Microsoft Edge is the default web browser that comes with Windows 11/10 out of the box. After Internet Explorer, Microsoft now appears to be pretty bullish about this browser and claims it to be clean, lightweight, fast and responsive. In this post, we will learn about the privacy and security settings available in the new Microsoft Edge Chromium browser.
Privacy and Security Settings in Edge browser
The new Edge Chromium lets you control much of Privacy Settings in Windows 10 while browsing. For instance,
- Clear browsing history in Edge
- Manage Your Saved Passwords
- Block Cookies
- Manage Page Predictions and Smart Screen Filter
- Save Entries
- Search Provider
- InPrivate window.
With the goal of keeping your personal information personal, the new Edge browser plays a much more active role in minding your privacy.
1] Clear browsing history in Edge
Launch Edge browser, go to ‘Settings and more‘ and choose ‘Privacy and services‘ from the Settings panel on the left.
Then, under ‘Clear browsing data‘ section, choose ‘what to clear‘.
Select what you want to delete.
Similarly, you can also configure the browser to clear your data, every time you close the browser.
Just select ‘Choose what to clear everytime you close the browser‘.
Toggle the switch for desired options.
2] Manage Your Saved Passwords
Launch Edge browser, go to ‘Settings and more‘. Under ‘Profiles’ , select ‘Passwords’ and toggle the switch for ‘Offer to save passwords‘.
3] Block Cookies
You can choose if you want to block all cookies, block third party cookies or don’t want to block cookies at all. Follow the same procedure as described under ‘Clear browsing history in Edge‘ above, select ‘choose what to clear everytime you close the browser’ > ‘Cookies and other sites data’.
Block cookies by simply toggling the switch.
Read: Security features in the Microsoft Edge browser.
4] Manage Page Predictions and Smart Screen Filter
Page Predictions is a feature where Microsoft Edge predicts and suggests you the websites on the basis of your browsing history. This feature is turned ON by default and probably sends all your browsing history to Microsoft. Switch it OFF.
For this, go to ‘Privacy and services‘ > ‘Services’ > ‘Microsoft Defender SmartScreen‘.
5] Save entries
By default, Edge prompts you to save new entries. You can also make the browser save entries by,
Selecting ‘Settings and more’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Profiles’ > ‘Addresses and more’.
Turn on ‘Save and fill addresses‘.
6] Search Provider
To change Search provider in Edge, go to Settings and more’ > ‘Settings’ > ‘Privacy and services’.
Under it, scroll down to ‘Services‘ section. Locate ‘Address bar‘ . Hit the side-arrow button to go to a new page.
Here, configure Edge to manage search suggestions and search engine used in the address bar.
7] InPrivate Window
If you don’t want Microsoft Edge to save your cookies, browsing history, or data in your PC you can open any webpage in InPrivate Window. This is similar to something we call Incognito mode in other browsers.
Open InPrivate Window by simply right-clicking on the Edge icon on the Taskbar and choosing ‘New InPrivate window‘.
These were some important privacy settings in Microsoft Edge you might want to learn about. Do let us know if we missed something or if you want us to add something.
TIP: This post shows how you can use Internet Options to further harden security settings.
Further reading: How to configure Tracking & Privacy Settings in Microsoft Edge.
