Microsoft Edge is finally copying Chrome's best accidental-close prevention trick

Recently, some Chrome-based builds (and browser extensions) began offering a safeguard that can require confirmation before a pinned tab closes with Ctrl + W. This behavior has appeared in experimental/Insider channels and via third‑party extensions rather than as a clearly documented, single-year rollout in stable Chrome.

Now, according to one X user, Microsoft seems to be testing the same thing in Edge Canary.

This new Microsoft Edge feature is great for tab hoarders

It will save you from multitasking chaos

If you’re like me and keep a bunch of tabs pinned for all your different work and hobbies, this will be very useful. I have the bad habit of never closing tabs, so whenever I accidentally close one, it feels like the end of the world because I can never remember what I had open in the first place. The number of times this shortcut has saved me is countless.

It depends on how many tabs you have opened, but my brain always feels like I’ve got a million tabs open. Probably because, at the time of writing, I’ve got 63 tabs open. I wonder why my laptop runs so slowly. Reopening and re-pinning them would take me an hour — I can’t remember all the ones I’ve got open, but I know they’ll come in handy one day.

Here’s how it works: if you hit Ctrl + W (or Cmd + W on Mac) on a pinned tab, Chrome won’t close it right away. Instead, you get a little prompt asking if you’re sure. Hit it again, and then it’ll close. That extra step saves you from losing a tab just because your finger slipped.

X user Leopeva64 posted an early sighting of a similar warning in Edge Canary.

Right now, Edge just shows a plain red box as a warning. But the basics are the same: hit the shortcut once, get a warning, hit it again to close. Chrome’s version looks a bit nicer right now, but Edge will probably polish it up before launch.

Here’s a tip — if you do accidentally close a tab in Chrome, you can press Ctrl+Shift+T to reopen the tab you just closed. Pair that with this new development, and you’ll never have to close another tab again!

At the time of the reported sighting (see the X post date), the double‑press confirmation appeared in Edge Canary. Availability may change — check Edge release notes, the Edge Insider blog, or the build’s flags for the latest status before assuming it’s Canary‑only. It’s one of those features you don’t know you’re missing until it saves your workspace from a slip-up!