Not every image you see on the internet is up to your desired look. The sad part is that to edit an image from the internet, you must download it first. Not on Microsoft's Edge browser, however.

Edge allows you to quickly edit an image before downloading it, making it easier to work with images. Plus, you don't need to use another tool to edit the images later unless you want to make major changes that Microsoft Edge's editing tool doesn't have.

How to Access Microsoft Edge's Built-in Image Editor

The public version of Microsoft Edge lacks the image editor as of writing. You'll therefore have to download the beta version of the browser.

You can download the beta by going to the Microsoft Edge Insider Channels page, then pick one of the options available and hit Download. We recommend downloading Edge from the Canary channel as it's the only version with the feature as of writing.

Microsoft Edge's Insider Channels page

The pop-up will display different options based on your Operating System. Select the appropriate choice, and click Accept and Download on the next page. The download will commence shortly. Once done, install the app and open it.

How to Edit an Image Before Downloading in Edge

Getting started is easy with Edge installed. Here's how:

  1. Right-click on an image you want to edit. On Mac, you need to double-click on the touchpad. From the context menu, select Edit image.
  2. Edge will open an editing window from where you can adjust the image. There are four tabs, Crop, Adjustment, Filter, and Markup. So if you need to do more, you'll have to use one of the best photo editing software.
    Microsoft Edge context menu
  3. Start by cropping your image to your preferred size. To be more precise, select Free at the bottom, then choose a preferred aspect ratio. Under the cropping tab, you can also rotate the image or flip it. For best results, it's important to keep in mind key tips for cropping an image.
    Cropping an image
  4. Once you're happy with the result, switch to the Adjustment tab, where you can tweak the brightness, exposure, contrast, highlights, shadows, color, and more. Remember, you can click and hold the image at any point to view the original version.
    Adjusting image properties in Edge
  5. For quick adjustments, we recommend using the Filter tab, which provides preset filters you can apply to the image. The tool also lets you adjust the intensity of the filters.
    Available filters in Microsoft Edge
  6. Next, click the Markup tab if you want to annotate the image.
  7. Once you're done editing, click the Save button and select Save to download the image or Save to clipboard if you'd like to copy the image and paste it elsewhere.
    Saving an edited image in Microsoft's built-in image editor
  8. Click the X button in the top right and select Quit to close the editor.
    Closing Microsoft's Edge built-in image editor

If at any point you want to undo or redo an action, use the Undo and Redo button near the Reset button. The Reset button is your go-to solution if you wish to start afresh.

You Don't Need to Download Images Before Editing

Microsoft Edge's built-in image editor is a game-changer by allowing you to perform quick edits on an image before downloading it. It's straightforward, with an easy learning curve.

Even if you're staying loyal to your other favorite browser, the built-in editor is something that should convince you to at least use the browser whenever you want to edit an image before downloading it.