Forum Discussion
William Devereux
Microsoft
Nov 17, 2020Improvements to history in Microsoft Edge
Today, we’re excited to share two significant updates to history in Microsoft Edge. We know you have all been eagerly awaiting history sync, and we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve started rolling out support for syncing your browsing history and open tabs across devices. We’re also excited to reveal some improvements we’re making to the way you access your history. We introduced you to a new way of using favorites in Microsoft Edge a few weeks ago, and we’re bringing many of the same enhancements to history as well.
As with favorites, the new history experience is designed to help you quickly get back to the sites you’ve visited previously, including tabs you’ve recently closed or have open on other devices. And many of these changes are based directly on the feedback you’ve shared with us.
How often do you find the page you want in your history on the first try? Most of the time, there’s some trial and error as you switch back and forth between your history and the various pages to find the right one. The new history experience is designed to simplify this process by opening on top of the current webpage. From here, you can simply click through your history and watch as the page loads in the background. When you find the page you want, simply click anywhere outside of the history menu to close it. Of course, just like favorites, you can also pin history open for a more permanent view as well.
In addition to your browsing history, you’ll also find pivots for your recently closed tabs and tabs you have open on other devices. History will even remember which pivot you were on last for faster access next time.
We’ve updated recently closed to remember the last 25 tabs and windows from any past session rather than just the previous one, giving you plenty of time to return later. And you can now expand a recently closed window to see all the tabs you had open inside.
Support for syncing your browsing history and open tabs is a top-requested feature in Microsoft Edge. This feature is still under development and will be made available to everyone in the future, but users who are already part of the rollout will see a third pivot called Tabs from other devices. Here you’ll find all the tabs you have open in Microsoft Edge on other devices, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Note: Both devices need to have history and tab sync enabled for them to show up.
In response to your feedback, you can now add history to your toolbar right next to favorites and Collections for one-click access. Just open the history menu, click on the history menu button (), and select Show history button in toolbar. You can also customize your toolbar on the Appearance page in Settings.
The new history menu also includes all your favorite features from the history page, and you can clear your browsing history via the history menu. If you’d prefer a more immersive view of your history, simply select Manage history in the history menu or type edge://history in your address bar.
We’d love to hear what you think of the new history experience, so please leave us a comment below or let us know via the feedback tool in Microsoft Edge! These changes are currently available for users in the Canary and Dev channels, although sync may not be enabled in all regions yet. We’re also working on updates to the user experience for downloads and other content types. Stay tuned for more details!
— William Devereux, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft Edge
- RobertStewartBrass Contributor
2024 and 10 year still asking why the history sidebar cannot remember that last url you clicked as in highlighting it and keeping it highlighted until you click another url in the history list and keeping it highlighted. Even in your animations you can see that once your mouse leaves the sidebar the item is no longer selected. This makes in impossible to keep track fvthe last url you clicked when going through a long list of URLs that you want to revisit in order.
- paprisake_07Copper Contributor
why they removed thumbnails mode in history browsing? 😥William Devereux
- Huang_SongqiangCopper ContributorNow that the history records can be synchronized, will the history records of other devices have an impact on the computer's hard disk storage space?
- ikjadoonBronze Contributor
Now that Microsoft has removed the #edge-history-accelerator-override flag in edge://flags, will Microsoft be offering users any way to directly access the complete edge://history page with CTRL+H alone or should we believe that you "no longer believe" in that method as "important enough" for all users?
This toggle should've moved to Settings a long time ago. Why are we stuck in edge://flags anyways?
As of Version 97.0.1072.55 (Official build) (64-bit), anyways.
- kamikatze13Copper Contributor
can confirm this feature no longer works as of today. 97.0.1072.55 (Official build) (64-bit)
William Devereux This is literally critical for my workflow and forces me to switch to another browser vendor ASAP. Removing features without fallbacks is non-negotiable in my book.
- ikjadoonBronze Contributor
kamikatze13 Agreed. What a terrible regression. Why not give us the option? It's such a basic feature and decades of muscle memory.
For the shortcut key, which is predominantly used by "power users" that I might assume want to see the full page.
Until then, I've installed this AutoControl Chrome extension that, using "native extension" APIs, can properly control the shortcut combo. It needs a 300 KB "helper" app, but that allows it to 100% override Edge's confusing behavior. Here's how I've set it up. The "Peek Tabs" autofocuses the newly-created tab.
Still, what a ridiculous workaround. Is there any explanation forthcoming from Microsoft? What is wrong with a simple toggle?
You've add time to add:
...visual search
...QR codes
...two different PDF viewers
And not a single toggle for CTRL+H history full-page. 😞
- AebianCopper Contributor
ikjadoon Can confirm that the feature with opening the full-page history via CTRL + H is no longer available since the flag is gone. It would be really nice to have this now as a settings option William Devereux
- frogman2205Brass ContributorThis is all very fine, but I Still cannot get the new History function on ONE user account on a PC with 3 user accounts. This is despite it be updated to Version 90.0.818.62 (Official build) (64-bit)
see the link here for more info. Look back through the post for screenshots etc. from me and a few others !! I have done loads of diagnostics and deleted Edge profiles etc. HELP !!!
