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Sign in with a Google account - Discussion
Hey, everyone! Thanks so much for this discussion, we've learned a lot from your comments. We'd like to first make it clear that we do not plan to integrate Google services into Microsoft Edge by default. We are considering including an opt-in experience for users to attach their Google account to Microsoft Edge but are not ready to make a decision on it just yet.
I'd like to take this time to reiterate what Elliot posted back in November: One option available to you today to use a single user identifier across the various services you use is to create a new Microsoft Account using a @gmail address.
As you know, you can currently import your data from Chrome by going to edge://settings/importData. You can also sign into Google websites and remember your password in Microsoft Edge to reduce the number of times you need to sign in. Accessing your Microsoft Edge data on-the-go is easily done by signing into Microsoft Edge with a Microsoft account and syncing with Microsoft Edge across other devices and mobile.
As always, we will update here once we have more information. Please continue to provide your feedback and suggestions around this feature; the team will continue to review feedback even if we have moved something to Not Planned.
There's been a lot of feedback on both sides here, but at the very least it's clear that this is extremely controversial and you should think hard if and how you do it. Honestly nobody knows the full makeup or views of the majority Edge users more than Microsoft. The people here are a self selecting group.
That said, a few things stand out to me:
- Microsoft spent a substantial amount of time REMOVING Google services from Chromium.
- Adding it back in a way that reintroduces ANY possibility of unwanted Google data collection would be counter to this effort.
- The people who know about the effort to remove Google services from Edge are clearly very excited that Microsoft did this, and many people likely use Edge specifically because of this. I am one of those people.
- Let's be honest though - most people probably use Edge for the same reason they used IE - it was the default of their computer. These people probably don't know its even possible to sign into Chrome, how to synchronize bookmarks to a phone, or what Chrome even is.
It is just not clear to me what the benefit of signing into Google sync is.
You can use Gmail, YouTube, etc on Edge just fine by signing into those websites. If people want full Google integration, there is literally a browser meant for that. Chrome. They should use Chrome. Why are they on Edge?
Maybe the reason is to use Edge on the desktop but to get it to sync to your Android phone? Or for people who can't install Chrome at work but want Edge to stay in sync with their personal computer? These sound like edge cases (pun intended) and should be addressed with an extension. Perhaps it should be an extension for Chrome or Android to update with Microsoft services data, not an extension in Edge to add Google data. Perhaps the same should exist for iCloud/Safari (if that's even possible). I just don't understand why someone would be adamant about using Edge while also only syncing via a Google account. You have an import process on first run. Who are you trying to woo over that would require exclusively Google sync? Don't make any changes until you fully understand the answer to this question.
If the concern is people want their bookmarks or tabs on their phone, the solution isn't to add Google sync, its to make Edge on mobile (and Edge sync) attractive enough to get people to use it on other devices. If you do integrate Google sync, I would integrate MANY sync services. Google, iCloud, Mozilla, etc. Make it standardized on how it handles the problem, as well as sandboxed in what it can do. Don't just add Google services back to Chrome. Add a bridge for syncing data over a contained and limited process so Google can't retroactively get their tentacles into Edge users, and so privacy supporters don't feel deterred by the addition.
This strikes me as the perfect scenario for an extension or a sandboxed "generic sync services" option. Not for reGoogling Edge.
CharlieMan wrote:There's been a lot of feedback on both sides here, but at the very least it's clear that this is extremely controversial and you should think hard if and how you do it. Honestly nobody knows the full makeup or views of the majority Edge users more than Microsoft. The people here are a self selecting group.
That said, a few things stand out to me:
- Microsoft spent a substantial amount of time REMOVING Google services from Chromium.
- Adding it back in a way that reintroduces ANY possibility of unwanted Google data collection would be counter to this effort.
- The people who know about the effort to remove Google services from Edge are clearly very excited that Microsoft did this, and many people likely use Edge specifically because of this. I am one of those people.
- Let's be honest though - most people probably use Edge for the same reason they used IE - it was the default of their computer. These people probably don't know its even possible to sign into Chrome, how to synchronize bookmarks to a phone, or what Chrome even is.
It is just not clear to me what the benefit of signing into Google sync is.
You can use Gmail, YouTube, etc on Edge just fine by signing into those websites. If people want full Google integration, there is literally a browser meant for that. Chrome. They should use Chrome. Why are they on Edge?
Maybe the reason is to use Edge on the desktop but to get it to sync to your Android phone? Or for people who can't install Chrome at work but want Edge to stay in sync with their personal computer? These sound like edge cases (pun intended) and should be addressed with an extension. Perhaps it should be an extension for Chrome or Android to update with Microsoft services data, not an extension in Edge to add Google data. Perhaps the same should exist for iCloud/Safari (if that's even possible). I just don't understand why someone would be adamant about using Edge while also only syncing via a Google account. You have an import process on first run. Who are you trying to woo over that would require exclusively Google sync? Don't make any changes until you fully understand the answer to this question.
