I’d like to add some features to Edge on my Microsoft Windows PC. What’s the best and safest strategy?
One of the problems with Internet Explorer over the years was that the original idea of add-on toolbars ended up rather a problem with malware toolbars and all sorts of chaos. I can still remember people having so many toolbars that half their Web browser window was covered by random toolbars that they didn’t even want! No surprise, when Microsoft replaced Internet Explorer with the newer browser, Microsoft Edge, they actually tore out the entire ability for users to add toolbars. Smart.
You can, however, still add Extensions, and there are quite a few of them. Fortunately Edge Extensions offer a lot of features and additional abilities, so you’re not left completely high and dry. In fact, most modern extensions work on a variety of browsers for your Windows computer, from Chrome to Firefox to Edge. One of my favorite extensions for any browser is Amazon Assistant. If you like to shop online or have Amazon Prime, you’ll quickly like it too.
So let’s look at how to install it! First and foremost, you’ll want to head to the Microsoft Store to get Extensions. Not the physical store, though, the app! Launch the Store program on your computer and look closely at all the categories along the top. The last one on the list is “Edge Extensions”:
There are about 75 total extensions available for Microsoft Edge, and you can see that Amazon Assistant is the most popular in the Shopping category, as indicated by its #1 location.
If you’ve ever bought music, movies or a game, you’ll know the process. Click on the app…
Proceed by clicking on… can you guess? Yes, “Get”. Click on the blue “Get” button to download this particular Extension.
It then downloads from the Microsoft server, and since it’s small, it’ll be quick:
Momentarily you’ll see the next button:
Once you launch an Extension, however, you’ll then have to approve the Extension being installed and enabled within Edge itself. No question, Microsoft has made it harder for additions to sneak into your Web browser!
A click on “Turn it on” and you’re good, it’s running.
There’s now a tiny black square with an “a”. Click on it and you’ve got a pop-up that gives you a connection direct to Amazon:
That’s not the useful part, however, because now that it’s installed, the extension will keep an eye on the pages you visit and if there’s a product you’re considering, the Assistant will compare it to the same product on Amazon. Sometimes it can be a startling difference in price, as you can see on this Walmart product listing:
Ob the Walmart site, this particular product is $69.00, but, as the Amazon pop-up bar highlights, it’s only $29.99 on Amazon. That’s quite a discount, I’d say.
Pro Tip: I’ve written quite a bit about Microsoft Edge and everything else related to Windows. Please check out my windows help while you’re here!