Microsoft Edge is starting to let people sign in with a Google account, removing one of the more obvious reasons why some users have avoided making it their main browser.

Until now, signing into an Edge profile meant using a Microsoft account. That was fine for people already using Outlook, Windows and other Microsoft services, but it was a bit awkward for anyone whose online life revolves around Gmail, Google Drive and Chrome.

We first spotted this change in Edge Canary last month, where it was still hidden behind experimental flags. Microsoft’s roadmap had listed it for July, and it now appears to be making its way to the stable version of Edge with the Edge 150 update.

Once it reaches your browser, the option should show up when you click the profile icon in the top-right corner. Alongside the usual Microsoft account sign-in button, there will be a new option to sign in with Google.

I still don’t see the option on Edge for Mac with version 150.0.4078.50, but the folks at Windows Latest did get their hands on the new sign-in with Google option. Here are a couple of screenshots that show the profile picker before and after:

Before

After

It is a small addition on the surface, but it could make a real difference for people who use Edge because it came preinstalled on their Windows PC, yet still end up downloading Chrome right away.

A Google account sign-in gives those users a less frustrating starting point. Edge can help bring over bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history and other data from Chrome, so switching does not mean starting from scratch. Your imported bookmarks are placed in a separate Imported folder, which at least makes it easy to find them.

That does not mean Edge suddenly becomes Chrome with a different logo. Chrome extensions do not come along, nor do Chrome themes or experimental Chrome flags. And this is not Google account sync in the same way it works inside Chrome. It is more about letting users create and manage an Edge profile without first being pushed into making or using a Microsoft account.

Microsoft may still prefer that people sign into Edge with its own account, especially if they use Windows features and services that are tied to it. But giving people an alternative is a sensible move.

The feature is reportedly rolling out gradually, which is probably why I don’t see it yet.

The post Microsoft Edge is opening the door to Google account users appeared first on PiunikaWeb.