Microsoft Edge allows users to customize their new tab page, including the option to display background images. However, in some situations, particularly in corporate environments, you may want to disable these background images entirely. This article will guide you through the process of disabling background images on Edge’s new tab page using both the Group Policy Editor and the Registry Editor.
Using Group Policy Editor to Disable Background Images
The Group Policy Editor is a powerful tool for managing settings across your Windows system. Here’s how to use it to disable background images on Edge’s new tab page:
Step 1: Open the Group Policy Editor by pressing Win + R, typing gpedit.msc, and pressing Enter.
Step 2: In the Group Policy Editor, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Classic Administrative Templates > Microsoft Edge > Startup, home page and new tab page.
Step 3: Look for the setting “Configure the background types allowed for the new tab page layout” and double-click it.
Step 4: In the settings window, select “Enabled” to activate the policy.
Step 5: Under “Options,” you’ll see a dropdown menu for “New tab page experience.” Choose one of the following options:
- Disable all background image types
- Disable custom background image type
- Disable daily background image type
Step 6: Click “Apply” and then “OK” to save your changes.
After applying these settings, the selected background image types will be disabled on the new tab page for all users on the computer.
Using Registry Editor to Disable Background Images
If you don’t have access to the Group Policy Editor or prefer working with the Registry, you can achieve the same result using the Registry Editor. Here’s how:
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter. Confirm any User Account Control prompts.
Step 2: Navigate to the following path in the Registry Editor:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\MicrosoftStep 3: Right-click on the Microsoft folder, select New > Key, and name it “Edge”.
Step 4: Right-click on the newly created Edge folder, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it “NewTabPageAllowedBackgroundTypes”.
Step 5: Double-click on the new DWORD value and set its value data according to your preference:
- 1 – Disable daily background image type
- 2 – Disable custom background image type
- 3 – Disable all background image types
Step 6: Click “OK” to save the changes.
After making these changes, restart Microsoft Edge for the settings to take effect.
Verifying the Changes
To ensure that the changes have been applied successfully:
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge and create a new tab.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon in the top-right corner of the new tab page to open the customization options.
Step 3: Check if the background image options are disabled or removed according to the settings you applied.
If you don’t see the changes immediately, you may need to restart your computer for the Group Policy or Registry changes to take full effect.
By following these steps, you can effectively disable background images on Microsoft Edge’s new tab page, creating a more streamlined and distraction-free browsing experience. This can be particularly useful in professional environments where a consistent and focused interface is preferred across all workstations.