Microsoft Edge Beta channel snags first update since launch

What you need to know

• The Microsoft Edge Beta channel received its first update since it launched in August.
• This update brings several features and bug fixes that have been in testing with Dev and Canary testers for the past several weeks.
• Key new features include tracking prevention and a new favorites button on the toolbar.

Microsoft rolled out the first update for the Microsoft Edge Beta channel today. The update comes severl weeks after the Beta channel was first launched in August, keeping roughly in line with Microsoft's promise of updates every six weeks.

This update brings bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features that have been tested with Dev and Canary channel Insiders over the past several weeks. Notably, the update turns tracking prevention settings on by default, and there's a new favorites button accessible from the toolbar.

The Beta channel's launch marked a significant milestone for the new Chromium-based Edge as Microsoft inches closer to its full release in the coming months. While the Edge team iterates much more rapidly with the Canary and Dev channel releases, the Beta channel is meant to act as a much more stable version of the browser while it's still in testing.

If you haven't given the new Edge a try, you can download and install the Edge Beta, Dev, and Canary channel builds directly from the Edge Insider site.