Approximates the current location of the Edge browser across platforms.

edge-location

• By default checks only stable. Optionally can cascade to beta / dev / canary.
• Supports macOS / Windows / Linux
• Works both as an ES module or CommonJS

Installation

npm i edge-location

Usage

Via Node.js (strict by default):

import edgeLocation from 'edge-location'

// Strict (Stable only)
console.log(edgeLocation())
// => "/Applications/Microsoft Edge.app/Contents/MacOS/Microsoft Edge" or null

// Enable fallback (Stable / Beta / Dev / Canary)
console.log(edgeLocation(true))
// => first found among Stable/Beta/Dev/Canary or null

// Throw with an install guide when not found
import {locateEdgeOrExplain, getInstallGuidance} from 'edge-location'
try {
  const path = locateEdgeOrExplain({allowFallback: true})
  console.log(path)
} catch (e) {
  console.error(String(e))
  // Or print getInstallGuidance() explicitly
}

CommonJS:

const api = require('edge-location')
const locateEdge = api.default || api

Via CLI:

npx edge-location
# Strict (Stable only)

npx edge-location --fallback
# Enable cascade (Stable / Beta / Dev / Canary)

# Respect environment overrides
EDGE_BINARY=/custom/path/to/msedge npx edge-location

# If not found, install Edge via Playwright and re-run
npx playwright install msedge

Environment overrides

If this environment variable is set and points to an existing binary, it takes precedence:

• EDGE_BINARY

When nothing is found

When nothing is found, the helper throws with this message:

We couldn't find a Microsoft Edge browser on this machine.

To install one:

1) Install Edge via Playwright (recommended for CI/dev)
   npx playwright install msedge

Re-run your command afterward and it will be detected automatically.

Alternatively, install Microsoft Edge from the official site and re-run.

Support table

By default, only the Stable channel is checked. When fallback is enabled, Beta, Dev, and Canary are also checked (in that order) and the first existing path is returned.

Returns the first existing path found (given selected channels), or null if none are found.

API

• default export locateEdge(allowFallback?: boolean): string | null

  • Returns the first existing path among the selected channels or null.
  • When allowFallback is true, checks Stable → Beta → Dev → Canary.

• locateEdgeOrExplain(options?: boolean | { allowFallback?: boolean }): string

  • Returns a path if found, otherwise throws an Error with a friendly installation guide.

• getEdgeVersion(bin: string, opts?: { allowExec?: boolean }): string | null

  • Cross-platform version resolver that does not execute the browser by default.
  • Windows: reads PE file metadata via PowerShell (no GUI spawn).
  • macOS: reads Info.plist (no GUI spawn).
  • Linux/other: returns null unless allowExec is true, then tries --version.

• getInstallGuidance(): string

  • Returns the same guidance text used by locateEdgeOrExplain().

Related projects

• brave-location
• chrome-location2
• chromium-location
• firefox-location2
• safari-location2
• opera-location2
• vivaldi-location2
• waterfox-location
• librewolf-location
• yandex-location

License

MIT (c) Cezar Augusto.