, we anticipate new augmented and mixed reality immersive experiences to arrive for HoloLens 2 customers to try!
The 360 Viewer extension is built on WebXR and automatically installs alongside the new Microsoft Edge on HoloLens 2. This web extension gives you the ability to immerse yourself in 360-degree videos. YouTube offers the largest selection of 360 videos, so we encourage you to start there.
How to use WebXR
Navigate to a website with WebXR support.
Select the Enter VR button on the website. The location and visual representation of this button may vary per website, but it may look similar to:
The first time you try to launch a WebXR experience on a specific domain, the browser asks for consent to enter an immersive view, select Allow.
In the video frame, select the mixed reality headset button:
The first time you try to launch 360 Viewer on a specific domain, the browser asks for consent to enter an immersive view. Select Allow.
Air tap to bring up the playback controls. Use hand rays and air tap to play/pause, skip forward/back, turn captions on/off, or stop the experience (which exits the immersive view). The playback controls disappear after a few seconds of inactivity.
Top WebXR and 360 Viewer known issues
Depending on the complexity of the WebXR experience, the framerate may drop or stutter.
Support for articulated hand joints in WebXR is not enabled by default. Developers can enable support via edge://flags by turning on "WebXR Hand Input."
360 videos from websites other than YouTube may not work as expected.
Providing feedback on WebXR and 360 Viewer
Share feedback and bugs with our team via the Send Feedback feature in the new Microsoft Edge.
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