msedge

View the documentation for Microsoft Edge for Windows

$ tldr [[-p|--platform]] windows msedge

$ tldr [[-p|--platform]] common microsoft-edge

msedge [options] [URL]
msedge --version
msedge --help

--incognito
    Launches a new window in Incognito browsing mode, preventing history, cookies, and other site data from being saved.

--new-window
    Opens a new, empty browser window.

--new-tab
    Opens a new tab in the current window or a new window if none exists (often implied if a URL is provided without other window flags).

--profile-directory=
    Specifies the profile to use. The directory name is usually 'Profile 1', 'Default', etc., located within the user data directory.

--app=
    Runs the browser in a minimal application mode, treating the provided URL as a web application without typical browser UI elements like address bar or tabs.

--headless
    Runs the browser in 'headless' mode, without a visible graphical user interface. This is primarily used for automation, testing, or server-side rendering.

--version
    Prints the current version of Microsoft Edge and exits.

--disable-gpu
    Disables GPU hardware acceleration. Useful for troubleshooting rendering issues or in virtualized environments.

--kiosk
    Launches the browser in kiosk mode, full-screen and without any browser controls, typically used for public displays or dedicated terminals.

--start-fullscreen
    Starts the browser in fullscreen mode upon launch.

--remote-debugging-port=
    Enables remote debugging on the specified port, allowing external developer tools to connect to the browser instance.

msedge is the command-line executable for Microsoft Edge on Linux, an official web browser developed by Microsoft. Built on the open-source Chromium project, it provides a comprehensive browsing experience comparable to its Windows and macOS counterparts. It offers features such as Collections, vertical tabs, integrated privacy controls, and performance enhancements. Users can install extensions from both the Chrome Web Store and Microsoft Edge Add-ons. The browser integrates seamlessly with Microsoft services and accounts. Its primary purpose is web browsing, but it also supports the creation of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and includes a suite of powerful developer tools. It's designed to be fast, secure, and compliant with modern web standards, bringing Microsoft's flagship browser to the Linux desktop environment.

Being a modern browser, msedge can be resource-intensive, particularly with many tabs or extensions open. While built on Chromium, its integration with Microsoft services and telemetry might be a consideration for some Linux users. It relies on the underlying system's graphical environment (X11 or Wayland) for display and may have varying levels of integration with different desktop environments.

Microsoft Edge supports multiple user profiles, allowing different users or different contexts (e.g., work, personal) to maintain separate browsing data, settings, and extensions. Profiles are typically managed via the browser's UI, but the --profile-directory flag allows launching specific profiles from the command line.

The --app=<url> flag enables launching web pages as isolated applications, appearing like native desktop apps without the full browser interface. This is useful for creating quick access shortcuts to frequently used web services or for dedicated web-based tools.

Like all Chromium-based browsers, msedge supports a vast array of command-line flags for advanced configuration, debugging, and automation. A more comprehensive list of Chromium command-line switches can often be found in online documentation (e.g., on `chromium.org`), though not all may be directly applicable or officially supported for msedge itself.

Microsoft Edge's journey to Linux began in 2020 with the release of developer and beta builds. The stable version became generally available in 2021. This marked a significant shift for Microsoft, as the browser, built on the open-source Chromium engine (abandoning its proprietary EdgeHTML), aimed to provide a consistent and cross-platform experience. Its arrival on Linux was part of Microsoft's broader strategy to embrace open-source technologies and expand its software ecosystem beyond Windows.

google-chrome(1), chromium-browser(1), firefox(1), xdg-open(1)