Microsoft is preparing to simplify authentication in its Edge browser by removing support for its legacy direct Windows Web Account Manager (WAM) sign-in implementation. The change is expected to arrive with Edge 157 in November 2026, with the company shifting to the OneAuth authentication library.
The update does not mean Windows Web Account Manager itself is being deprecated. Instead, Edge will stop using its legacy direct-WAM sign-in method, while OneAuth will continue to rely on Windows WAM. The fallback legacy authentication path will also be disabled by default.
Microsoft expects most users to transition to OneAuth automatically. However, some users with unmigrated profiles or organisations that have explicitly disabled OneAuth may need to sign in to Edge again.
The company says the move aims to standardise authentication across Microsoft 365 client applications, simplify platform support, and eliminate the need to maintain 2 separate authentication code paths. It is also expected to improve diagnostics and recovery, potentially delivering a more stable sign-in experience.
For administrators, Microsoft recommends identifying profiles that still use the legacy authentication method and testing the transition before Edge 157 is deployed.
To check a profile’s authentication status, users can open edge://signin-internals in Microsoft Edge. Under Edge Auth Library Information > Library, the displayed value indicates the authentication method in use. Profiles showing OneAuth have already migrated and require no action, while those displaying WAM are still using the legacy path.
Administrators can also test the change using Edge 155 or later. They need to launch the browser through the command line with the following flag:
msedge.exe –enable-features=msForceOneAuthWAM
After launching Edge, users can revisit edge://signin-internals to confirm that OneAuth is active. The check can also help verify that browser sign-in, single sign-on (SSO), and account synchronisation continue to work as expected.
The transition is intended to streamline authentication management across Microsoft’s browser and productivity ecosystem while giving organisations time to identify and address any compatibility issues before the rollout.
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