Edge Drop Retired: Microsoft Simplifies Browser at Cost of Cross-Device File Sharing

Microsoft has removed Edge Drop, a feature that allowed users to share files between PCs and mobile devices running Microsoft's Edge browser. The removal comes as part of Microsoft's efforts to simplify the browser, but it has left many users disappointed.

Edge Drop was a unique feature that allowed users to share large files, including screenshots, images, videos, and even ISO files, across different devices without the need for email attachments or external storage services. The feature used OneDrive as its cloud storage solution, ensuring that shared files were stored securely until they were deleted by the user.

Microsoft has warned users about Drop's retirement since a few weeks ago, urging them to download any text notes they wanted to keep before the feature disappeared. While files and attachments shared through Drop are still accessible in OneDrive, text notes sent through the feature are no longer stored there and cannot be retrieved once the feature is removed.

Users who relied on Edge Drop for file sharing have expressed disappointment with Microsoft's decision to retire the feature. Some users have pointed out that alternative solutions, such as Nearby Share and other syncing services, fail to meet their expectations in terms of simplicity and cross-platform compatibility.