Microsoft Edge Browser to Get Built-In Ad-Blocking Features

Microsoft plans to offer Windows 10 users the ability to block ads in Microsoft Edge. Talking about Microsoft Edge, at its developer conference Build 2016, the Redmond, Washington-based company unveiled the features roadmap it has set for its new Web browser.

According to a session titled "Microsoft Edge: What's Next for Microsoft's New Browser and Web Platform", held on stage on the first day of Build 2016, the company plans to bring "ad blocking features into the browser" in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update later this year - also known asWindows 10 Redstone.

Microsoft says ad-blocking is a feature request from users. Other such requests include support for extensions, which to no one's surprise is on the top of the list. Support for extensions, or "modern extension/plugin model and extension/plugin store for Edge" as Microsoft describes it, will also be available to regular Windows 10 users with the Anniversary Update, which is expected to rollout around June or July.

Speaking of extensions, Microsoft recently enabled this feature in a preview build of Windows 10 for Insiders. As of now, there aren't many extensions available to play with. Interestingly enough, Adblock Plus noted earlier this month that it has built an add-on for Edge, and is only awaiting Microsoft's approval.

This is the first time Microsoft has confirmed that it will be adding ad-blocking capability to its Web browser. While such tools have existed for over a decade, it was only a few months ago that the controversies surrounding this tool was at the spotlight. Apple last year introduced this capability iniOS 9. Since then we have also seen Samsung allowing ad-blocking on its Internet browser on Galaxy smartphones.

According to estimates, ad-blocking tools are costing advertisers, and by extension, publishers, million of dollars every year.