Microsoft Edge Gets Super Drag and Drop for Easier Link Opening

Microsoft's Edge browser now boasts a “super” new feature that makes opening links in new tabs drastically easier.

Dubbed Super Drag and Drop, it lets users simply click on any link or text snippet and drag it slightly to automatically open it in a fresh tab.

The capability comes as part of Edge's latest Canary and Dev previews. It adds yet another way to open links in new tabs, joining right-clicking, middle mouse clicking, and dragging to the tab strip.

But Super Drag and Drop stands out for its simplicity, especially for touchscreen users.

To use it, click any link or highlighted text, then drag it a short distance in any direction.

The content automatically loads in a fresh browser tab.

Dragging text Performs a web search on the selected words too.

Super Drag and Drop on Microsoft Edge
Super Drag and Drop on Microsoft Edge
Super Drag and Drop on Microsoft Edge
Super Drag and Drop on Microsoft Edge

How to Turn On Super Drag and Drop

The feature starts disabled by default, even in preview versions of Edge. Users must flip a switch to activate it.

Step 1: First, install an Edge Beta, Dev, or Canary build from Microsoft's website.

Download link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/download/insider?form=MA13FJ

Step 2: Then visit edge://flags/#edge-super-drag-drop and enable the Super Drag and Drop flag. Restart Edge.

Enable Super Drag and Drop
Enable Super Drag and Drop

Step 3: Finally, open Settings > Appearance and check the box for “Enable Super Drag and Drop” Now test it out on web pages.

Enable Super Drag and Drop in Setting
Enable Super Drag and Drop in Settings

Early feedback praises Super Drag and Drop as an intuitive way to speed up web browsing.

The implementation feels seamless too, with dragged content loading quickly.

Microsoft plans to monitor feedback and usage data before potentially promoting the feature to Edge's stable release.

Users keen to share their thoughts can use the built-in Send Feedback option.

For now, Surface and tablet users stand to benefit the most from touch-friendly Super Drag and Drop.

It makes following links as easy as dragging a finger, with no multiple clicks or taps required.

Microsoft seems poised to supercharge browsing convenience with this latest experimental capability.

– Jim Miller