Google Unblocks Microsoft Edge Preview Users From Using the Modern YouTube Experience

Yesterday, something really weird happened: for some unknown reason, users of Microsoft’s new Chromium-based Edge browser were forced to use the old YouTube experience and asked to install Chrome when they tried to use the modern YouTube experience. No one really knew exactly why that happened, and Microsoft even had to reach out to Google about the issue.

After more than 24 hours, Google has now re-enabled the new YouTube experience for Microsoft Edge preview users. That means if you use the new Microsoft Edge browser, you will now be able to use the modern YouTube experience as usual, without being forced to install Chrome.

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It was not exactly clear whether Google was intentionally blocking users of the new Microsoft Edge browser from using the modern YouTube experience, or if it was simply a bug. The company claimed it was a bug in a statement to Neowin, stating “We’re aware that users of a preview version of Chromium-based Edge are being redirected to the old version of YouTube. We’re working to address this issue. We’re committed to supporting YouTube on Edge and apologize for any inconvenience this may be causing.” Considering Google was arguably quick to address the problem, I guess it is safe to say that the bug was likely a mistake on YouTube’s side.

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Conversation 21 comments

  • JCerna

    Premium Member
    29 May, 2019 - 3:10 pm

    <p>Now if they could just remove the warning signs from google apps like drive that edge is not supported and get chrome.</p>

  • straker135

    Premium Member
    29 May, 2019 - 3:22 pm

    <p>I would like Google to at least try to play nice by giving users a button on the Chrome recommendation pop-up that says ‘Never ask me again’. I work in an organisation that has to use Internet Explorer and that damn pop-up comes up. Every. Single. Time. </p>

  • Lordbaal

    29 May, 2019 - 4:01 pm

    <p>How can it be a "bug", if Edge and Chrome are both based on <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Chromium?</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">When on all other modern browsers it worked. </span></p>

    • Todd Logsdon

      29 May, 2019 - 4:36 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#431446">In reply to Lordbaal:</a></em></blockquote><p>Makes me wonder if they utilize a white-list method of allowing the new experience to run.</p>

      • codymesh

        29 May, 2019 - 7:14 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#431453">In reply to TL_Lives:</a></em></blockquote><p>why on earth would you ever need to whitelist any chromium-based browser?</p>

        • dontbe evil

          30 May, 2019 - 2:24 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#431485">In reply to codymesh:</a></em></blockquote><p>scroogle</p>

  • glenn8878

    29 May, 2019 - 4:48 pm

    <p>Should be considered Anti-Trust behavior.</p>

  • skane2600

    29 May, 2019 - 4:53 pm

    <p>Thus ends the debate about who was responsible.</p>

  • mefree

    29 May, 2019 - 5:34 pm

    <p>Bug…. Riiiiggghtt……</p>

  • MikeCerm

    29 May, 2019 - 6:18 pm

    <p>How about how they're blocking New Edge from using YouTube TV entirely? Was working fine until a few days ago, now it tells me to use Chrome or Firefox. Brave seems to work, though, so it seems they're just targeting Edge users. </p>

    • Stooks

      29 May, 2019 - 8:17 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#431472">In reply to MikeCerm:</a></em></blockquote><p>Works fine for me on the DEV version. I did get the older look and feel yesterday, but back to normal now. </p>

  • codymesh

    29 May, 2019 - 7:16 pm

    <p>taking more than 24 hours to address this is not "quick". Youtube is the second most popular site in the world.</p>

    • Winner

      29 May, 2019 - 9:16 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#431486">In reply to codymesh:</a></em></blockquote><p>Took a lot longer for Microsoft to fix their deceptive Windows 10 upgrade box for Windows 7 and 8 users. I have no sympathy for them.</p>

      • codymesh

        30 May, 2019 - 12:04 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#431503">In reply to Winner:</a></em></blockquote><p>I mean, it was deceptive by design. It wasn't broken on a technical level. (not defending it though)</p>

        • dontbe evil

          30 May, 2019 - 2:24 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#431513">In reply to codymesh:</a></em></blockquote><p>hard to make ms haters and google fanboys understand</p>

          • codymesh

            30 May, 2019 - 5:41 am

            <blockquote><em><a href="#431517">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p>It really is getting quite stupid. I don't get why people even bother dragging unrelated topics in to the discussion</p>

            • lvthunder

              Premium Member
              30 May, 2019 - 10:52 am

              <blockquote><em><a href="#431524">In reply to codymesh:</a></em></blockquote><p>Some people like to justify bad behavior by pointing to other bad behavior.</p>

  • shadetc

    Premium Member
    30 May, 2019 - 8:35 am

    <p>They were explicitly targeting the "Edg" agent string and handing off a flag "<span style="color: rgb(20, 23, 26);">html5_vp9_live_blacklist_edge=true". How is that a bug?</span></p>

  • Stoicjim

    Premium Member
    30 May, 2019 - 12:19 pm

    <p>Google is a bug…a nasty, nasty bug.</p>

  • m_p_w_84

    30 May, 2019 - 3:37 pm

    <p>i actually had a little look at this when i read the post… the old youtube loaded so much faster!</p>

  • sharpsone

    30 May, 2019 - 9:34 pm

    <p>Sound like Google has control issues. </p>

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