How to Test Your Website with Microsoft Edge

- select the contributor at the end of the page -

Updated: 9/1/2020

Web development can be a complicated business. We now live in a world where a responsive website is absolutely essential. Not only that, but it needs to look good and function correctly across a multitude of devices including everything from smartphones to televisions. This means that a successful website must stay true to the original specifications regardless of browser, device or display size.

In a perfect world, all Web browsers would interpret your site in terms of CSS, HTML and Javascript in exactly the same way, guaranteeing consistency across the board. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. Most browsers have their own Web page rendering engines, and while these aim to follow the Web rendering standards, there's always slight difference. For us Web developers this means testing a website across all modern browsers to ensure that the CSS, HTML and Javascript are rendered appropriately.

To test your website with Microsoft Edge on a Mac, you must have either Sierra (10.12) and later or iOS 11.0 and later. Then simply:
 

  1. Download the browser from Microsoft's website or the Apple store.

  2. If on a Mac, select the Microsoft Edge .pkg item from the Downloads folder.

  3. Sign in using any Microsoft account.

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

  5. Get started! 

Why You Need to Test Websites Across Browsers

Web development can be a complicated business. We live in a world where a responsive website is absolutely essential. Not only that, but it needs to look amazing and function correctly across a multitude of devices. For everything from smartphones to smart TVs, your website must stay true to the original specifications regardless of browser.

In a perfect world, all web browsers would interpret your site (in terms of CSS, HTML, and Javascript) in exactly the same way to guarantee consistency across the board. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. Most browsers have their own web page rendering engines. While these aim to follow the web-rendering standards, there’s always a slight difference in the end result. For web developers this means testing a website across all modern browsers is essential to ensuring that the CSS, HTML, and Javascript are rendered properly. 

Windows boasts 77.68% of the world’s market share and operates on dozens of devices including everything from laptops, gaming PCs, and tablets to smart TVs and phones. This makes it vital to test your work on Microsoft Edge. 

The purpose of this article is to discuss, in detail, how to test your website with Microsoft Edge on a Mac. In other words, if you’re using a Mac, how do you make sure your website renders correctly in the Microsoft Edge browser? Let’s discuss!

The New Microsoft Edge Browser

There was a time when IE was the Mac’s default browser (when Safari wasn’t yet an option). But now most leading tech companies have homegrown browser technologies. As for Microsoft, it has had a significant IE user base at an enterprise level for decades. Testing across all browsers on a Mac used to be especially tricky for developers. That’s because before Microsoft Edge came out, Internet Explorer was not compatible with Safari.

But, Microsoft’s recent switch to its new Edge browser has introduced a new landscape in which to test and IE is now relegated to “legacy compatibility” duties. Everyone is being urged to make the switch ASAP.

The good news is that Edge makes it much easier for you to test your website even if you’re developing on a Mac.

Mac Versions That Support Microsoft Edge

It’s not obvious how to test your website with Microsoft Edge if you’re developing on a Mac because most versions of OS don't support Edge. However, the very latest versions do, and they are:

  • Sierra (10.12) and later

  • iOS 11.0 and later

If you’re running one of those, then you can easily test your website with Edge on a Mac without doing any finagling. Microsoft has made this possible because, according to MacRumors, they wanted “to provide better web compatibility with improved performance for customers while also making sure there’s less fragmentation of the web for developers.”

How to Install Microsoft Edge on a Mac

In more detail, here is how to install Microsoft Edge on a Mac:

  1. Download Microsoft Edge from their website (make sure macOS is selected from the drop-down menu).

  2. Click Accept and download.

  3. Select the Microsoft Edge .pkg item from the Downloads folder.

  4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

  5. Click Get Started.

  6. Confirm whether you want to import browser data from Chrome or to proceed without doing it.

  7. Confirm a design layout.

  8. Sign in to any Microsoft account (Live.com, Outlook, etc.) to sync data or click Continue without Signing-In.

     

To install Microsoft Edge on an iPhone or iPad:

  1. Get the Microsoft Edge app.

  2. Sign in to any Microsoft account.

 

Once you complete these steps, just navigate to your website and test it out! However, note that Edge extensions or advanced products like WebVR will not work on iOS.

Learn More about Microsoft Edge

Now that you know how to download and test your website with Microsoft Edge on a Mac, it could be beneficial for you to know more about the Microsoft Edge browser in general. 

Pluralsight has your back with two different courses on the subject:

1. Microsoft Edge (Beginner): Learn the basics of using the browser, how to manage your profile and privacy settings, and unique features.

2. Microsoft Edge for Developers (Intermediate): Learn Edge’s origins and goals, new features, how to use upgraded dev tooling, and a few “gotchas” to avoid.

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Contributor

Rag Dhiman

has over a decade’s experience of working with clients to develop solid solutions to their problems. With a Microsoft and iOS background, he specialises in a range of technologies including XCode, Objective-C, OS X, Windows, HTML5, JavaScript, CSS, C#, .NET and SQL Server. Rag enjoys problem solving using up to date technologies; his current interests include the iOS Sprite Kit and the new iOS framework. He has developed multiple apps for mobile devices. In his spare time Rag likes to develop his photography skills and he is a petrol head who particularly enjoys motor car racing.