Microsoft testing trimmed down menus for PWAs in Edge browser

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The new menus for installed Edge Canary PWAs look much more native than the current implementation.

New Microsoft Edge logo
New Microsoft Edge logo (Image credit: Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Microsoft Edge Canary has a streamlined menu in testing for progressive web apps.
  • The new menu shows fewer options when first opened to provide a cleaner experience.
  • A longer list of options is still available through the "more tools" area within the menu.

Microsoft continues to make progressive web apps (PWAs) appear more like native apps on Windows 10. The latest update to Microsoft Edge Canary brings a new menu that Microsoft is testing out on the Edge browser. The menu is more streamlined and compact, only showing options that would normally be relevant to PWAs.

The old menu for installed PWAs on Edge shows icons for extensions, a shortcut to copy the URL, and several other options that most people wouldn't use on a PWA. The current PWA is more compact than the standard Edge menu but still shows options you wouldn't expect from an app.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Spotted by Reddit user Leopeva64-2, the new menu shows options for "Pin to taskbar," "Pin to Start," "App permissions," "Privacy," and "Extensions." You can still access other options through the "More tools" area of the menu.

Source: Leopeva64-2 via Reddit (Image credit: Source: Leopeva64-2 via Reddit)

Microsoft is working on several features to make PWAs feel more like native apps on Windows 10, including setting PWAs as defaults for file types, setting PWAs as a share target, and the ability to run them when you log in. The company is also working on letting developers customize the title bars of PWAs with controls, such as search menus and navigation controls.

The new menu for installed PWAs appears in build 92.0.898.0, according to Leopeva64-2. Features in Edge Canary normally roll out to subsets of users, so you may not see this option yet.

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Sean Endicott
Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.