How to Install Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu (26.04, 24.04, 22.04)

Microsoft Edge provides a Chromium-based browser optimized for Microsoft 365 integration, with sync across Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux devices. Common use cases include accessing Microsoft Teams directly from the browser sidebar, syncing passwords and bookmarks with Edge on other platforms, and testing web applications against Chromium rendering. By the end of this guide, you will have Microsoft Edge installed with automatic updates through APT, understand the differences between stable, beta, and dev release channels, and know how to cleanly remove the browser if needed. If you are exploring Chromium-based browsers, other options include Chromium, Google Chrome, Brave, and Vivaldi.

Microsoft Edge is available as both an APT package and a Flatpak on Flathub. This guide covers the APT method using Microsoft’s official repository, which works identically on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04. Microsoft Edge is not available through Snapcraft. If you prefer sandboxed applications, see our Flatpak installation guide to set up Flatpak on Ubuntu first.

Install Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu

This section walks through adding Microsoft’s official repository, importing the GPG signing key, and installing Edge through APT. The process takes a few minutes and provides automatic security updates.

Update Your System

Refresh your package lists and apply pending updates before adding external repositories:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

If you need to set up a user with sudo privileges before continuing, see our guide on adding a sudo user on Ubuntu.

Install Required Packages

Install the tools needed for secure downloads and GPG key management:

sudo apt install curl ca-certificates gpg -y

This installs curl for downloading the GPG key, ca-certificates for HTTPS verification, and gpg for key conversion. These packages may already be present on desktop systems, but minimal or server installations may lack them.

Import the Microsoft GPG Key

Import Microsoft’s GPG signing key to verify package authenticity:

curl -fsSL https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg

This command uses curl to download the ASCII-armored key from Microsoft, converts it to binary format using gpg --dearmor, and writes it to the keyrings directory. APT uses this key to verify that Edge packages are signed by Microsoft before installation.

Add the Microsoft Edge Repository

Create a DEB822 sources file that points to the Microsoft Edge repository:

sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge.sources > /dev/null << 'EOF'
Types: deb
URIs: https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge
Suites: stable
Components: main
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg
Architectures: amd64
EOF

This creates a dedicated microsoft-edge.sources file in the modern DEB822 format. The Signed-By field links the repository to the GPG key you imported, ensuring APT only accepts packages signed by Microsoft. The repository uses a universal stable suite that works across all Ubuntu versions without codename-specific URLs.

Verify Repository Access

Update your package cache to include the newly added repository:

sudo apt update

Verify that APT can access Microsoft Edge packages:

apt-cache policy microsoft-edge-stable

The output confirms the repository is working correctly:

microsoft-edge-stable:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: 144.0.3719.115-1
  Version table:
     144.0.3719.115-1 500
        500 https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge stable/main amd64 Packages

Install Microsoft Edge

Install the stable version of Microsoft Edge:

sudo apt install microsoft-edge-stable -y

Verify the browser is working:

microsoft-edge --version

Microsoft Edge 144.0.3719.115

Remove Duplicate Repository File

Microsoft Edge creates a legacy .list file during installation, even when you have already configured a .sources file. This causes duplicate source warnings during apt update. Remove the duplicate file:

sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge.list

This is a one-time fix. The file will not reappear during future updates because the package only generates it on first install. Verify the duplicate is gone:

sudo apt update

The output should complete without duplicate source warnings.

Install Additional Microsoft Edge Versions

The Microsoft Edge repository provides three release channels with different update frequencies and stability levels. You can install any or all of them alongside each other.

Factor	Stable	Beta	Dev
Updates	Monthly security + features	Weekly feature previews	Daily experimental builds
Stability	Production-ready	Generally stable, some bugs	Unstable, frequent issues
Use Case	Everyday browsing	Testing upcoming features	Development and feedback
Package Name	microsoft-edge-stable	microsoft-edge-beta	microsoft-edge-dev
Command	microsoft-edge	microsoft-edge-beta	microsoft-edge-dev

All three versions run simultaneously with separate launcher icons and independent profiles, so installing beta or dev does not affect your stable installation.

