Microsoft Edge Dev improves one of its best features with final update of 2022

What you need to know

• Microsoft has just released an update that brings Edge Dev to version 110.0.1556.0.
• The update adds new options for the Sidebar feature and includes several fixes and improvements.
• This is the final update for Edge Dev of 2022.

Earlier this year, Microsoft introduced a Sidebar to Edge. The feature allows you to open a small secondary window inside Edge, which is handy for quickly performing tasks, searching the web or sending messages. This week, Microsoft sent the final Dev Channel Insider update for its 2022 Edge browser, and it includes several new options for the Sidebar within the browser.

In addition to the new Sidebar options, the update brings several fixes and improvements, which Microsoft detailed in a Tech Community post (opens in new tab).

Edge Build 110.0.1556.0: Added features

• Sidebar window can now be resized.
• Sidebar now has mute/unmute menu.
• Sidebar apps now support push notifications.
• You can now access Sidebar search in PWAs.
• Web View 2:
  • Gamepad data fetching has been added to the Game Import API from the Microsoft GDK.
  • Added “Toggle Visibility” menu item under “View” tab in WinForms.
• Undertaking:
  • New Policy: (Note: Updates to documentation and administrative templates may not have occurred yet)
    • Added SearchInSidebarEnabled policy.
    • Added WorkspacesNavigation Settings policy.

Edge Build 110.0.1556.0: Improved reliability

• Fixed a crash while playing the Surf game.
• Fixed a browser crash when adding a third party site to Sidebar.
• Fixed browser crash related to Sidebar.
• Fixed browser crash when activating Mini Menu.
• Fixed browser crash issue after a period of activity usage.
• Fixed Recovery tabs being prompted on every launch due to a crash.
• iOS:
  • Fixed browser crash related to collections.
  • Fixed browser crash when switching accounts.
  • Fixed browser crash related to tooltips window.
  • Fixed browser crash related to reading list.
• Android:
  • Fixed browser crash when switching accounts.
  • Fixed browser crash when sharing files.
  • Fixed Read Aloud crash issue while reading some pages.
  • Fixed browser crash related to the log in to sync button.
• Undertaking:
  • Fixed browser crash related to Password Manager Blocklist policy.

Edge Build 110.0.1556.0: Changed behavior

• Fixed the New Tab button not displaying next to tabs.
• Fixed opening collection panel affecting the collection on a different browser/machine using the same account.
• Fixed overlay scrollbar not displaying correctly.
• Fixed rand://inspecteer page not working.
• Fixed workspaces opening in a new browser when reconnecting.
• We replaced local/offline NTP with an error message.
• Fixed the error bar not displaying with the login UI.
• Fixed STATUS_BAD_IMPERSONATION_LEVEL error when running the browser in Windows sandbox.
• Fixed the issue where the URLs registered with AppsForWebsites were opening in the browser instead of their UWP app.
• Sidebar games will now retain the game state when moving to a new tab.
• Android:
  • Fixed read aloud pause on Wikipedia pages.
• iOS:
  • Fixed search box partially obscured in landscape mode.
  • Fixed not being able to scroll down on menus.
• Web View2:
  • Fixed arrow keys not working in combo box drop down menu on Xbox.
  • Fixed the .NET memory issues due to WebResourceResponseReceived events reporting incorrect size.
• Undertaking:
  • Remove the Audit option in the BrowserCodeIntegritySetting policy.
  • CertificateTransparencyEnforcementDisabledForCas policy now works with Android.
  • AAD login dialog only shows when no AAD account is logged in on Android.
  • Fixed page failure due to no client certificates payload when accessed from an IE mode page.

Windows Central tasks – a good feature gets better

Earlier this year, I wrote about how Sidebar is one of the best browser features people haven’t heard of. It feels like having a cell phone that can be brought up inside Edge with a simple keyboard shortcut. But since the feature was so new at the time, it was limited. Microsoft seems to have received positive feedback and an expression of interest in Sidebar from its Edge users, as the company has improved the feature since its launch.