Microsoft instructed Home windows Newest that Collections and Sidebar are now not to be had with Edge 149, which started rolling out on June 4, 2026.
For those who’ve been the usage of Microsoft Edge (Chromium) from day one, you’d most probably remember the fact that Microsoft made a gigantic deal out of Collections. I in reality beloved the theory at the back of Collections, which was once to assemble and prepare pieces you come back throughout on the internet, specifically whilst you’re buying groceries.
At the moment, Microsoft argued that it designed Collections “according to what you do on the internet.” As an example, when you use the internet to buy your favourite merchandise, you’d like to assemble pieces you come back throughout and examine them sooner or later. Or when you cross on widespread holidays, you’d use Collections to prepare all of your go back and forth data in one position.
Right here’s what Edge Collections gave the look of when it first shipped:
In some way, Collections was once very similar to favorites (bookmarks). You should create a bookmark folder and membership pieces within it. That is how we used to “gather” stuff on the web till Microsoft instructed us it was once improper. The corporate argued that Collections was once how one can gather and prepare data, because of visible comparability, notes, wealthy content material, and extra.
Microsoft described Collections as a workspace to actively “gather and examine pieces” for buying groceries or to “prepare your internet analysis” for college. Moreover, whilst you percentage or export your collected pieces into apps like OneNote or Outlook, “you’re going to get a wealthy replica of the content material.”
The corporate now not believes in that imaginative and prescient, or, to be truthful, the brand new “Microsoft AI” group now not believes in any of that as it can’t have AI. Because of this, the Collections characteristic is now not to be had.
“Collections is now not to be had beginning with Microsoft Edge model 149, launched on June 04th, 2026,” Microsoft mentioned.
Microsoft additionally instructed me that it’s been caution in regards to the Collections sundown for some time now, so you’ll take motion, equivalent to exporting the whole thing sooner than the characteristic is deleted.
This implies you’ll lose all of your Collections when you don’t migrate to favorites or export your information sooner than upgrading to Edge 149.
“To stay stored content material, customers can export it or transfer all pages to Favorites sooner than updating to Microsoft Edge Solid,” the corporate warned.
As an example, when I put in Edge 149 with out backing up Collections, I will now not get entry to any of my pieces. The focus is the brand new Copilot button, which makes use of “Chat” textual content and is now expandable, so you’ll both select to speak or communicate to Copilot with voice.
Sidebar has been got rid of with Edge 149
Collections characteristic isn’t the one thought disappearing nowadays. Sidebar has been got rid of with Edge 149 as neatly.
Identical to Collections, Microsoft additionally made an enormous deal out of the “Sidebar” characteristic, which helps you to get entry to “mini” internet apps like Outlook, Bing, and others from the fitting sidebar. Sidebar is a a long way higher thought than “break up display,” as you’ll simply toggle between complete display and sidebar.
Beginning with Microsoft Edge 149, Sidebar is now not to be had, and you’ll’t repair it the usage of a characteristic flag.
Sidebar could also be the panel this is used to energy the Copilot enjoy, so is Copilot getting the reduce as neatly? No, Microsoft says that you just don’t have to fret, as Sidebar elimination does no longer have an effect on Copilot. In truth, it is helping the corporate focal point on Copilot and make it even higher.
Microsoft Edge is now underneath Microsoft AI management, and that seems to be doing extra hurt than just right. First, Edge become a Copilot browser, dropped its distinctive design language in want of an AI-inspired interface, and now it’s shedding two of its flagship options.
Microsoft Edge isn’t the preferred browser on the web, but it surely now holds a significant 9% desktop marketplace percentage.
CEO Satya Nadella additionally showed that Edge registered expansion for 20 consecutive quarters, which is a brilliant feat. Then again, expansion doesn’t imply Microsoft understands what its consumers need. It doesn’t.
