Windows 11 is just around the corner. And it’s not just a simple redesign of the operating system, but also your applications. Microsoft Edge too signs up for this renewal, showing an aesthetic more consistent with the design lines of the new Windows.
While 1 year ago the Edge team claimed that Microsoft Edge already had Fluent Design and that it was not necessary to add transparencies, the change of plans for Windows has caused that the change will be reconsidered to finally apply it.
At the moment, this design is disabled by default and users who are on Windows 11 or update this October 5 will not see it enabled. It will come later, with a new version of Edge. Therefore, from Microsofters we want to show you how you can enjoy this new look.
How to activate the new layout of Microsoft Edge
The fundamental requirements are to have Windows 11 and with Edge in its 94 version or higher. To check the version of Edge we have, in the address bar we will write “edge: // version”.
- We write in the address bar “edge: // flags”.
- Once inside, we search «Enable Windows 11 Visual Updates” and “Windows Style overlay scrollbars«.
- We change the values of both settings from «Default” to “Enabled«.
- It will ask us to restart Edge, so we click to do it. After the restart, we will see the new design.
The key changes for Edge rejuvenation
If you look closely, Edge’s design hasn’t really changed that much. It is still our usual browser but with a few new touches that make it more modern. We explain what exactly has changed.
Mica effect in the title bar
The first thing we observe is the title bar, which has gone from that light / dark gray to possessing the Mica effect, a new blur implemented in Windows 11 that uses your desktop background, regardless of the content behind the app.
Another notable change is in the context menus. Previously, the browser had a custom implementation of these, trying to imitate the Fluent style of Windows 10. But it was not quite right. Now in Windows 11 and thanks to XAML Islands, the browser uses exactly the same context menu style as WinUI.
New scroll bar
Microsoft has also decided to update the scrollbar. Previously, the scroll bar used in Win32-based programs was used, the same one used by Windows 8 and higher. Now, the browser has a new scroll bar based on the design guides of WinUI, much more minimalist and stylized.