Forum Discussion
ETA for ARM / Snapdragon support of Edge Chromium
Not sure if this has been asked before, but is there an ETA for an ARM compatible build of Edgium? The 32bit version works in emulation mode, but ARM native would be much faster and more power efficient.
The original Edge mostly works on ARM, but it is painfully slow on YouTube (blame Google), and doesn't support custom searches, both of which are a regular pain point for me. Edit: Edge Chromium on ARM is also sorely needed for the Surface Pro X!
Edit: it's here, in fact it's been here for a while. I think it should auto install if the installer detects an ARM system, correct me if I'm wrong.
Hi ChromeRefugee, I am jumping straight to the end to respond. We are working on a native ARM64 version of Microsoft Edge. You can read about it here: https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2019/04/08/microsoft-edge-preview-channel-details/#d4RSZSQO3yPS3Bv6.97. While we don't have anything to announce now, please be sure that we are still working diligently on bringing our new browser to ARM64 devices as soon as possible. Thanks - Elliot
38 Replies
...and finally, just late enough to make sure reviewers of the Pro X got a bad first impression, it's here: https://www.onmsft.com/news/microsoft-releases-canary-channel-version-of-microsoft-edge-for-arm-almost-just-in-time-for-surface-pro-x. Better late than never I guess!
Now why the heck has the team been so quiet on release dates for ARM builds?!
ChromeRefugee Did they take this down? I don't see a way to select ARM on the Canary or any of the other channels.
Mike719 Not as far as I know. The Stable channel includes an ARM build for WOA devices. If you install Edge from the https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge?form=MO12GC&OCID=MO12GC, it should automatically install the ARM version if you're installing on an ARM system. Once you run it, there's a way to check if it's the ARM version in the Task Manager, see http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/threads/samsung-galaxy-book-2-2018.74455/page-37#post-541879.
Daniel Rubino over at Windows Central sounds mighty peeved about the absence of even a canary version of Edgium on ARM for the Pro X, see https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-needs-release-its-arm64-edge-now. He's not mincing words..
Notably, he's claiming that the versions floating around the internet (I'm thinking via the Telegram channel) work quite well, so without further clarification of what those show-stopping bugs are I agree that it's inexplicable and frustrating that we can't install this through an official method.
ChromeRefugee I may sound like a conspiracy theorist, but my theory is always that it has something to do with Intel, Intel has huge clout and even giant companies like Google, Microsoft and Adobe are at the mercy of Intel's constant threats, maybe Intel threatens Microsoft with promoting Ubuntu or other Linux, maybe Intel threatens Google to remove discounts on Xeon server chips, maybe Adobe is threatened by Intel some other way. I say this because Intel has behaved like that for decades, and surely they see these Arm Windows 10 laptops as a major threat. Officially Intel has already threatened to sue everybody over the emulation that's happening in these. Even though Intel has had to emulate Arm on every Intel Android device shipped thus far.
Charbax Yeah, I don't know if it's intel, but when you have a compiled Canary version obviously available, it's hard to come up with a reason for NOT releasing this to willing testers. It's even harder to come up with a reason that MS wouldn't be willing to verbalize! The fact that they quietly hold back a usable Canary version makes it seem like they have a legal/IP issue.
- Does anyone know where twitter user ADeltaX gets his ARM64 Edge builds? He uses a bot to post links to - presumably - freshly compiled exe files, but I'd rather get them directly from Microsoft. It seems like a bad idea to install executables posted by a third party!
I checked his Telegram channel, the ARM build is there
If this was a response to my question, I know where to find his exe links, but I wonder if there's an official page (e.g. MS Git page? Disclosure, I don't know what I'm saying). ADeltaX sounds like a nice guy, but installing exe files from an unknown location is kind of bad practice!
There is a Telegram channel that is releasing the newest builds of Edge Chromium for x86, x64, and ARM. I have been running it on my Galaxy Book2 for a while now with no ill effects. It is super smooth and much faster than the x86 builds. All the usual "not an official build, try at your own risk" blah blah blah applies.
Edit: Also, looks like January 15th is the target date for an official ARM64 Edge Chromium build.
https://t.me/MSEdgeUpdatesThanks for linking the Telegram channel. I just installed it - and it is running great even on my older HP Envy X2 - really smooth.