If the concern is people want their bookmarks or tabs on their phone, the solution isn't to add Google sync, its to make Edge on mobile (and Edge sync) attractive enough to get people to use it on other devices. If you do integrate Google sync, I would integrate MANY sync services. Google, iCloud, Mozilla, etc. Make it standardized on how it handles the problem, as well as sandboxed in what it can do. Don't just add Google services back to Chrome. Add a bridge for syncing data over a contained and limited process so Google can't retroactively get their tentacles into Edge users, and so privacy supporters don't feel deterred by the addition.
This strikes me as the perfect scenario for an extension or a sandboxed "generic sync services" option. Not for reGoogling Edge.
I fully agree with everything you said here, especially: "You can use Gmail, YouTube, etc on Edge just fine by signing into those websites. If people want full Google integration, there is literally a browser meant for that. Chrome. They should use Chrome. Why are they on Edge?". You can do all of that just fine without signing into a Google account in the browser, you can even save your passwords to those websites. Signing into Edge with a Google account wouldn't even automatically sign you into Google websites. But if people want that, why don't they use Chrome? Chrome runs on the same browser engine and is made to be centered around Google services, workspaces, account, etc. But you can sign into Google websites in Edge just as easily.
All I'm saying is that people who want this shouldn't ruin Edge for everyone else. I am not insisting that they not use Edge. Edge has the same ability to access Google services and workspaces.
- What about people who use the computers provided by their organization (School, place of employment, etc.) which come installed with Chrome but not Edge (ie. non Windows 10 systems) and aren't allowed to download or install programs, and use a Google account to save their passwords, history, etc, and use Edge at home because of improvements such as improved battry life, smart profile switching, etc.
Or maybe parents that have kids with the same situation above, and use Microsoft Launcher for parental controls on their child's mobile device which prevents the from using Chrome.
It would be nice if Microsoft added an option to sign in with a third party account, much like they did with Microsoft Mail. It would then download a provider for the third party account that would provide most, if not all, of the features provided by said third-party account.
I understand everyone's argument. I think not everyone has thought about this completely. Just my 2 cents.Okay, that is a fair argument. But couldn't you download Chrome at home for those certain cases? That is a reasonable argument, and you make a good point. But Chrome is built entirely around compatibility with a Google account so passwords, favorites, and history are saved. You may just need a different browser for work. I fully understand what you are saying, it that case Edge would need the option to sign in with a Google account.
In that situation, Edge would need to have that ability, but think about what would happen if they did put in that ability. You have an honest legitimate reason, but when that option is added, the number of people who use a Microsoft account in Edge would decrease. Most people have a google account for YouTube, Gmail, etc. So people would just take the easy way and use their Google account instead of creating a Microsoft account. I'm not saying that not that many people have a Microsoft account because many people do, for Office, their Windows computer, Xbox, and Edge. But it could become a majority of Google account users than Microsoft account users in Edge. There's just a lot that goes into it before such a big feature like that is added. When you mentioned Microsoft Mail and the option to use any email address, I thought that maybe they should just put it in Edge, but Edge is really Microsoft's only browser, and giving people the option to use a Google account compromises too much. Edge was initially built for Windows computers and Windows users, and was all for the best possible browsing experience for Windows users, and for use with a Microsoft account. Edge was a Windows exclusive that offered the safest browsing, handy features that no other browsers offered (web inking, set tabs aside, reading list), and more with a Microsoft account. Edge could become just another Chrome. Then that would also take away the only really good feature about Chrome. The only thing that makes Chrome special is its clean Google account optimization. Edge is now more feature rich, and has better an more transparent settings than Chrome. The extensions and compatibility give Chrome no superiority over Edge anymore because they both run on Chromium. (Edge has always been a better, more feature rich browser anyway).
- Mason425
Forgive me, but do you mean Google Pixel, or do I not know what GooglePlex is?
- Spoiler
CharlieMan wrote:There's been a lot of feedback on both sides here, but at the very least it's clear that this is extremely controversial and you should think hard if and how you do it. Honestly nobody knows the full makeup or views of the majority Edge users more than Microsoft. The people here are a self selecting group.
That said, a few things stand out to me:
- Microsoft spent a substantial amount of time REMOVING Google services from Chromium.
- Adding it back in a way that reintroduces ANY possibility of unwanted Google data collection would be counter to this effort.
- The people who know about the effort to remove Google services from Edge are clearly very excited that Microsoft did this, and many people likely use Edge specifically because of this. I am one of those people.
