By techworldtre Released in June 2021, Microsoft Edge version 91 marked a significant milestone in the evolution of Microsoft’s Chromium-based browser. With a strong focus on productivity, security, performance, and user experience, Edge 91 introduced several powerful new features and refinements that made it a more competitive and user-friendly alternative to other major browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
Whether you’re a casual user, a student, or a business professional, Edge 91 brought meaningful upgrades designed to streamline your browsing experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide to its most impactful features.
1. Enhanced Tracking Prevention (ETP) Improvements
Microsoft Edge has long prioritized privacy, and Edge 91 took Enhanced Tracking Prevention to the next level.
What’s New:
- Improved tracker categorization: More accurate blocking of third-party trackers across three levels: Basic, Balanced, and Strict.
- Fingerprinting protection: Prevents websites from collecting unique device/browser characteristics to track you.
- Cryptomining and social media tracker blocking: Built-in protection against cryptojacking scripts and invisible social widgets.
💡 Tip: You can adjust your tracking prevention level under Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
Why It Matters:
Edge 91 offered stronger privacy out of the box than Chrome, with less impact on page load performance.
2. Vertical Tabs – Now More Functional
Edge 91 refined its popular Vertical Tabs feature, making multitasking with multiple open pages easier than ever.
Enhancements in v91:
- Better visual organization: Tabs appear in a collapsible sidebar, freeing up screen space.
- Hover previews: Hover over a tab to see a live preview of the page.
- Drag-and-drop reordering: Easily rearrange tabs for better workflow management.
- Works seamlessly with tab groups: Color-code and label groups of related tabs (e.g., “Work,” “Research,” “Shopping”).
Best For: Users with 10+ tabs open—common among researchers, students, and professionals.
3. Collections Gets Smarter
Collections, a feature designed to help users save and organize content across the web, received usability improvements in Edge 91.
Key Upgrades:
- One-click export to Excel: Perfect for price comparisons, product lists, or research data.
- Improved syncing: Collections now sync more reliably across devices via your Microsoft account.
- Direct integration with Microsoft 365: Save content to Word or Outlook with a single click.
Use Case Example:
Save product details from shopping sites, then export them to Excel to compare prices—without manual copying.
4. Internet Explorer (IE) Mode – Enterprise Ready
Edge 91 continued to support IE Mode, a critical feature for businesses still reliant on legacy web applications.
What’s Improved:
- Better compatibility: Enhanced rendering for older intranet sites built for Internet Explorer.
- Seamless switching: Open IE-dependent sites directly in Edge without launching a separate browser.
- Group Policy support: IT admins can configure IE Mode policies across an organization.
Why It Matters:
Organizations could phase out IE (officially retired in 2023) while maintaining access to legacy tools.
5. Performance & Battery Efficiency
Edge 91 delivered noticeable improvements in speed and resource usage.
Highlights:
- Lower memory consumption: Edge used up to 30% less RAM than Chrome in multi-tab scenarios.
- Sleeping Tabs: Inactive tabs are put to sleep to reduce CPU and battery usage.
- Startup boost: Edge launches faster by deferring background processes.
📊 Result: Longer battery life on laptops and smoother performance on lower-end devices.
6. Kids Mode & Family Safety Integration
Edge 91 expanded its Family Safety features, making it safer for younger users.
New in v91:
- Kids Mode: A simplified, content-filtered browsing environment with curated websites (e.g., National Geographic Kids, PBS Kids).
- Parental controls via Microsoft Family Safety: Monitor browsing, set time limits, and receive activity reports.
- SafeSearch enforcement: Automatically enabled on Bing and Google.
Perfect For: Parents setting up browsers for children aged 5–12.
7. Immersive Reader & Accessibility Upgrades
Microsoft continued to lead in accessibility, with Edge 91 enhancing its Immersive Reader.
Updates:
- Read Aloud improvements: More natural-sounding voices with adjustable speed.
- Focus Mode: Highlights one line or paragraph at a time to reduce distractions.
- Picture Dictionary: Visual definitions for words (great for younger readers or ESL learners).
Useful For: Students, people with dyslexia, and language learners.
8. Edge Workspaces (Preview)
Edge 91 introduced Workspaces in preview—a feature aimed at boosting productivity.
What It Did:
- Let users create dedicated browser spaces for different projects (e.g., “Vacation Planning,” “Tax Prep”).
- Each workspace had its own set of tabs, cookies, and extensions.
- Synced across devices via Microsoft account.
⚠️ Note: Workspaces was later reimagined into “Profiles” and “Tab Groups” in future updates.
9. Security & Phishing Protection
Edge 91 strengthened its Microsoft Defender SmartScreen integration.
Key Protections:
- Real-time warnings for malicious websites and downloads.
- Detection of social engineering scams and fake login pages.
- Password Monitor: Alerts if your saved credentials appear in a data breach.
Enterprise Bonus: Integration with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 for advanced threat protection.
10. Developer Tools & Web Standards
For developers, Edge 91 brought:
- Updated Chromium base (v91): Better compatibility with modern web apps.
- Edge DevTools improvements: Enhanced CSS debugging, network analysis, and mobile emulation.
- Web Capture API support: Programmatic screenshot and screen recording.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft Edge 91 wasn’t just another incremental update—it was a statement of maturity. With smarter privacy controls, improved performance, better productivity tools, and robust support for enterprise and education, Edge solidified its position as more than just a Windows default browser.
While newer versions have since surpassed it, Edge 91 laid the foundation for many of the features users love today—especially in privacy, tab management, and accessibility.
✅ Pro Tip: Even if you’re on a newer version, understanding Edge 91 helps you appreciate how far the browser has come—and how much Microsoft prioritizes user-centric innovation.