How Tab Search Might Arrive on Microsoft Edge

Reddit user Leopeva64-2 raised the alarm on the Microsoft Edge subreddit after identifying a changing variable in Edge’s code.

Previously, you had to manually bring the feature out of hiding. It was buried away in Microsoft Edge’s code, and you had to use the command line flag –enable-features=TabSearch to activate it.

Now, that flag no longer works—however, it has been replaced by a new flag called –enable-features=msTabSearch. As Leopeva64-2 puts it:

As such, because the TabSearch flag now has the “ms” tag on it, we’ll likely see this feature appear on Microsoft Edge by default.

Microsoft’s Friendly Rivalry With Chrome

If Microsoft does go ahead with enabling this feature, it’ll take one step closer to going toe-to-toe with the most significant browser on the internet, Google Chrome.

To take on its rivals, Microsoft has struck a balance between adding features that people expect from a modern browser and developing new features to help Edge stand out. For example, Edge received a Search In Sidebar tool to help it better compete against Chrome.

However, Microsoft hasn’t forgotten who gave Edge the leg-up it needed. After all, the browser is now based on Google’s Chromium codebase, so Microsoft does have to work alongside Chrome at times if it wants to improve Edge.

In fact, because Microsoft helps develop fixes and features for the Chromium codebase, the company is quickly becoming Chrome’s biggest ally. As such, Microsoft has an odd relationship with Chrome where it’s both competing against and helping its rival at the same time.

Searching for the Tab Search Feature in Microsoft Edge

While nothing has been officially confirmed yet, there is proof to suggest that Microsoft wants to bring Chrome’s Tab Search feature into Chrome. We’ll have to hold our horses and keep our eyes on Edge’s development to see if it makes an appearance.

If you’re interested to learn how Microsoft Edge is innovating in the face of its competition, you need to know about its Sleeping Tabs feature. Initial tests of this feature reduced the browser’s CPU usage by a massive 37 percent.

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