Microsoft Edge version 90 will start rolling out to the Stable channel this week, and it will be the first major update to be released following the switch to a faster four-week release cycle. The main new feature in this release is the new Kids Mode, which will allow parents to set up a protected online environment in Microsoft Edge when their children need to browse the web.
Kids Mode can be accessed by clicking on the account profile picture in the upper right corner of Edge. When clicking on “Browse in Kids Mode,” parents will be able to choose between two age ranges (5-8 and 9-12) providing different curated experiences to kids. Microsoft applies the strictest tracking prevention level to both choices, and Bing SafeSearch is also enabled by default in Kids Mode.
“Regardless of the age group, Kids Mode limits the sites that kids will have access to – from the get-go there are about 70 popular kid sites that are allowed, but you can fully customize the list in a couple of clicks in Microsoft Edge settings. If your kid tries to navigate to a site outside of that allowed list, they’ll be greeted with a friendly block page, encouraging them to either ask for permission or try navigating elsewhere,” explained Microsoft CVP Liat Ben-Zur.
The other big new feature launching with Microsoft Edge version 90 is Passwords Monitor, a feature that started rolling out in January but is now generally available with the latest Edge stable release. Password Monitor can check if passwords saved in Edge are included in the lists of leaked credentials, and in that case the browser will invite affected users to update their credentials immediately.
Password Monitor also includes a useful password generator feature that will suggest unique passwords when users create new accounts on online services. Overall, Password Monitor should be a great free alternative to competing services like LastPass which recently added new restrictions to its free tier.
Another notable change in Microsoft Edge version 90 is the improved history search that now understands search terms like “news articles from last week” or “jacket from yesterday.” If you’re not seeing the update yet, don’t worry as it could take some time before Microsoft Edge version 90 becomes available on your PC. As a reminder, You can check for updates manually by opening edge://settings/help in the browser.
