To test a website on Microsoft Edge 79 and macOS Catalina, run it in the actual Edge 79 browser on a Mac running macOS 10.15 Catalina, then record the exact browser build, Catalina point release, Mac processor, and test method. Catalina is newer than Microsoft’s broad macOS 10.12 minimum, but that does not prove a specific Edge 79 build works correctly on Catalina. No build-specific compatibility result is established here.
What Edge 79 and Catalina tell you—and what they don’t
Edge 79 was part of Microsoft’s rollout of its new Chromium-based Edge. In a November 4, 2019 announcement, Microsoft said Beta 79 was the final Beta before general availability and that it expected the Stable release on January 15. That was a planned date, not confirmation of a specific build’s Catalina compatibility. Microsoft’s announcement described the browser as Chromium-based and said it offered compatibility with extensions and websites; that is Microsoft’s characterization, not an independent test result.
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Microsoft’s current troubleshooting guidance gives macOS 10.12 Sierra or later as a broad minimum for Edge. Catalina is macOS 10.15, so it is above that minimum. The minimum is not a guarantee for Edge 79, nor does it establish whether a particular old build can still be obtained, updated, or used securely. Microsoft’s troubleshooting page does not provide a build-specific Edge 79/Catalina compatibility matrix.
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Set up a meaningful compatibility test
Record the environment first
Before diagnosing a failure, capture enough detail for someone else to reproduce it. Edge 79 alone is not a complete test environment description.
- Browser: channel and complete build number, not just “Edge 79.”
- Operating system: macOS Catalina 10.15 and its point release.
- Hardware: Mac model and processor architecture.
- Execution: actual Edge browser or an emulator.
- Workflow: manual testing, automated testing, or both.
Exercise the website in the actual browser
- On the Catalina Mac, open Edge and record its full version/build and channel. If the exact Edge 79 build is unavailable, do not substitute a newer release while labeling the result “Edge 79.”
- Record Catalina’s point release and the Mac’s processor architecture.
- Open the site using the same URL, account state, and essential workflow that matters to your users.
- Check the relevant behavior: page rendering, navigation, forms, authentication, media, and any browser APIs or CSS features the site depends on.
- Save the steps to reproduce, expected and observed results, and any console or network errors alongside the environment details.
This verifies only the tested build, machine, and scenarios. A successful spot check does not establish universal compatibility, while a failure may be specific to a page, configuration, or environment.
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Use emulation for layout checks, not engine equivalence
Edge DevTools can approximate different screen sizes and resolutions and can override the user-agent string. That is useful for checking responsive layout and server behavior that depends on the user-agent. It is not equivalent to running another browser or build: Microsoft warns that emulation does not reproduce differences in web API or CSS support between browsers, and recommends testing in real browsers on real devices when browser-specific behavior matters. Read Microsoft’s guidance on testing other browsers with Edge DevTools.
Microsoft’s current developer overview lists the DevTools Protocol, Playwright, Puppeteer, WebDriver, and webhint among tools for Edge testing and automation. Their presence on a current overview does not guarantee compatibility with historical Edge 79; confirm the tool and browser-version requirements before adopting one for a legacy test. Microsoft’s Edge developer documentation describes the current tooling.
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Choose the right test method
| Method | Useful for | What it cannot establish by itself |
|---|---|---|
| Actual Edge 79 on Catalina | Checking rendering and browser behavior in the precise environment, if that browser build is available. | Compatibility across other Edge builds, Macs, or user workflows. |
| Edge DevTools emulation | Quick screen-size, resolution, and user-agent-dependent layout checks. | Differences in browser API or CSS support, or a real Edge 79/Catalina result. |
| Automated browser tests | Repeatable checks of workflows and regressions when the chosen automation stack supports the browser build. | Coverage of untested behavior or proof that a current tool works with Edge 79 without checking its version requirements. |
For a report that others can evaluate, state the browser build/channel, Catalina point release, Mac architecture, real-browser or emulator status, and whether the run was manual or automated.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Capture a page image without setting up a local browser
A screenshot can document how a page looks, but it cannot confirm interactive behavior or prove that a capture service is running Edge 79 on Catalina. For a screenshot that does not require local browser setup, ScreenshotNeo is a website screenshot API and MCP server. Its capture is not a substitute for the actual compatibility test above.
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- FLY THROUGH EVERYDAY ASSIGNMENTS — Whether you’re cramming for finals, using Apple Intelligence* to summarize class notes, creating presentations, or even playing the latest Apple Arcade game,* MacBook Neo delivers the performance and AI capabilities you need to get things done.
- UP TO 16 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Neo delivers all day battery life, so you can power through from early morning classes to late night study sessions without worrying about plugging in.
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Or skip the browser setup
Make one GET request for a screenshot (replace the example URL with the page you want to capture):
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpSee the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the request options. Before capture, it accepts cookie/consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each of those steps can be turned off. Bot checks/CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers report the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server provides take_screenshot, get_page_info, and capture_pdf tools for AI agents. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
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Common testing pitfalls
- Calling a screen emulation an Edge 79 test: emulation can help inspect layout, but it does not establish Edge 79’s browser-engine behavior. Run the page in the actual browser for that claim.
- Reporting only “Edge 79”: record the complete build and channel, Catalina point release, and processor architecture so the result is reproducible.
- Treating the macOS minimum as a compatibility guarantee: macOS 10.12 or later is broad current troubleshooting guidance, not proof for a historical Edge build.
- Assuming current Edge support policies answer a historical question: current OS/version transitions describe newer releases and cannot confirm the Edge 79/Catalina combination.
- Using modern automation guidance without checking legacy compatibility: verify the chosen framework and driver support the exact browser build before interpreting failures as website defects.
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