Microsoft is preparing to retire another long-standing feature in its Edge browser, with Collections slated for removal in an upcoming update. Notices appearing in recent builds of Microsoft Edge Dev confirm that users will soon lose the ability to add new content to Collections, marking the clearest sign yet that the feature’s days are numbered.
“Collections is being retired,” the in-browser message states. “You will no longer be able to add new items to Collections. To keep your saved content, you can export it, or move all pages to your Favorites before removal.”
The warning, first spotted by Windows-focused observers in Edge Dev builds, includes direct shortcuts for exporting data or transferring saved pages to Favorites. While Microsoft has hinted for months that Collections could be phased out, the appearance of this message suggests the process has now entered its final stage.
However, neither of the proposed options offers a complete replacement. Moving items to Favorites preserves only saved web pages, stripping away notes, images, and other contextual content stored in Collections. Exporting data retains everything, but only as a CSV file outside the browser, leaving users without a way to keep their full Collections content integrated within Edge itself.
Microsoft has not announced an official removal date, but users who depend on Collections are being advised to back up or migrate their data sooner rather than later.
A feature that never gained traction
While the retirement may disappoint a small group of dedicated users, industry watchers suggest Collections never achieved widespread adoption. According to commentary shared by Leo Varela, interest in the feature declined sharply after Microsoft transitioned it from a native implementation to a web-based one—a change that many felt reduced its responsiveness and usefulness.
That decline in usage appears to have sealed the feature’s fate. Unlike more visible removals, such as changes affecting the Edge Sidebar, Collections seems to have quietly faded into the background for most users.
Simplification—or strategic prioritization?
Microsoft has framed recent feature removals as part of an effort to “simplify Edge,” but critics argue that the broader pattern points to a different motivation. As Microsoft continues to embed Copilot more deeply into Edge, features that occupy similar interface space or overlap in functionality appear increasingly vulnerable.
The Edge Sidebar, for example, has also seen parts of its app list retired, fueling speculation that it too could face deeper cuts. Both the Sidebar and Collections compete—visually and functionally—with Copilot-driven experiences that Microsoft is now prioritizing across its software ecosystem.
For longtime users, the changes mark a notable shift in Edge’s identity. When Microsoft relaunched the browser on Chromium, Edge positioned itself as a streamlined alternative to Chrome, offering useful additions without heavy branding. Today, critics argue, Edge feels more like a delivery vehicle for AI features, shopping tools, and Microsoft services.
With Collections on the way out, Edge’s evolution continues—less as a neutral browser with optional enhancements, and more as a tightly integrated part of Microsoft’s broader Copilot-centric strategy.
