Edge is finally ruined for me

The solution from the post was to flip this switch. I have not verified it because I don't want to launch Edge.

     edge://flags Omnibox Consumer: Enable Copilot Chat

On the page where you choose your default search engine, I like to use the address bar rather than the (recommended) search box. Since the address bar was utilizing Bing on a default New Page otherwise.

On the (newly expanded) list of available search engines, you can also remove Copilot from the list. It's apparently considered a full-fledged search engine now. Removal from this list probably doesn't stifle its ability in other things besides browser searches? I have left it there since it appeared, and Copilot hasn't offered a browser search the way my settings are.

Under "Search suggestions and filters" I disable what's there too.

Then a final touch for your Start Page, "Open custom sites" > Add site > and type in google.com if that's a good start page for you.

Also good to have your own Home button to appear on every page, since New Tabs always default to a Microsoft start page no matter what you do. Enable the button, Set custom site, and type in google.com here too.

Then for New Tab Page you can Customize what kind of feeds you want (or not) from Microsoft and/or Copilot. I turn them all off and of course you still see a Windows logo but you can then hit the convenient Home button as soon as you get a new tab, any time to go to your preferred Home page.

You just don't get to have a fully preferred New Tab page, so the Home button is the workaround.

If you type into the searchbox after all that, the text should automove to the address bar and utilize your default search engine then.