Microsoft Edge on Chromebook: A Step-by-Step Installation Guide

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Chromebooks, known for their speed, simplicity, and security, have broadened their capabilities significantly with the integration of Linux support. This pivotal update allows users to extend the functionality of their Chromebooks beyond web browsing and Android applications, venturing into the realm of Linux-based software. Among the many applications now accessible is the popular Microsoft Edge browser. This guide will provide a comprehensive walkthrough on how to install Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook using two distinct methods, ensuring a smooth and efficient setup process.

Prerequisites: Enabling Linux on Chromebook¶

Before proceeding with the installation of Microsoft Edge, it is crucial to ensure that the Linux container is enabled on your Chromebook. The Linux container provides a virtualized environment that allows you to run Linux applications alongside Chrome OS. This is a prerequisite for installing applications like Microsoft Edge that are designed for Linux systems. Without enabling Linux, the installation methods described below will not be functional.

Step-by-step guide to enable Linux¶

Enabling Linux on your Chromebook is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to set up the Linux container:

1. Begin by opening the Settings application on your Chromebook. This can typically be found in the app launcher, often represented by a circle icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen.

2. Navigate through the settings menu to find the Linux (Beta) option. In most Chromebook settings layouts, you can find this option in the sidebar, often under the “Advanced” settings section or directly in the main settings menu depending on your Chrome OS version.

3. Once you locate the Linux (Beta) option, click on Turn on. This action initiates the setup process for the Linux container.

4. A new window will appear providing information about the Linux (Beta) feature. Click Next to proceed with the installation.

5. You will be prompted to specify a username for your Linux partition. Choose a username that you will remember. This username will be used when interacting with the Linux terminal and file system.

6. Next, you need to specify the disk size for your Linux partition. This is the amount of storage space that will be allocated to the Linux environment. If you are primarily planning to install a few applications like Microsoft Edge, leaving the setting at the default value is generally sufficient. However, if you anticipate installing numerous Linux applications or working with large files within the Linux environment, you might consider increasing the disk size.

7. Finally, click Install. This will initiate the download and installation process of the Linux container on your Chromebook. The time taken for this process may vary depending on your internet connection speed and Chromebook’s processing power.

Once the installation is complete, a terminal window will automatically pop up. This terminal window signifies that the Linux container is successfully installed and running on your Chromebook. You can now proceed with installing Microsoft Edge using either of the methods outlined below.

Important Note: It is worth noting that both installation methods described in this guide are primarily designed for Chromebooks with Intel or AMD CPUs. ARM-based Chromebooks might encounter compatibility issues with these methods. Therefore, it is recommended to verify your Chromebook’s processor type before proceeding with the installation.

Method 1: Installation via .deb Installer (GUI)¶

The first method involves using the .deb installer, which provides a Graphical User Interface (GUI) based installation process. This method is generally considered more user-friendly, especially for those who are less familiar with command-line interfaces. It leverages the visual file management system of Chrome OS to facilitate the installation.

Step-by-step guide for .deb installation¶

Follow these steps to install Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook using the .deb installer:

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft Edge Insider Channels download page. You can directly access this page by visiting: Microsoft Edge Insider Download Page. This page hosts the insider preview builds of Microsoft Edge specifically for different platforms, including Linux.

2. On the download page, locate the section for Debian Linux. It is crucial to select the Debian package as Chrome OS’s Linux container is Debian-based. Click the Download button associated with the Debian Linux package. This will download the Microsoft Edge .deb installer file to your Chromebook.

3. Once the download is complete, open the Files app on your Chromebook. The Files app is the built-in file manager for Chrome OS and allows you to access and manage files stored locally and in cloud storage services. You can find the Files app in your app launcher.

4. Within the Files app, navigate to the Downloads folder. This is where the downloaded .deb installer file for Microsoft Edge will be located. The file name will typically be something like microsoft-edge-dev_<version>_<architecture>.deb.

