Microsoft Edge is committed to keeping you safe online. We aim for security that is smart, built-in, and easy for everyone. That’s why we’re excited to introduce “instant updates,” which makes getting the latest browser version more effortless than ever. Instant updates is an opt-in feature that restarts your browser to install any pending updates while you're away from your computer. This means that critical security bug fixes will reach you faster, and new features and enhancements will be available to apply earlier. You never have to think about it, and your browsing will be optimized and secure.
Today, many browsers, including Edge, wait for you to manually close and restart the browser to apply updates. This can be inconvenient and can result in some users going days without getting the latest update. The instant updates feature goes beyond the “automatic” updates offered by other browsers, because it doesn’t require you to take the action to restart your browser. Instead, with this feature, Microsoft Edge is smart enough to know when you step away from your computer and restart when there are any pending updates. After Microsoft Edge restarts, it will automatically restore your tabs, so you can easily resume your tasks, knowing you have the most updated version.
How instant updates work
Microsoft Edge instant updates is designed to recognize when you're actively using your browser or computer. This ensures an uninterrupted browsing experience, whether you're editing a document, downloading files, or streaming media.
This feature is designed to restart and update the browser when it isn't in use. However, one must acknowledge their expectations and the possibility of losing unsaved content input work during the restart.
As we continue to preview the feature, your feedback is crucial. We greatly appreciate your input as we strive to continuously refine and improve this feature You can submit feedback by going to Settings and more > Help and feedback > Send feedback.
Note: Instant updates doesn’t work when using InPrivate browsing mode or Guest sessions.
How instant updates work
This feature is off by default, to turn it on:
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In Microsoft Edge, go to Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
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You can also go directly to Privacy Settings. Open your browser and enter the follwoing: edge://settings/privacy#instantupdates
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Under Security, turn on the switch for Instant update. If you want to turn off the feature, turn the switch to the off position.
After you have turn on the feature, the following notification will alert you of any pending browser updates waiting to be installed. The notification appears when your computer is idle. This notification is designed to inform you about the upcoming browser restart in case you return to your browser during this time. It’ll only appear when your device is idle, ensuring minimal disruption. When the countdown concludes, the browser will automatically open to apply the latest update.
Frequently asked questions
This feature is designed to update the browser when you aren't actively using it, but there's a risk of content input loss if you have unsaved work or open tabs that could be lost or closed during the update. While not an exhaustive list, content input loss might occur in the following scenarios: unsaved documents and unsaved incomplete forms.
Many modern web applications are designed to automatically save data in the background, ensuring a seamless user experience. However, some older web applications may not have this capability.
After 15 minutes of inactivity and without any active wake locks, the feature will show a notification alerting you that the browser will be restarted soon.
When the notification appears, Edge will restart in 5 minutes.
If you continue to be idle with no active wake locks during this time, the browser will restart to apply the pending update.
This process makes sure that the browser restarts after a minimum of 20 minutes of device inactivity. This way, updates can be applied without disrupting your workflow.
When the browser restarts to apply the update, Edge will automatically restore your browser tabs so you can easily pick up where you left off.
If your tabs don’t restore, you can right-click the title bar in Edge, which displays the title of the website you’re viewing, and select Restore window or use the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+T. For more info, how to find tabs in your browser history or change your Edge browser settings, see how to reopen closed tabs.
We’re actively collaborating with our commercial partners to gain a deeper understanding of their needs, with the aim of developing a robust group policy that IT administrators can use effectively. Currently, the instant updates feature doesn’t have an associated policy available. We’re committed to addressing this gap and will keep you updated on our progress.
If Microsoft Edge is running but minimized, the update will still be applied. Edge will remain minimized and automatically restore your browser tabs, allowing you to seamlessly continue from where you left off. If Edge isn't running, the update will be applied the next time you open the browser.
The edge://discards/ page provides insights into whether there are wake locks preventing a tab from entering sleep mode. The "Can Sleep?" tab indicates if the tab is playing audio or video.
Users can also check by opening an elevated command prompt and running the following command:
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On Windows: powercfg /requests
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On MacOS: pmset -g assertions
The output shows all current wake locks on your device, wake locks that aren't from Microsoft Edge won't prevent the browser from getting an update.
