Microsoft is sacrificing Edge’s most beloved features — and it’s all for Copilot

Microsoft has confirmed it is axing several of Edge's signature features—including Drop, Sidebar, and Collections—as part of a sweeping redesign to prioritize its Copilot AI assistant. Drop, which let users drag-and-drop files and notes across devices via OneDrive, will be removed in an upcoming update. Users are warned to back up text notes, which will be deleted, while files remain in OneDrive. Sidebar was already removed in Edge 149, and Collections has been deprecated. Microsoft argues that only Copilot should use the sidebar real estate.

The moves signal a strategic pivot under the newly formed Microsoft AI division, led by Copilot chief Mustafa Suleyman. Edge is being rebuilt using Copilot's design system, which itself runs on WebView, to create a seamless interface across the browser and the Copilot app. While the changes strip away features that loyal users loved—many of which set Edge apart from Chrome and Firefox—Microsoft is betting that deep AI integration will attract a new generation of users. The risk is alienating existing fans who valued Edge for its convenience tools rather than its AI capabilities.