5. Double-click on the downloaded .deb installer file. This action will trigger the Chrome OS system to recognize the file as a Debian package and initiate the installation process.

6. A prompt window will appear, asking for confirmation to install the application. Click the Install button on this prompt. Chrome OS will then begin the process of installing Microsoft Edge using the .deb package.

7. After the installation process is completed, a confirmation window will appear. Click the OK button to dismiss this confirmation.

The installation of Microsoft Edge via the .deb installer usually takes a minute or two, depending on your Chromebook’s performance. Once completed, a notification will appear in the bottom-right corner of your screen, indicating that the installation was successful. You can now launch Microsoft Edge from the Linux apps folder within your app drawer. For easier access, you can also pin the Microsoft Edge icon to your shelf (the Chrome OS taskbar) by right-clicking on the icon and selecting “Pin to shelf”.

Method 2: Installation via Terminal¶

The second method utilizes the Linux terminal to install Microsoft Edge. This approach might seem more technical, but it is often quicker and preferred by users comfortable with command-line interfaces. Furthermore, installing via the terminal by adding the Microsoft PPA (Personal Package Archive) ensures that your Microsoft Edge installation is kept up-to-date with the latest versions automatically through system updates.

Step-by-step guide for Terminal installation¶

To install Microsoft Edge using the terminal, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal application on your Chromebook. You can find the Terminal app in your app launcher under the “Linux apps” folder, or by searching for “Terminal” in the launcher search bar.

2. Once the terminal window is open, you need to copy and paste the following block of commands into the terminal. These commands perform several actions: they download and install the Microsoft GPG key, add the Microsoft Edge repository to your system’s software sources, update the package lists, and finally install the Microsoft Edge browser.

   curl https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor > microsoft.gpg
   
   sudo install -o root -g root -m 644 microsoft.gpg /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/
   
   sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge-dev.list'
   
   sudo rm microsoft.gpg
   
   sudo apt update
   
   sudo apt install microsoft-edge-dev
   

3. Carefully copy the entire block of commands and paste it into the terminal window. It is important to paste all the commands together as a block to ensure they are executed in the correct sequence. You can paste into the terminal by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + V.

4. Press Enter to execute the pasted commands. The terminal will then proceed to execute each command sequentially. You might be prompted to enter your Linux username password when using sudo. Enter your password and press Enter. Note that as you type your password in the terminal, you will not see any characters appearing on the screen – this is normal Linux terminal behavior for security reasons.

5. During the installation process, you might be prompted to confirm the installation by typing Y and pressing Enter. This is to confirm that you want to proceed with installing Microsoft Edge and its dependencies.

Once the commands are executed successfully, Microsoft Edge will be installed on your Chromebook. You can launch it from the Linux apps folder in your app launcher, similar to the GUI installation method.

Post-Installation Notes¶

After successfully installing Microsoft Edge on your Chromebook using either method, you can start using the browser. It is important to note that while Microsoft Edge on Chromebook provides a functional browsing experience, some features might be currently limited compared to its Windows counterpart. For example, features like Microsoft Account synchronization might not be fully implemented or may be under development at the time of writing.

However, the core browsing functionalities of Microsoft Edge on Chromebook are largely consistent with what you would experience on a Windows system. You can expect a familiar browsing interface, rendering engine, and access to web browsing features. As Microsoft continues to develop and refine the Linux version of Edge, it is anticipated that more features and functionalities will be added over time.

Conclusion¶

Installing Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook is now a feasible and relatively straightforward process, thanks to the Linux support on Chrome OS. Whether you prefer the simplicity of a GUI-based installer or the efficiency of the terminal, both methods outlined in this guide offer effective ways to get Microsoft Edge running on your Chromebook. By following these step-by-step instructions, you can expand your browsing options on your Chromebook and enjoy the features of Microsoft Edge within the Chrome OS environment.

Feel free to share your experiences or ask any questions in the comments below!