Microsoft Edge's "something missing on this page" message
If you follow the release of Windows 10 Insider Build releases, or have installed one on a PC, you may have noticed that Microsoft put a lot of effort in recent builds to improve the system's default web browser Microsoft Edge.
Edge is a rather bare bones browser, which is refreshing when you come from Internet Explorer, but disappointing if you expect the same level of customizations that Firefox offers for instance.
While Microsoft continues to add or improve features, it seems that the company has its foot on the brakes in important areas such as extensions support. Edge supports a good dozen or so extensions, and that is after almost a year of supporting them.
Something missing on this page
One of the new features that Microsoft integrated into Edge on Insider Builds is a new check for blocked or missing content on sites.
The company switched the integrated Flash Player in Edge to click to play some time ago. While that works reasonably well for Flash elements that are highly visible on a page, you may miss the "select for Adobe Flash" instruction for others.
The most recent version of Edge therefore ships with a one-time reminder, and a new icon in the browser's address bar to manage Flash in the browser.
The reminder reads:
Something missing on the page?
Top help you stay safe, we've blocked Adobe Flash. Click here to turn it on.
This is a one-time reminder that won't show up again once you hit the "got it" button. The idea is to bring attention to the "broken content" icon in the Edge toolbar.
You can click on the icon to bring up a prompt to allow Adobe Flash on the site.
You may use it to allow Adobe Flash content to run once, or always, on the site you are on. Flash will be enabled then for the session, or permanently when you visit the site.
Regardless of choice you make, the page in question is reloaded by Microsoft Edge automatically. You will notice that Flash content is loaded as well afterwards.
Once you make a selection, you have no control anymore over the feature. Edge, at least the current iteration of the web browser, does not provide a list of whitelisted sites.
The only option you have to remove permissions is to clear all Flash permissions.
This is done with a click on Menu > Settings > Choose what to clear > Show more > Adobe Flash permissions.
Closing Words
The new feature is only available in the most recent development build of Windows 10. It is possible that Microsoft will improve it over time, for instance by adding options to Edge to manage the list of whitelisted sites that are allowed to run Flash directly.
Now you: What's your take on Microsoft Edge?
Just tried to use edge for the first time. Loaded pureplay, signed in, hit start and got message “flash missing”. Then a box appeared with “turn flash on?, I replied yes and it showed fast was on but when I continued, msg “flash missing ” came on again. Never was able to continue.
Something’s missing in Edge itself :)
Doesn’t seem to interest the crowd so there it goes, a scream in the Alps … echo echo echo …
“Edge is a rather bare bones browser”. That’s definitely the least which can be said. No need to yell, to ferociously condemn a browser with superlatives, just point out, calmly, that it’s a “rather bare bones browser”. Like “she’s not ugly… she just ain’t Miss Universe”, so much more civilized way of putting things!
I honestly don’t hate Edge. Yes it is extremely bare bones and MS needs to up its game regarding extensions (it is slowly getting better), but in terms of performance it is quite good. Edge does especially well on lower end hardware. Will it ever become my primary browser? Doubt it, but it has already become my primary video browser, because is does damn well at handling video.