Microsoft has just eliminated one of the most impressive features of its Edge browser to prioritize AI advancements.

      No, no, no, we’re not sad. *collapses in the corner sobbing*

      Microsoft is officially discontinuing Collections, one of the more distinctive productivity features in the Edge browser, and many users believe this decision reflects the company's increasing focus on AI-driven experiences.

      As per Microsoft’s support documentation, Collections in Edge will be phased out starting June 2026. This feature enabled users to save sets of webpages, images, notes, shopping links, and research materials into organized visual boards within the browser. For students, researchers, online shoppers, and multitaskers, Collections became one of Edge’s most useful hidden tools—one of the few features that truly distinguished it from Chrome and Safari.

      Collections was initially introduced as a productivity tool that combined bookmarking, note-taking, and visual organization in a single platform. Unlike traditional bookmarks, users were able to drag webpages, screenshots, text snippets, and images into categorized boards that synced across devices. It became particularly popular for planning trips, organizing research, comparing products, and collecting inspiration from the internet.

      Now, Microsoft seems ready to move forward.

      Edge is increasingly evolving into an AI-first browser.

      The phasing out of Collections coincides with Microsoft’s aggressive push to transform Edge into a platform focused on Copilot and generative AI features. Over the last two years, the company has incorporated AI-powered assistants into nearly every aspect of Edge, from sidebar chat tools and webpage summarization to writing aid and contextual search.

      Critics contend that Collections was a genuinely helpful feature that prioritized human productivity instead of AI automation. Unlike some of the newer AI features that users might completely overlook, Collections addressed a simple yet prevalent issue: organizing information collected from the web without depending on third-party applications like Notion, Pinterest, or Pocket.

      Digital Trends has previously referred to this feature as one of the browser’s best-kept secrets, largely due to its provision of a more visual and intuitive alternative to cluttered bookmark folders. Users could conveniently gather shopping comparisons, project research, recipes, or reading materials into organized workspaces without exiting the browser.

      Microsoft has not explicitly stated that AI features are taking the place of Collections, but the timing has sparked criticism that useful browser tools are increasingly being sacrificed in favor of AI-focused experiences and interface changes.

      The broader issue extends beyond Edge. Across the tech landscape, companies are swiftly reconfiguring products around generative AI, sometimes at the cost of smaller features that users depend on daily.

      Edge users may lose one of the browser’s most effective tools.

      For long-time Edge users, the discontinuation signifies the loss of one of the browser’s distinctive features. While Chrome dominates the browser market, Edge often sets itself apart through smaller quality-of-life enhancements like vertical tabs, sleeping tabs, and Collections.

      This removal could particularly vex users who have structured their workflows around this feature for productivity, shopping research, or creative organization. Microsoft has not yet released a direct substitute that offers the same visual organizational experience.

      Zulfugar Karimov / Unsplash

      Meanwhile, this decision indicates how seriously Microsoft is prioritizing AI integration across Windows and Edge. The company is increasingly positioning Copilot as the core of its software ecosystem, and browser development now seems heavily oriented towards AI-assisted experiences rather than traditional productivity tools.

      For some users, this future may seem thrilling. For others, it may feel like yet another instance of useful software features quietly vanishing in favor of AI tools that they never requested.