Microsoft launches the new Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store officially
Extensions and Microsoft Edge; that has not been a very successful endeavor in the past as the overall extension count was very low when compared to the Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox extensions store.
The launch of the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser promised to change that thanks to it using the same core as Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers. One benefit of the change is that users can install Google Chrome extensions in Microsoft Edge without any issues, another that it is easier for developers to port their extensions to make them an official Edge extension.
The company started to work on a new add-ons store for the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge web browser and launched it in beta some time ago. The store got some traction in early 2020 when the extension count crossed the thousand extensions mark.
Microsoft announced the official launch of the new Microsoft Edge Add-ons Store today on the Tech Community website. The redesigned store is now available to all users and Microsoft hopes that it will make it easy for users to discover and find extensions.
Edge users and those interested in browsing the available extensions may point the web browser of their choice to this address.
The Store is still labeled beta and you may notice that the selected language may not be used across the entire site. I opened the English version of the Store but some menu entries were still in German.
Extensions are still available in the Microsoft Store but users are reminded that the store only lists extensions for the legacy version of Microsoft Edge. With legacy Edge on its way out, it is likely that the category will be removed eventually from the Microsoft Store.
The store uses a two column layout or a one column layout based on the screen width. The two column layout lists the search field, main entry points and categories in a sidebar, and recommendations as well as categories and trending extensions in the main column.
A click on an extension link opens its profile page and a click on "get" starts the installation process if Edge is used. One difference to other extension stores is that you won't find any images or videos listed on an extension's profile page.
Other elements that are missing are website or author links, options to check out a developer's other extensions, or to check the release history.
The selection of extensions covers what the majority of users requires. You find plenty content blockers, shopping extensions, password managers, or search tools listed in the Store.
Note: you find themes under Photos for the most part; there is no special themes category.
Closing Words
The new Store, independent from Microsoft Store, has more to offer than the old already. Edge users may install extensions from the Store or head over to the Chrome Web Store to download extensions from there.
Now you: what is your take on what is offered as an extension for Edge?
What a surprise… a new day and (the same) people complaining again and again and again about something that doesn’t really affect them.
This is exactly why the world is in the dumb state it is now.
1. “Why would people use Edge……”: Because people can, how does that affect you? You are not forced nor they are, so what’s the problem? Why do you get so upset about Edge browser having more or less % than Firefox or Chrome or whatever other browser? You are not using it anyway.
2. “Microsoft telemetry” and you don’t know what it sends or not or how it is used for, you are just repeating what others are saying. Accept it, all other browsers are just the same, so who cares about company name if the result is the same? You either don’t use any browser or don’t complain about specific ones… or… make your own browser (but that’s a dumb suggestion).
3. “Why an extension store” Because Microsoft can, so who cares. I wish even Brave would release their extension store too, I see it on their github with a word experimental behind it but they haven’t talked about it yet. What’s wrong with wanting to get extensions without Google servers in the middle or google decision on what extension can and cannot be on the store?
Yes, there are many extensions that get either banned for political reasons like Dissenter (which probably would be banned on this store anyway because Microsoft is pathetic as any other “big tech”, but that’s why I hope for a brave store) or because they are breaking some Google rule like they can download from any source but youtube, there was also an extension AdNauseam that got banned from Chrome store long time ago because it messes with their ads business. So I don’t know why people complain about it. Like I said, I hope I can get a Brave Extension Store eventually because I think that’s a positive thing for the users not wanting to rely on Google anything if a person doesn’t want to.
Re: the advantages of the Edge Extension Store – they already have some extensions which do not appear in Google’s Store, like ‘Don’t touch my tabs!’. Also, uBO gets updated more quickly on Microsoft’s Store as MS seems to be more efficient with their checks. I’m already trying to shift as many extension installations as possible away from the Google Store.
For me as an addon developer it’s a nightmare to do release into yet another store. But I understand that such a big company as Microsoft would want to have their addons under control and not to rely on Google.
Why would anybody even use a bad Chrome clone with MS Telemetry…
Why would anybody ask dumb/loaded questions without a question mark?
It’s not really bad and giving your data to google isn’t any better.
shademess, microsoft has gone to the next level of spying. Edge includes UUID spying. not even google has dared to go this low. i wouldn’t use edge even if they paid me to use it.
I’m sure the Edge Store will be as big a success as the Microsoft Store. Also, nice of them to load up their new co-opted browser with additional forced telemetry and unstoppable data collection, just what the community needs right now.
Your link points to the German-language version of the Store.
Why keep the old store when the new store is already better?
This because of M.s. want us to use the new chromium-based browser and always uses ferry brutish methods ( as an example the way M.s. handled the upgrade from 7 to 10) to force us to upgrade. So why not now?
Even more to the point why have a M.s. store when you can install from the chrome store?
Is it easier to find add-ons on the M.s. store? I think not because M.s supplies fewer flavours.
Is it intended to be a partly backup from the Google Store?
Who forced you to use the new Chrome Edge? Just install other browsers, its really easy you know?
MS Store Extensions are tested by Microsoft unlike Chrome Store, it’s just like Mozilla Addons in the past. They want users to be secure and they have money to do it unlike Google and Mozilla.
“When you finish creating the submission for your Extension and click Publish, the submission enters the certification step. This process usually is completed within a couple of days, though in some cases it may take up to 7 business days. After your submission passes certification, your Extension is published in Microsoft Edge Addons unless you selected the Publishing hold options to specify that it should not be released until a certain date. You are notified when your submission is published, and the status of your Extension in the dashboard changes to In the Store.”
Yes Anonymous, In fact, I do not use Chrome Edge. I was pointing out the madness that M$ is adapting the chrome engine and then instead of creating in incorporation with Google one big better-maintained store, does that what the years before can corroborate, create a store who there were not able to maintain ferry well and with the 2.0 version still is poorly maintained.
Now we have two, not ferry well-maintained stores that have a lot of the submission criteria like you described but even with all those criteria is still full of all kinds of malware and spyware, etc.
Fantastic! A chrome clone without the edge! Microsoft is really movin on up in the world.
@Mystique
You should stop using the English language, as you didn’t make it yourself.
good to know – thanks