How to Install Microsoft Edge on Linux Mint 22 or 21

Microsoft Edge is a Chromium-based web browser that offers a fast, secure, and seamless browsing experience with integration to Microsoft services. It includes features like enhanced privacy settings, tracking prevention, and a built-in password manager. For users who want the latest features or to test new updates, Microsoft provides different channels: Stable, Beta, and Dev builds. Each offers varying levels of stability and access to new features.

To install Microsoft Edge on Linux Mint 22 or 21, you can use Microsoft’s official APT repository. This guide will show you how to install the Stable, Beta, or Dev versions of Edge or even all three if needed. Additionally, it will cover how to manage multiple sources in your sources.list when updating your browser, ensuring smooth updates without conflicts.

Update Linux Mint Before Microsoft Edge Installation

Before starting the installation process, updating your Linux Mint system is crucial. This ensures that all existing packages are up-to-date, which can help prevent potential issues during the installation.

To update your system, run the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install Initial Packages For Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge requires the installation of specific packages for successful operation. Install these essential tools and libraries to ensure proper browser function. Run the command below to install the necessary packages, even if you think they are already on your system, as it won’t harm your system.

Use this command to install the required packages:

sudo apt install dirmngr ca-certificates software-properties-common apt-transport-https curl -y

These packages are common dependencies for various applications, so having them on your system is beneficial.

Import Microsoft Edge GPG Key

The next step is downloading the GPG key to verify the Microsoft Edge package’s authenticity, ensuring no one has tampered with or altered it. For this step, download the GPG key from Microsoft’s official package repository.

To download and import the GPG key, run the command below:

curl -fsSL https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc | gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg > /dev/null

Import the Microsoft Edge APT Repository

With the GPG key successfully imported, the next step is to add the Microsoft Edge repository to your system. This lets you install and update the browser directly from Microsoft’s official package repository, ensuring you can always access the latest version.

Add the Microsoft Edge repository by running the following command:

echo 'deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge stable main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge.list

Finalize Microsoft Edge Installation

Now that you have successfully set up the Microsoft Edge repository on your system, it’s time to install the browser itself. Before doing so, update your sources list to include the newly added repository by running the following command:

sudo apt update

Select Microsoft Edge Build

Microsoft Edge offers three versions: stable, beta, and dev (nightly). The stable version, recommended for most users, delivers a reliable, tested browsing experience. For access to new features or upcoming releases, install the beta or dev versions.

stable version of Microsoft Edge:

To install the stable version of Microsoft Edge, run the following command:

sudo apt install microsoft-edge-stable

beta version of Microsoft Edge:

If you want to install the beta version of Microsoft Edge, which offers early access to new features and improvements, use the following command:

sudo apt install microsoft-edge-beta

dev version of Microsoft Edge:

For developers or advanced users seeking to install the latest, frequently updated but potentially less stable dev release of Microsoft Edge, execute the following command:

sudo apt install microsoft-edge-dev

Launch Microsoft Edge Browser

After installing your preferred version of Microsoft Edge, you possess various browser launch options.

CLI Methods to Launch Microsoft Edge

You can start Microsoft Edge using terminal commands. Depending on the version you installed, use one of the following commands in your terminal:

microsoft-edge

microsoft-edge-beta

microsoft-edge-dev

GUI Method to Launch Microsoft Edge

While using terminal commands is an option, it might not be the most practical way to launch the browser. Instead, you can easily access Microsoft Edge through the desktop environment:

Navigate to the Taskbar.
Click on the “Internet” category.
Locate the “Edge {version}” option, where “{version}” corresponds to the installed version of Microsoft Edge (stable, beta, or dev).
Click on the appropriate option to launch the browser.

Additional Microsoft Edge Management Commands

Update Microsoft Edge

To update the Microsoft Edge browser on Linux Mint, you can use the APT update command in your terminal, which is similar to checking for updates across your entire system.

First, update your package list:

sudo apt update

If an update is available for Microsoft Edge, proceed with upgrading your packages:

sudo apt upgrade

Remove Microsoft Edge

If you need to remove Microsoft Edge from your Linux Mint system, follow these steps based on your installed version.

APT Method to Remove Microsoft Edge

To uninstall Microsoft Edge, run the following command that matches your installation:

sudo apt remove microsoft-edge-stable

sudo apt remove microsoft-edge-beta

sudo apt remove microsoft-edge-stable-dev

After uninstalling the browser, you can remove the repository and GPG key added during installation. First, remove the repository:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge*

Next, delete the GPG key:

sudo rm /usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge*

And that is it, and you have successfully removed the Microsoft Edge Browser from your desktop.

Fix Microsoft Edge Multiple Sources.list (APT Installations)

Installing all three versions of Microsoft Edge (stable, beta, and dev) on Linux Mint creates new sources.list file in your /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ directory for each installation. Running the apt update command then results in multiple sources.list files for the Microsoft Edge browser, with some being ignored.

To fix this issue, delete the extra sources.list files, retaining only the original. Should you accidentally delete all files, the tutorial provides an import directory code for recovery.

Here’s a quick fix:

Delete extra sources.list files:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge.list
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge-beta.list
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge-dev.list

Alternatively, remove all sources at once:

sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge*

Re-add the single repository:

echo 'deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/microsoft-edge.gpg] https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/edge stable main' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/microsoft-edge.list

Refresh Package Index:

sudo apt update

This approach ensures you receive updates for all three Microsoft Edge versions from one source.list file, not three.

Conclusion

With Microsoft Edge successfully installed on your Linux Mint system, you can choose between the Stable, Beta, or Dev versions to suit your needs. Managing multiple installations of Edge is straightforward with the right configuration in your sources.list, ensuring your browser updates are handled smoothly. Regularly check for updates through Microsoft’s official APT repository to stay current with the latest features and security improvements.