How to activate the Mica effect in Microsoft Edge 120 step by step

¿How to Enable the Mica Effect in Microsoft Edge 120Windows 11 has brought with it a series of visual improvements that have transformed the way we interact with the operating system. Among these new features is the Mica effect, one of the most striking aesthetic features of the Fluent Design language. This feature aims to offer a much more coherent, modern, and visually appealing experience, and now also comes to the browser. Microsoft Edge with its version 120. In this article we are going to tell you All you need to know on how to activate it, what you need, and what improvements it brings to your daily experience.

The Mica effect is more than just a cosmetic change. It's a visual material that combines the wallpaper and the theme selected by the user, creating a subtle translucent layer that adds depth and clarity to the interface. This design not only helps improve aesthetics, but also It serves to easily distinguish which window is active and contributes to a more immersive experience.Microsoft Edge has begun incorporating this effect into its environment, although it's currently an experimental feature that must be activated manually. Let's see how to activate the Mica effect in Microsoft Edge 120.

What exactly is the Mica effect?

The Mica Effect It is a type of opaque and dynamic material that uses the desktop wallpaper along with the active theme of the system to apply it to areas such as the title bar and toolbar. Unlike the Acrylic effect, which is completely translucent and requires more system resources, Mica is designed to balance aesthetics and performance. If you're interested in improving your knowledge of visual effects, you can check out How to get visual effects in Fortnite.

This effect intelligently adapts to the background, providing a clear visual hierarchy. For example, when a window is active, the material is displayed more intensely, highlighting its presence in the foreground. When the window is not in focus, Mica softens to emphasize the one that is.

Additionally, there is also a variant called Mica Alt, which has a more intense tone and is recommended for applications with tabbed interface, as may be the case with Edge.

Requirements to activate Mica in Microsoft Edge

To enjoy the Mica effect in Microsoft Edge, it's necessary to meet a series of basic requirements. Below, we've detailed them for you to consider before beginning the process:

• Be using Windows 11 in a version equal to or greater than 22000.
• Have Microsoft Edge updated to version 120.0.2210.77 or higher.
• Hardware compatible with visual effectsOn low-end devices, the effect may not work or may only work in a limited way.
• Have the option of transparency in color customization from Settings > Personalization > Colors.

Step-by-step guide to activate the Mica effect

The process to activate the Mica effect is simple, but requires several steps. Microsoft still considers it a testing feature, so it's not enabled by default. Here's how to do it:

1. Check your Edge version

Open the browser and type in the address bar Edge: // settings / helpThis will take you to the browser's information section, where the current version will be indicated. If you don't have version 120 or higher, it will update automatically.

2. Access the experimental flags

Once you have the updated version, enter edge: // flags in the navigation bar. Flags are experimental browser features that you can manually enable.

3. Activate the specific flag for the effect

On the experimental flags page, look for “Show Windows 11 visual effects in title bar and toolbar”, you can also go directly by pasting this address into the bar: edge://flags/#edge-visual-rejuv-mica. Change this flag to the option Enabled.

4. Restart the browser

After changing the flag, Edge will prompt you to restart the browser. Do so for the changes to take effect.

5. Activate the appearance from the settings

Upon restart, go back to Edge and type edge://settings/appearance in the address bar. Scroll through the options until you find the section “Show Windows 11 visual effects in the title bar and toolbar (preview)”. Flip the switch.

Alternative option to activate Mica manually

Some users have reported that the option mentioned in the appearance section is not yet visible. In this case, there is a alternative way to force the effect via browser shortcut:

1. Right-click the Edge icon in the taskbar.
2. Right-click on “Microsoft Edge” again from the context menu and select "Properties".
3. In the “Shortcut” tab, locate the “Destination” field.
4. At the end of the line write or paste: –enable-features=msVisualRejuvMica. If there is any other parameter such as –profile-directory=Default, replace it.
5. Click “Apply” and then “OK.”

When you open Edge from this shortcut, the effect should be applied automatically, even if it doesn't appear as an option in the browser settings.

How do you know if the effect is really active?

To check if the effect is working correctly, look at the top bar of your browser. You should notice a slight transparency or blurring which lets the desktop background show through. This aesthetic is most evident when you use the default system themeIf you are interested in exploring more about visual effects on other platforms, you can visit how to get the upload effect on instagram.

In case you don't see it, make sure of the following:

• That the system is not in battery saving mode.
• That transparency is enabled in Windows Settings.
• That you are not using custom themes in Edge.

Possible drawbacks to consider

As this is a feature that is still in testing phase, some users may experience performance issuesThis can range from minor stutters to slowness when switching between tabs if you have a computer with low RAM or a basic processor.

In those cases, you can always revert the changes back to edge: // flags and selecting “Disabled” instead of “Enabled” in the corresponding flag. Then, disable the option from the Appearance section to return to the browser's original behavior.

Additional improvements for a more "Windows 11" experience

If you want to go a step further and make Microsoft Edge blend even more with the modern style of Windows 11, you can enable some additional flags:

• edge://flags/#edge-rounded-containers: Enables rounded containers in the interface.
• edge://flags/#edge-visual-rejuv-rounded-tabs: Softens the design of the eyelashes.

These small tweaks create a more consistent feel with the overall design of Windows 11 and perfectly complement the Mica effect.

With the arrival of the Mica effect to Microsoft Edge In version 120, the company has taken another step toward fully integrating the browser with the Windows 11 aesthetic. Although it's still a testing feature, activating it is relatively simple and the results are clearly visible. Whether you're an aesthetic lover or simply want to modernize your browser's interface, enabling the Mica effect can significantly improve the visual experience. Just keep in mind the hardware and system requirements and be prepared for possible adjustments in case your computer doesn't handle it well.