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/missing-history-button-in-edge-stable/m-p/2354669#M47329 - William Devereux
Microsoft
Hey everyone! This is William from the Microsoft Edge team. We know some of you really like using Ctrl+H to open the full page, so we've added a new flag under edge://flags to let you choose whether Ctrl+H opens the new history menu or the full page. This feature is now available in today's Canary build. Look for #edge-history-accelerator-override.
Along those lines, today's Canary also lets you open the full page by clicking on the Favorites/History/Downloads header in the dropdown menu or the pane, saving you a few clicks. See attached for a screenshot.
Please keep the feedback coming! We really appreciate it.- William Devereux
Microsoft
Hello again! As many of you know, we recently made it easier to access the full page for favorites, history, and downloads by clicking on the name of the feature in header of the dropdown menu/pane. We also added a new flag to set Ctrl+H to open the history page.
Starting with today's Canary build (91.0.851.0), we've added a few additional ways to quickly get to the full page:
- Ctrl+click on the favorites/history/downloads button in the toolbar or More Menu
- Click with the mouse scroll wheel on the favorites/history/downloads button in the toolbar
- Right-click and select "Open <content> page" on the favorites/history/downloads button in the toolbar or More Menu
These are in addition to the existing entry point in the "..." menu of the dropdown menu/pane, as well as typing "edge://<content>" in the address bar.
We hope these changes will make it even easier for you to get to the content you care about. Please keep the feedback coming!
- AprilWaltersCopper Contributor
So many mouse ways to access -- CTRL + J still opens the full Downloads page, but CTRL+H only opens the History menu and CTRL+SHIFT+O only opens the Favorites menu.
My end users are visually impaired or blind and use screen readers (JAWS) or magnifiers (MAGic and ZoomText). Keyboard shortcuts are essential! Perhaps y'all could have CTRL+H = History menu and CTRL+SHIFT+H = history TAB? Since CTRL+O is taken by Open, CTRL+SHIFT+O could be the menu Tab again, and ALT+CTRL+O could be the favorites menu?
While I'm wishing, I'd love a consistent shortcut for the "..." (more options) button. In Edge, ALT+F opens the Settings and More tab, but when there are other items with a "..." button in different screens of Edge (also in Teams), it can be difficult to TAB to it. perhaps CTRL+COLON could consistently toggle between any "..." buttons?
- EdgarAstrovCopper Contributor
William Devereux is it also possible for microsoft reps to be less cryptic?
What is the build number?
What is the name of the flag?
EdgarAstrov wrote:is it also possible for microsoft reps to be less cryptic?
What is the build number?
What is the name of the flag?
I agree,
please refer to my post here for all the info:
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/you-can-now-open-history-page-faster/m-p/2235883
That's pretty smart move, thank you!
I do have a feedback, other people asked for it too, sent many feedbacks for it.
why isn't the Pinned state of the flyouts Not remembered?
it's really important, kinda got tired of asking for it honestly since no one listens. I really don't want to have to Pin the favorites/downloads/history/collections Every Single Time to have a sidebar. if i Pin it to make it a sidebar once, i want to see the sidebar next time i open it, until i Unpin it.
I don't know why this obvious behavior is neglected.
I currently use sidebars 0% even though i really like them, and that's all because i'm tired of having to Pin the them every time.
- William Devereux
Microsoft
So glad you like it!
I can promise you we've definitely heard your feedback. We'll have more to share in the future. I'd love to learn more about why you want it to remember the pinned state though. Is it because you prefer to use the pane 100% of the time? Or do you switch back and forth between the menu and the pane but would prefer it remember the last used state until you're done with it?
- edzuckerCopper ContributorI really like the tabs from other devices feature and vertical tabs. This browser is definitely headed in the right direction.
- frogman2205Brass Contributorhttps://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/discussions/missing-history-button-in-edge-stable/m-p/2226080#M45560 tends t indicate it doesn't work properly
- ikjadoonBronze ContributorUnfortunately agreed that this feature feels a little too buggy to have been pushed to stable. It looks like we'll need to wait a few versions for fixes. It must have been fine for Dev / Canary users?
Still having graphical delays / jank as it opens.
Still needing a few clicks for search (which will be launching in 3 weeks on 90, but IMHO, it'd have been nice to incorporate that search into its launch as there is no provided fallback).
I feel for the JAWS Screen Reader users, as well.
- EdgarAstrovCopper Contributor
Why, just why? History tab was useful and easy to use, why do I need this horrible pos popup?
Why can't I see all the history like normal human
- Spoiler
EdgarAstrov wrote:Why, just why? History tab was useful and easy to use, why do I need this horrible pos popup?
Why can't I see all the history like normal human
What o.O
the old full-page history is still available, just press (...) button in history flyout and select manage history.
the flyout is so much better because if user wants to view their history, they Don't have to leave the page just to do something simple as viewing history. now you can do it on the same page you are working on.
- ebpcanimalCopper Contributor
William Devereux wrote "We’ve updated recently closed to remember the last 25 tabs and windows from any past session"
How do I remove items from the Recently closed list?There used to be a checkbox in Settings > Privacy... > Clear browsing data
to clear Tabs I set aside or recently closed but it's no longer there.And History > Recently closed page only lets me restore items, not delete them.
- William Devereux
Microsoft
Thanks for the feedback. Do you think you'd need to remove recently closed tabs often?
There's currently no way to remove individual items (this isn't possible on the edge://history page either), but you can get rid of them by clearing your browsing history. You can also open a recently closed tab, navigate to a different page, and close the tab again to change what's visible under recently closed.