Google's blocking new Microsoft Edge from accessing new design

[harlan4096]

Another accidental oops by Google that affects a competing web browser in a negative way; this time, users of the new Microsoft Edge browser are affected and the Google site that kicks Microsoft's browser this time is YouTube.

Microsoft Edge users may still access YouTube but they only get the old design at the time. Some may not mind, as the old design offers better performance than the new. Others may object to the blocking of the new layout on YouTube as it works perfectly fine in Microsoft's browser.

If you check out https://www.youtube.com/new/ in Microsoft Edge, you get a "your browser is not supported" message. That message is followed by the obligatory "get Google Chrome" instead message. Since there is no explanation as to why Edge is not supported while the classic Edge and other browsers are supported, some may switch to Google Chrome if the browser is not installed already.

Microsoft Edge users will notice that live chat is not working as well in the client at the time. YouTube displays a notification that the browser needs to be updated because it appears to be an older version.

There is no newer version, however.

The new Microsoft Edge browser is not available as a stable version at the time of writing and things may not work correctly in preview versions.

If a web browser supports features required to display a website on the other hand, that website should not go out of its way to block it from content or features.

If you change the user agent in the new Microsoft Edge, you will notice that you get access to the new YouTube design all of a sudden.

Live chat still does not work when you change the user agent though.

Continue Reading