- Let's be honest though - most people probably use Edge for the same reason they used IE - it was the default of their computer. These people probably don't know its even possible to sign into Chrome, how to synchronize bookmarks to a phone, or what Chrome even is.
It is just not clear to me what the benefit of signing into Google sync is.
You can use Gmail, YouTube, etc on Edge just fine by signing into those websites. If people want full Google integration, there is literally a browser meant for that. Chrome. They should use Chrome. Why are they on Edge?
Maybe the reason is to use Edge on the desktop but to get it to sync to your Android phone? Or for people who can't install Chrome at work but want Edge to stay in sync with their personal computer? These sound like edge cases (pun intended) and should be addressed with an extension. Perhaps it should be an extension for Chrome or Android to update with Microsoft services data, not an extension in Edge to add Google data. Perhaps the same should exist for iCloud/Safari (if that's even possible). I just don't understand why someone would be adamant about using Edge while also only syncing via a Google account. You have an import process on first run. Who are you trying to woo over that would require exclusively Google sync? Don't make any changes until you fully understand the answer to this question.
If the concern is people want their bookmarks or tabs on their phone, the solution isn't to add Google sync, its to make Edge on mobile (and Edge sync) attractive enough to get people to use it on other devices. If you do integrate Google sync, I would integrate MANY sync services. Google, iCloud, Mozilla, etc. Make it standardized on how it handles the problem, as well as sandboxed in what it can do. Don't just add Google services back to Chrome. Add a bridge for syncing data over a contained and limited process so Google can't retroactively get their tentacles into Edge users, and so privacy supporters don't feel deterred by the addition.
This strikes me as the perfect scenario for an extension or a sandboxed "generic sync services" option. Not for reGoogling Edge.
Why should Microsoft add google support? why google doesn't add Microsoft account login support to chrome to let users sync their stuff? huh?
this is Microsoft browser and there are easy ways to import data, there is NO need to add google integration or sign in of any form whatsoever.
the decision was already made on this side, now you can go to google forum and ask them if they will add Microsoft sync and sign in to their browser. literally, if google does it First then Microsoft should do it too.
there are disagreement over everything, that doesn't mean the decision needs to change. when a president is elected in a country and decision made, do you think people are 100% united and agreed about it? of course not. this is the same.
Also, It would be Insulting if Microsoft added google crap sign in to browser in any form. there won't be any reason to use Edge anymore, least not for me.
why the hell am I spending time testing this experimental Edge browser and not enjoy a stable chrome browser? why I accepted the risk and lost data over this browser to find bugs and fix them before others encounter them? because I want a Microsoft-only product. otherwise chrome is already there so i can just install it and forget Edge even existed. but no I'm testing, reporting feedback, trying to help to make this a better browser and I'm expecting Microsoft to respect me and keep it a Microsoft-only browser and don't compromise.
if Microsoft added google sign it it would be a spit in the face of all loyal users.
all the insiders, whether Windows insider, Edge insider etc, we want Microsoft product. there is absolutely no reason to include other companies crapware. we're not getting paid to test or help, it's with passion, so the least we expect is respect.
if anyone wants active sync between google and Microsoft, they should go and mention it to google first, see if they even consider this.
- The Golden Solutuon: a third party browser that has Microsoft and Google sync. Run it with task scheduler every time you sign in. Now everyone keeps their privacy, and everyone is happy. (At least in theory.) Will start on it this afternoon.
- CharlieMan I believe that there has been a fair number of posts for an extension.
Summary:
-People want google sign in.
-Other people strongly disagree.
-Other people are actively hostile agents the idea.
-People are proposing opt-in or an extension.
-People are continuing to strongly disagree.
-People are unable to reach a decision.
That seem right?Yes, I've seen the message about it being "Not Planned" and I've seen the other requests for an extension. I was just adding my thoughts - Microsoft says they monitor this for the future even after deciding against a feature.
Passwords, settings and autofill aside, we're talking about literally synchronizing a series of organized URLs: bookmarks, open tabs, history, extensions. There's no reason this can't be done in a sandboxed extension or generic sync option with severely restricted capabilities outside of that one function.
It's the Google integration into the core code of the browser that has people up in arms. Without clearly defined restrictions and sandboxing, just making it "opt-in" isn't comforting enough for people trying to avoid the most adept internet spying company in the world.
Of course, I'm assuming Microsoft cares about the pro-privacy market. Literally the only reason I'm using Edge is because it's not Google. It's entirely possible Microsoft just wants market share, and will be happy to tell me to use Safari or Firefox for privacy.
Wyatt C Jackson Yep. Just add
- microsoft says that they won't be adding this in anytime soon if at all
- people still continue to argue
- some people want it
- some people don't mind
- others are completely against it
- everyone seems to forget that it isn't happening
- repeat