Install the Beta Version

The beta channel provides early access to upcoming features with weekly updates. This version may include experimental features and can be less stable than the stable release.

sudo apt install microsoft-edge-beta

Verify the installation:

microsoft-edge-beta --version

Microsoft Edge 145.0.3800.36 beta

Install the Dev Version

The dev channel provides daily updates with the latest experimental features. This version is intended for web developers and users who want to test early builds and provide feedback to Microsoft.

sudo apt install microsoft-edge-dev

Verify the installation:

microsoft-edge-dev --version

Microsoft Edge 146.0.3829.2 dev

Launch Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu

After installation, launch the browser from either the terminal or the graphical interface.

Launch from the Terminal

Version	Command
Stable	microsoft-edge
Beta	microsoft-edge-beta
Dev	microsoft-edge-dev

Terminal launch is useful for troubleshooting startup issues since error messages appear directly in the console.

Launch from the Applications Menu

Open the Applications menu on your Ubuntu desktop, search for Microsoft Edge, and click the icon to launch the browser. If you installed multiple versions, each appears as a separate entry.

On first launch, you can optionally sign in with your Microsoft account to sync bookmarks, extensions, and settings across devices.

Configure Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu

After installation, you can configure Edge as your default browser and customize initial settings.

Set Edge as Default Browser

Ubuntu uses the update-alternatives system to manage default applications. Set Microsoft Edge as your default web browser:

sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

The command displays a numbered list of installed browsers. Enter the number corresponding to Microsoft Edge:

There are 3 choices for the alternative x-www-browser (providing /usr/bin/x-www-browser).

  Selection    Path                              Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0            /usr/bin/firefox                   40        auto mode
  1            /usr/bin/firefox                   40        manual mode
  2            /usr/bin/microsoft-edge-stable     200       manual mode
  3            /usr/bin/google-chrome-stable      200       manual mode

Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number: 2

Type 2 (or the appropriate number for your system) and press Enter to set Edge as the default browser.

Initial Browser Setup

When you first launch Microsoft Edge, the browser prompts you to complete initial setup:

• Microsoft account sync: Sign in to sync bookmarks, passwords, and settings across devices. This is optional, as Edge works without an account.
• Import data: Transfer bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history from Firefox, Chrome, or other installed browsers.
• Privacy settings: Choose tracking prevention level (Basic, Balanced, or Strict). Balanced is recommended for most users.
• Search engine: Set your preferred default search engine. Edge defaults to Bing but supports Google, DuckDuckGo, and others.

These settings can be changed later through Edge’s Settings menu (edge://settings/).

Update Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu

Keeping Microsoft Edge up-to-date ensures you have the latest security patches and features. Updates are delivered through APT like any other system package.

Update All System Packages

The simplest approach updates all software on your system, including Microsoft Edge:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

• sudo apt update refreshes the package list to include the latest available versions from all configured repositories.
• sudo apt upgrade applies updates to all installed software, including Microsoft Edge, if an update is available.

This approach keeps your entire system current, minimizing security vulnerabilities and software conflicts.

Update Microsoft Edge Only

To update only Microsoft Edge without upgrading other software, refresh your package lists first:

sudo apt update

Then upgrade only the version you have installed:

sudo apt install --only-upgrade microsoft-edge-stable   # stable
sudo apt install --only-upgrade microsoft-edge-beta     # beta
sudo apt install --only-upgrade microsoft-edge-dev      # dev

The --only-upgrade flag updates the package only if it is already installed, leaving other system packages unchanged. Run only the line matching your installed version.

Remove Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu

To uninstall Microsoft Edge completely, remove the packages, user data, and repository configuration.

