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This article describes how to configure Microsoft Edge on macOS using a property list (.plist) file. You'll learn how to create this file and then deploy it to Microsoft Intune.
Learn how to download the Microsoft Edge Chromium browser on your computer running on Windows, Mac, or Linux OS. The Edge has released a stable version. Microsoft Edge browser is the new guy in the browser community developed by the Microsoft team.
For more information, see About Information Property List Files (Apple's website) and Custom payload settings.
Note
This article applies to Microsoft Edge version 77 or later.
Configure Microsoft Edge policies on macOS
The first step is to create your plist. You can create the plist file with any text editor or you can use Terminal to create the configuration profile. However, it's easier to create and edit a plist file using a tool that formats the XML code for you. Xcode is a free integrated development environment that you can get from one of the following locations:
For a list of supported policies and their preference key names, see Microsoft Edge browser policies reference. In the policy templates file, which can be downloaded from the Microsoft Edge Enterprise landing page, there's an example plist (itadminexample.plist) in the examples folder. The example file contains all supported data types that you can customize to define your policy settings.
The next step after you create the contents of your plist, is to name it using the Microsoft Edge preference domain, com.microsoft.Edge. The name is case sensitive and should not include the channel you are targeting because it applies to all Microsoft Edge channels. The plist file name must be com.microsoft.Edge.plist.
Important
Starting with build 78.0.249.2, all Microsoft Edge channels on macOS read from the com.microsoft.Edge preference domain. All prior releases read from a channel specific domain, such as com.microsoft.Edge.Dev for Dev channel.
The last step is to deploy your plist to your users' Mac devices using your preferred MDM provider, such as Microsoft Intune. For instructions see Deploy your plist.
Create a configuration profile using Terminal
In Terminal, use the following command to create a plist for Microsoft Edge on your desktop with your preferred settings:
Convert the plist from binary to plain text format:
After converting the file verify that your policy data is correct and contains the settings you want for your configuration profile.
Note
Only key value pairs should be in the contents of the plist or xml file. Prior to uploading your file into Intune remove all the <plist> and <dict> values, and xml headers from your file. The file should only contain key value pairs.
Deploy your plist
For Microsoft Intune create a new device configuration profile targeting the macOS platform and select the Preference file profile type. Target com.microsoft.Edge as the preference domain name and upload your plist. For more information see Add a property list file to macOS devices using Microsoft Intune.
For Jamf upload the .plist file as a Custom Settings payload.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Microsoft Edge be configured to use master preferences?
Yes, you can configure Microsoft Edge to use a master preferences file.
A master preferences file lets you configure default settings for a browser user profile when Microsoft Edge is deployed. You can also use a master preferences file to apply settings on computers that aren't managed by a device management system. These settings are applied to the user’s profile the first time the user runs the browser. After the user runs the browser, changes to the master preferences file aren’t applied. A user can change settings from the master preferences in the browser. If you want to make a setting mandatory or change a setting after the first run of the browser, you must use a policy.
A master preferences file lets you to customize many different settings and preferences for the browser, including those shared with other Chromium based browsers and specific to Microsoft Edge. Policy related preferences can be configured using the master preferences file. In cases where a policy is set and there’s a corresponding master preference set, the policy setting takes precedence.
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Download Chromium Based Microsoft Edge
Important
All the available preferences might not be consistent with Microsoft Edge terminology and naming conventions. There’s no guarantee that these preferences will continue to work as expected in future releases. Preferences might be changed or ignored in later versions.
A master preferences file is a text file that’s formatted using JSON markup. This file needs to be added to the same directory as the msedge.exe executable. For system wide enterprise deployments on macOS this is typically: “~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Microsoft Edge Master Preferences' or '/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Microsoft Edge Master Preferences”.
See also
A while back, Microsoft Edge was just the default Windows 10 web browser. After ditching the old EdgeHTML engine in favor of Chromium, it has finally started to gain serious traction. And rather surprisingly, Microsoft Edge is now also available on the Mac. But how does it stack against Apple's own native Safari browser for macOS?
Safari runs like a charm on the Mac with great performance and battery life. But being based on the Chromium engine does give Microsoft Edge an advantage coming into unfamiliar territory. Google Chrome uses the same browser engine, so adopting Chromium guarantees Edge greater web compatibility.
I've used Microsoft Edge alongside Safari ever since its arrival on the Mac. Here's my take on how Microsoft Edge fares against Safari on Mac.
