| Feature | 2023 Edge | 2025 Edge | |--------|-----------|------------| | Separate taskbar icon | Yes | Yes + grouped by domain | | Notification badges (unread count) | Rarely worked | | | Middle-click to open new window | No | Yes (behaves like a real app) | | Alt+Tab shows site favicon | Yes | Yes + live preview | | Integration with Windows Focus Sessions | No | Yes – pins can auto-launch during "Work" profile |
Platform: Windows 12 / Windows 11 24H2+ Browser Version: Microsoft Edge 135+ (2025 Feature Update) Feature: "Pin to Taskbar" (Web Apps / PWAs) Executive Summary In 2025, pinning websites to the Windows taskbar is no longer a "nice-to-have" trick—it's a core workflow necessity. Microsoft Edge has refined this feature from a simple shortcut generator into a full-fledged Web App 2.0 ecosystem. What was once a glorified bookmark is now a native-like application with Deep Linking, Widget integration, and AI-assisted task management. However, not all websites play nicely, and Edge’s aggressive "suggested pins" can feel like clutter.
Edge by a wide margin. Final Verdict – Should You Use It? Absolutely yes. Pinning websites to the taskbar in Microsoft Edge 2025 has evolved from a gimmick to a legitimate productivity pillar. The addition of pin groups, AI suggestions, and native notification badges makes it feel like Microsoft finally understands that modern work is web-based.
You live entirely inside one browser window with 50 tabs and refuse to change. Or if your favorite site still shows an ugly address bar when pinned.