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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).
- Thanks for all your enthusiastic responses. We'd love to keep this discussion going, but let's keep it specifically to responses around this feature ask. Conversations around which browser or company is better are off-topic, and finding another community member is best done through other channels.
Limited access on corporate computers is a real thing.
I think the main argument is exceptions like that should be handled via a cloud service, an edge extension, or a chrome extension.
People are VERY concerned about having any google tracking code built into edge. just saying "it wont activate until you choose to use it" doesnt feel safe enough. google has broken every barrier it can. it needs to be sandboxed out of edge.
- What about a browser in which you can sign into your Microsoft, Minecraft, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Mozzarella, Samsung, iCloud, etc... account. Talk about privacy.
I already gave a suggestion. Y'all pretty much said no. And yet, you keep suggesting basically what I already said. Make up your mind.
I think this thread is getting out of control and should be locked. If you have got any problem with what I said, <EDIT> please</EDIT> PM me.
My 2 cents.
- Mason425
Forgive me, but do you mean Google Pixel, or do I not know what GooglePlex is?GooglePlex is the headquarters of Google. It's like the White House. 🙂 It has a LOT of luxury.