User Interface
Microsoft Edge doesn't attempt to do anything special compared to Chromium alternatives such as Opera or Vivaldi. But its user interface just works. The default tabs provide a search bar that you can comfortably type into and quick links to sites that you frequently visit. You do get a rather annoying news feed, but it's something that you can quickly turn off.
The browser features a slightly larger-than-average address bar, which makes performing Omnibox searches a breeze. The nifty profile icon also allows you to manage, create, and use multiple profiles conveniently. At the same time, the Edge menu gives instant access to browser settings, extensions, progressive web apps, and other features.
However, Microsoft Edge does feel rather clunky and rough. Animations and transitions feel jarring, and I've often experienced input lag while navigating the user interface. However, those issues aren't that serious to put a dent in your browsing experience. After a while, you won't even notice.
On the other hand, Safari feels smooth and polished to near perfection. But its tiny tab strip and address bar aren't exactly geared toward great user experience. The fact that you have to use the confusing menu bars whenever you want to configure the browser seems rather dated.
Performance
It's almost impossible to beat Safari on the Mac in terms of performance. After all, Apple knows its hardware and software the best. But Microsoft Edge doesn't lag behind with its new Chromium engine. In my experience, Microsoft's browser performs almost on par with Safari.
Furthermore, Microsoft Edge technically has better compatibility withwebsites, once again, due to Chromium engine integration. So if you have trouble accessing asite in Safari, you can almost guarantee that it would load up justfine in Edge.
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But what about battery life? Just like any native macOS application, Safari excels in that department.But Chromium has improved its efficiency over the yearson the Mac. So don't expect any rampant battery draining issues withEdge.
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How to Set Up Microsoft Edge Chromium on Mac: A Complete Guide
Read MorePrivacy Protection
Safari provides native protection against third-party cookies that monitor your browsing activity across websites. You can also ramp things up with content blocking extensions, which help a lot to thwart even more web trackers while improving page load times.
Microsoft Edge also doesn't disappoint when it comes to preserving your privacy. The browser comes with an integrated content blocking module dubbed Tracking Prevention. It offers three different levels of protection (Basic, Balanced, and Strict), which range from blocking tracking cookies, malicious scripts, to personalized advertisements.
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Download Microsoft Chromium Edge Browser
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Click here to see our macos articles pageExtensions Support
Starting with version 13 of Safari for macOS, Apple completely dropped support for legacy extensions, which was a terrible move (at least in my opinion) despite the concerns over privacy. Hence, the current crop of 'supported extensions' is minimal.
Also, most compatible extensions require a fee to work in the first place. As a power user, I now find Safari a hard sell on the Mac.
The new Microsoft Edge, however, offers an impressive and growing library of extensions. Just head over to the Microsoft Edge Add-ons store. You can find a ton of add-ons that can dramatically boost your productivity, enhance your shopping or social media experience, and more.
To make things even better, Microsoft Edge lets you install extensions designed for other Chromium browsers such as Google Chrome.
Data Syncing
While Safari is great at syncing bookmarks and passwords via iCloud to your iPhone and iPad, the browser isn't available outside the Apple ecosystem. Therefore, accessing your data on other platforms is often next to impossible. On Windows, the most you can do is sync your Safari bookmarks to Chrome or Firefox. And yes, better forget Android altogether.
Microsoft Edge for the Mac, on the other hand, is truly cross-platform. You can easily access your browsing data (bookmarks, passwords, extensions, etc.) not just on the iPhone and iPad, but also on Windows and Android. Of course, you must have a Microsoft Account to sync your Edge browsing data, but it's incredibly easy to create one.
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Read MorePick Your Weapon Wisely
Microsoft Edge is shaping up to be a terrific web browser on the Mac, with unique features such as Collections starting to differentiate it from the myriad Chromium clones out there. It also receives frequent updates and feature revisions, something that Safari sorely lacks.
Both browsers offer solid privacy-related features, so a switchover depends completely on what else you prefer. If you like a user interface that's easy to use, an extensions library that allows for endless possibilities, or the ability to sync your data across multiple platforms, then Microsoft Edge is worth trying out.
For those of you who don't stray out of the Apple ecosystem much, love the performance and battery life in Safari, or its pure stability and reliability, it's just better to stick to the Mac's native web browser.
Next up:Decided to go with Microsoft Edge on your Mac? Check the next link to easily import your browsing data from other browsers to Microsoft Edge on your Mac.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Read NextHow to Import Browsing Data to Microsoft Edge ChromiumAlso See
#Microsoft Edge #safari Did You Know
Microsoft Windows 1.0 was first released in November 1985.
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