Microsoft Edge comes pre-installed as the default browser in Windows 11. By customizing various settings, you can optimize Edge to better suit your browsing needs and preferences. This guide will walk you through the most important Edge settings and how to configure them.
Accessing Microsoft Edge Settings
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots (…) in the top-right corner to open the menu.
Step 2: Click on “Settings” near the bottom of the menu to open the full Settings page.
Customizing the Start Page and New Tabs
Step 1: In Settings, click on “Start, home, and new tabs” in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Under “When Edge starts,” choose from these options:
- Open the new tab page
- Open tabs from the previous session
- Open a specific page or pages
Step 3: Under “New tab page,” select what content you want to see when opening a new tab:
- Top sites and suggested content
- Top sites
- A blank page
Adjusting Privacy and Security Settings
Step 1: Click on “Privacy, search, and services” in the left sidebar of Settings.
Step 2: Configure tracking prevention:
- Basic: Allows most trackers
- Balanced: Blocks trackers from sites you haven’t visited (recommended)
- Strict: Blocks the majority of trackers, but may cause some sites to break
Step 3: Scroll down to “Security” and ensure Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is enabled to protect against phishing and malware.
Step 4: Under “Services,” you can toggle options like search suggestions, page predictions, and the option to send “Do Not Track” requests.
Managing Passwords and Forms
Step 1: In Settings, click on “Profiles” in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Select “Passwords” to view and manage saved passwords. You can toggle whether Edge offers to save passwords.
Step 3: Click on “Payment info” to manage saved payment methods and toggle whether Edge offers to save this information.
Step 4: Under “Personal info,” you can manage autofill data for forms and toggle whether Edge saves and fills this information.
Customizing the Browser’s Appearance
Step 1: Click on “Appearance” in the left sidebar of Settings.
Step 2: Choose your preferred theme: Light, Dark, or System default.
Step 3: Customize the toolbar by toggling options like showing the home button, favorites bar, or collections button.
Step 4: Adjust the font size and customize the default zoom level for websites.
Setting Up the Home Button
Step 1: In the “Appearance” section, toggle “Show home button” to on.
Step 2: Choose what page opens when you click the home button:
- New tab page
- A specific page (enter the URL)
Changing the Default Search Engine
Step 1: In Settings, click on “Privacy, search, and services” in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Scroll down to “Services” and click on “Address bar and search.”
Step 3: Under “Search engine used in the address bar,” select your preferred search engine from the dropdown menu.
Step 4: If your preferred search engine isn’t listed, visit that search engine’s website, perform a search, then return to this setting to add it as an option.
Managing Browser Data and Clearing History
Step 1: In Settings, click on “Privacy, search, and services” in the left sidebar.
Step 2: Scroll down to “Clear browsing data” and click on “Choose what to clear.”
Step 3: Select the time range and types of data you want to clear, such as browsing history, cookies, cached images, and download history.
Step 4: Click “Clear now” to remove the selected data.
Step 5: To automatically clear data when you close Edge, toggle on “Clear browsing data when you close Microsoft Edge” and choose what to clear.
By adjusting these settings, you can create a browsing experience in Microsoft Edge that aligns with your preferences for privacy, convenience, and functionality. Remember to periodically review and update these settings as your needs change or as Microsoft introduces new features.