Makes you wonder why there is no official beta or canary version available from Microsoft? I mean a beta program is there in order to iron out all the bugs - so the explanation about a bug holding the beta release back does not sound reasonable to me.
- Awesome thanks a lot for that Telegram! My Snapdragon 850 Laptop is getting smoother every day now! Firefox ARM64 (official beta) and now also EdgeChromium ARM64 (unofficial Telgram beta), nice!
- Let's hope that date doesn't get pushed back.
Meanwhile the Office team really need to get Office on ARM sorted.
Well, at least the dev team knows about ARM CPUs, because the latest update mentions "Fixed an issue where protected video like on Netflix doesn’t work on ARM devices." That still probably refers to the emulated x86 version though. Baby steps.
Hi ChromeRefugee, I am jumping straight to the end to respond. We are working on a native ARM64 version of Microsoft Edge. You can read about it here: https://blogs.windows.com/msedgedev/2019/04/08/microsoft-edge-preview-channel-details/#d4RSZSQO3yPS3Bv6.97. While we don't have anything to announce now, please be sure that we are still working diligently on bringing our new browser to ARM64 devices as soon as possible. Thanks - Elliot
Elliot Kirk Thanks for responding. I hope we'll see a beta before the end of the year. Fingers crossed!
My understanding is that the version of Edge that can be installed on Android phones is compiled for Arm it's also using the Chromium engine. I don't know if it's 32 bit or 64 bit though but I do use it on my Android phone and it runs very well. I haven't heard anything and am just speculating but I would think that this could be used on Arm versions of Windows hardware. ChromeRefugee
- Thanks. I'm 99% sure that they'll go with the actual Edge Chromium based code that we can already use on ARM device, but in emulation mode. That version of Edge is optimized to work with large screens unlike - I assume - the android or iOS versions.
To bring a native Edge Chromium build to WOA systems they "simply" need to compile their existing code for ARM. It's beginning to look like they are having some problem though, either software, or perhaps patenting/licensing related. Totally guessing, but it's just weirdly quiet on the ARM front.
Continuing my conversation with myself: given that we haven't even seen a BETA version of Edge Chromium on ARM, I'm going out on a limb and predict that MS will not have Edgium ARM ready for the Surface Pro X.
Predicted result: users will install Chrome (because standard Edge is not up to snuff for many), then find out that Chrome runs terribly in emulation mode, which they will blame on the Pro X, which will lead to a tarnished image of the Pro X.
Now that the Surface Pro X is available for preorder, I would hope a native ARM64 compile of Edge Chromium is almost here. Is there any news on where/when to download it?
Update: it turns out that this we can now at least run a compatible version: going to https://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com/en-us/ on your WOA / WOS device and running the installer works just fine. Would be nice if this was communicated more clearly to people with Win10 ARM devices.
Note that this installs 32bit Edge. WOA doesn't (and won't) support x64 software (i.e. 64bit x86 software). Also note that the 32bit install most likely won't let the user know when a native ARM version becomes available, so keep an eye on the blog I guess.
When I use your posted link c2rsetup.officeapps.live.com is downloaded, however when I attempt to run the file it wants me to download an app in order to run it. In theory the app needed is the office deployment tool. Any tips you can offer to get this baby running?
A browser that works would be an outstanding feature for my HP Elite 3.
saabnut The HP Elite X3 is a Windows Phone 10 device right? I don't have experience with that model, I was talking about installing Edge Chromium on a WOA device (full Windows, not Win10 Phone). I don't think Win10 phone includes the emulation code to run x86 apps such as the current Edge Chromium.
Hi, that's a great question. The majority of upcoming features and updates for supporting additional OS versions do not have actual hard dates attached.
The ARM version is being worked on and hopefully will release soon, since I am looking forward to it as well! LOL
I would advise to keep watch on the "https://www.microsoftedgeinsider.com/en-us/whats-new" page since impending updates appear there first.
I hope this helps.
Eddie
Eddie_B do you happen to have any new information on the ARM version of Edge Chromium? As you can tell from my previous reply above, I'm concerned that the lack of a native ARM version will hurt the Surface Pro X product launch. I hope you have some news to share, preferably of the positive variety.