Remove Microsoft Edge Packages

Uninstall the Edge packages for the versions installed on your system:

sudo apt remove microsoft-edge-stable   # stable
sudo apt remove microsoft-edge-beta     # beta (if installed)
sudo apt remove microsoft-edge-dev      # dev (if installed)

Run only the lines matching your installed versions. Then clean up orphaned dependencies no longer needed by any installed software:

sudo apt autoremove

Remove Microsoft Edge User Data

Uninstalling the package leaves residual user data such as browsing history, bookmarks, cookies, and cached files. To completely delete this data:

The following commands permanently delete your Microsoft Edge browsing data, including bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history. Back up any data you want to keep before proceeding.

rm -rf ~/.config/microsoft-edge
rm -rf ~/.config/microsoft-edge-beta
rm -rf ~/.config/microsoft-edge-dev
rm -rf ~/.cache/microsoft-edge*

This removes browsing profiles for all three channels and clears cached files. Skip any line for a version you did not install.

Remove the Microsoft Edge Repository

Remove the repository configuration to prevent APT from attempting to access Microsoft Edge packages in the future:

sudo rm -f /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge.sources
sudo rm -f /usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg

Verify the repository was removed by refreshing the package cache:

sudo apt update

Confirm the Microsoft Edge repository is no longer recognized:

apt-cache policy microsoft-edge-stable

The output should show no repository URLs, confirming complete removal:

microsoft-edge-stable:
  Installed: (none)
  Candidate: (none)
  Version table:

Troubleshoot Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu

If you encounter problems installing or running Microsoft Edge, these solutions address the most common issues.

Repository Authentication Failures

If apt update fails with GPG errors about the Microsoft Edge repository, the GPG key may be missing or corrupted:

Err:1 https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge stable InRelease
  The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY EB3E94ADBE1229CF

Re-import the Microsoft GPG key to fix authentication:

curl -fsSL https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg
sudo apt update

The update should complete without GPG errors. If the error persists, verify the key file exists:

file /usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg

Dependency Installation Errors

If Microsoft Edge installation fails with unmet dependency errors, broken packages in your system may be blocking installation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 microsoft-edge-stable : Depends: libnss3 (>= 3.26) but it is not installable

Fix broken packages before retrying installation:

sudo apt --fix-broken install
sudo apt update
sudo apt install microsoft-edge-stable

After installation completes, verify the package installed correctly:

microsoft-edge --version

Edge Won’t Launch

If Microsoft Edge installs successfully but fails to start, check for missing library dependencies or graphics driver issues by launching from the terminal:

microsoft-edge

If the terminal shows library errors, reinstall the package to ensure all dependencies are present:

sudo apt install --reinstall microsoft-edge-stable

For graphics-related crashes, try launching Edge with software rendering disabled:

microsoft-edge --disable-gpu

If Edge launches successfully with --disable-gpu, the issue is related to your graphics drivers. Update your GPU drivers or make the flag permanent by editing /usr/share/applications/microsoft-edge.desktop and appending --disable-gpu to the Exec= line.

Frequently Asked Questions About Microsoft Edge on Ubuntu

Microsoft Edge Resources and Community Links

• Microsoft Edge Official Website
  Download links, feature highlights, and documentation for Microsoft Edge across all platforms.
• Edge Insider Community Forums
  Discuss beta and dev builds, report bugs, and connect with other Edge users and Microsoft developers.
• Microsoft Feedback Portal
  Submit feedback or feature requests directly to the Microsoft Edge team.

Conclusion

Microsoft Edge installs and updates through APT on Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04, and 22.04 using Microsoft’s official repository, with stable, beta, and dev channels available simultaneously. The removal section above covers complete cleanup of packages, user data, and repository files. For alternative Chromium-based browsers, see Opera for built-in VPN functionality or Ungoogled Chromium for privacy-focused browsing. To keep your system current, follow our Ubuntu package update guide.