It looks like Microsoft plans to add mouse gestures to Edge to give users a new set of options to perform common actions, despite indications in the past that the feature will not be supported.
Neovin (opens in a new tab) informs you that the policy of Edge documents (opens in a new tab) were recently updated to include a section on configuring the mouse gestures feature, with support planned to debut in version 112 Edge as documented.
In other words, this feature isn’t even in the testing phase yet, but it should be coming to beta versions of Microsoft’s browser soon.
Mouse gestures are used in other browsers to great effect, so for example, you hold down the right button and move the mouse up or down, left or right, or draw some pattern to activate the appropriate action.
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This is a pretty cool thing for those who like to use shortcuts, and especially for advanced users. It can easily put a lot of activities within a comfortable reach, so you can perform common tasks, such as refreshing a web page or closing a tab, for example, with just a flick of the mouse.
What’s a little weird is that Microsoft previously said that this feature would not be coming to Edge. In fact, mouse gestures have been a popular request for feedback on what Microsoft can do to improve Edge, but in the past the software giant has paid little heed to these cries.
Indeed, as Neowin points out, in a recent roundup of feedback on possible Edge additions in November 2022, just a few months ago, support for mouse gestures was marked as “unplanned”.
It seems things have changed since then, and Microsoft has started listening – hopefully. We’ll find out soon as Edge 112 is just a few builds away (the beta is currently version 110).
Another change that could be coming to Edge is that rounded corners could make their browser debut – in a big (and rather divisive) way.