The beta version of the Microsoft Edge browser introduces a new feature that blocks autoplay video and audio, a development highlighted by the 9to5Google reporting portal. This change marks a shift toward giving users more control over media playback across sites while browsing. The capability can suppress all autoplaying media on websites, whether video or audio, in the Edge Canary channel as part of the current experimental builds. It is not yet present in the stable release, but users can enable it now by navigating to the Cookies and site permissions section within Edge Canary’s settings. (Source: Edge Canary release notes and newsroom statements)
Microsoft describes the adjustment as more restrictive than the existing option that only limits video autoplay. In its communication, the company notes that user feedback had driven the decision to broaden autoplay blocking. A Microsoft statement clarifies that Edge Canary has introduced a dedicated setting to prevent any media from a site from starting automatically, giving users a consistent browsing experience free from unexpected media playback. (Source: Microsoft Edge statements)
Compared to Google Chrome, Edge’s nearest competitor, Chrome does not currently offer a universal block for all site media autoplay. Chrome does, however, provide a separate control to mute autoplay via a specific toggle when video or audio begins to play. This difference highlights Edge’s push toward more aggressive autoplay management while still relying on user-initiated actions for media playback in other contexts. (Source: industry analysis)
The ongoing discussion around these controls also touches broader trends in operating system and browser integration. For instance, reports from early 2023 indicated a rising share of Windows 11 among PC users, underscoring how browser behavior can shape daily computer use in the wider ecosystem. These shifts matter for developers and publishers who design sites to account for varying autoplay restrictions across popular browsers. (Source: market tracking data from March 2023)