Microsoft quietly began introducing a major visual and functional transformation for its Edge browser.

In January 2026, Microsoft quietly began introducing a major visual and functional transformation for its Edge browser. The update aligns Edge more closely with the design philosophy of Microsoft’s Copilot AI, marking a clear departure from the long-standing Fluent Design system and reinforcing the company’s push toward an AI-first user experience.

A New Look Built Around Copilot

The redesign reshapes nearly every visible part of the Edge interface, giving the browser a softer, more modern personality:

Refined Visual Style: Edge now adopts calmer color tones, including a signature “Copilot blue,” refreshed typography, and rounded UI elements that create a more approachable feel.

Redesigned Interface Elements: Core areas such as the New Tab Page, settings screens, right-click menus, and dropdowns have been reworked to closely resemble the standalone Copilot app.

Beyond AI-Only Modes: Although the new design is most noticeable in the experimental Copilot Mode, testers using Canary and Dev builds report that the updated visuals remain active even when AI features are turned off.

Smarter Browsing with Embedded AI

Alongside the aesthetic changes, Microsoft is embedding deeper AI-driven functionality directly into Edge:

Copilot Mode: A simplified, task-focused browsing environment replaces the traditional homepage with a single input field for searching, chatting, and navigating.

Copilot Actions: These agent-style features allow Edge to carry out multi-step tasks—such as booking travel, completing online forms, or managing subscriptions—on the user’s behalf.

Cross-Tab Intelligence: Copilot can process and summarize information from as many as 30 open tabs at once, making it easier to compare sources or answer complex questions.

Copilot Vision: An optional feature that lets the AI interpret on-screen content in real time, offering contextual insights, guidance, or summaries as you browse.

Rollout Timeline

The redesigned Edge experience is currently limited to Canary and Dev preview builds on Windows and macOS. Microsoft is expected to push the update to the stable version of Edge in the coming weeks. Users eager to try it early can enable Copilot Mode or explore the new settings within preview releases.

BY – Aaradhay Sharma