How to Enable or Disable Tracking Prevention in Microsoft Edge

Why You Need Tracking Prevention

Tracking prevention stops website tools that collect your personal information, including preferences, purchases, and searches. Websites often sell this collected data to advertisers for targeted ads. Microsoft Edge stops much tracking by default, but you can change settings for stronger protection. This tracking prevention feature limits the information websites collect, giving you more control over your data.

What Are Trackers?

Website trackers are small files or code that websites place on your computer. These trackers collect information about your online activity, including clicked links, time spent on pages, searches, and purchases. Trackers operate in the background without your direct observation.

First-party trackers originate from the website you visit, remembering login details or items in a shopping cart. Microsoft Edge offers three tracking prevention levels: Basic, Balanced (the default in Edge version 118), and Strict.

Third-party trackers originate from outside companies and follow you across many websites. These trackers build a detailed profile of your online activities and sell this profile to advertisers. Tracking prevention features in Microsoft Edge block these specific trackers, reducing your privacy invasion.

What Is Tracking Prevention?

Microsoft Edge's tracking prevention feature automatically blocks third-party trackers, preventing companies from following users online and limiting website data collection. This feature is active by default in Microsoft Edge version 100. Users can adjust tracking prevention to be stronger or weaker if a website has functionality issues.

Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge consults a regularly updated list of known trackers. When browsing websites, Edge checks for these trackers and blocks any found. This action prevents trackers from collecting your data or following you to other sites, improving your browsing privacy.

The Three Levels of Tracking Prevention in Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge offers three distinct levels of tracking prevention, each providing a different degree of protection. You can select the level that best suits your needs.

Basic Tracking Prevention

Basic tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge offers the least protection. Edge blocks trackers only during InPrivate browsing sessions, Edge's private browsing mode. This minimal protection prevents website issues caused by aggressive blocking but provides less privacy during regular browsing. Some trackers may still function during regular browsing sessions even with tracking prevention active in InPrivate windows.

Balanced Tracking Prevention

The Balanced tracking prevention setting in Microsoft Edge acts as a middle ground, blocking known third-party trackers on all websites to protect user privacy. This default setting allows most websites to work without problems. However, some websites might experience minor issues, like comment sections delaying their load time or buttons appearing after a short pause. Balanced tracking prevention offers a good level of privacy protection without causing major disruptions for over 85% of users.

Strict Tracking Prevention

How to Change Your Tracking Prevention Level

Adjusting your tracking prevention level is a simple process that takes just a few clicks. Here’s how:

1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
2. Click the three-dot menu button in the top right corner of the window.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
4. Click Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar.
5. Scroll down to the section labeled Tracking prevention.
6. You will see three options: Basic, Balanced, and Strict.
7. Click the option you prefer.

Your selection is saved automatically, so you don’t need to restart Edge. The browser will immediately begin blocking trackers according to your chosen level.

Making Exceptions: Allow Specific Trackers on Certain Websites

Here’s how to add a tracking prevention exception:

1. Go to the website that isn’t working properly.
2. Click the lock icon in the address bar. It is on the left side where the website address is shown.
3. Select “Tracking prevention” for this site.
4. Toggle the switch to Off for that website.
5. Refresh the page. The website should now work properly.

When you disable tracking prevention for a website, Edge stops blocking trackers only on that specific site. Tracking prevention remains active everywhere else.

To remove an exception later:

1. Go back to that website.
2. Click the lock icon in the address bar.
3. Click Manage next to “Tracking prevention”.
4. Toggle the switch back to On.

Edge will then resume blocking trackers on that website.

Viewing Blocked Trackers: See What Edge Protected You From

Curious about how many trackers Edge has blocked? You can view a detailed list, which helps illustrate why tracking prevention is important and how extensively companies try to track you.

To see blocked trackers:

1. Click the lock icon in the address bar of any website.
2. Look for the line that says “Trackers blocked on this page”.
3. Click See details.

Microsoft Edge displays blocked trackers on a specific webpage, including tracking company names and the number of tracking attempts made by each company. For example, the browser may show 5 tracking attempts from Company X on a particular website.

The Microsoft Edge tracker summary shows blocked trackers weekly or monthly. Users find the tracker summary in Edge privacy settings under the "Settings" menu. Viewing this tracker data helps users understand how well Microsoft Edge protects them from online tracking.

1. Open Edge and click the three-dot menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. Click Privacy, search, and services.
4. Scroll to Tracking prevention.
5. Below the three level options, click Blocked trackers.

The tracking prevention view displays a list of websites and the exact count of trackers Microsoft Edge blocked for each site. This feature helps users understand their privacy protection on individual websites.

Enable or disable Tracking Prevention in Edge via Registry

Advanced users can change tracking prevention rules using the Windows Registry, a system database storing Microsoft Windows settings. IT departments might block changes to tracking prevention rules on work or school devices, preventing user modifications to these settings.

First, open the Windows Registry (this is a tool that lets you make changes to core Windows settings). Remember to back up your registry or create a System Restore point before making changes, as a precaution.

Navigate to: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

Right-click on Edge, select New, and then choose DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name this new value TrackingPrevention.

Double-click the new entry and set the value:

• 1: Basic
• 2: Balanced
• 3: Strict
• 0: Disable

You might need to restart your computer for these changes to take effect. To revert these settings, simply delete the TrackingPrevention entry.

Advanced Settings: Fine-Tune Your Tracking Prevention

Microsoft Edge offers advanced tracking prevention settings for users wanting more control. These settings let you change how tracking prevention works for features such as search suggestions and personalized content. You can adjust these options by navigating to Edge settings.

Search and Site Suggestions

Microsoft Edge offers search suggestions as users type, using search history to find information faster. To disable this tracking, users can turn off "Improve your web experience by allowing Microsoft to save your browsing activity" within Edge's Privacy settings, stopping Edge from saving search history for suggestions. This action prevents data collection for feature enhancement.

Personalized Content and Ads

Microsoft may display personalized ads based on your browsing habits. To receive generic ads instead, you can turn off “Personalize your web experience.” Additionally, you can manage whether websites can access your saved payment information by toggling “Allow sites to check if you have payment methods saved.”

Privacy-Preserving Product Improvements

Microsoft collects certain browsing data to help improve Edge. If you prefer not to share this information, you can disable “Help improve Microsoft products by sending the optional diagnostic data about how you use the browser.”

Understanding InPrivate Browsing and Tracking Prevention

InPrivate browsing is Edge’s private mode. When you open an InPrivate window, Edge activates additional privacy features, including stronger tracking prevention. Even if your regular browsing uses the Basic tracking prevention setting, InPrivate windows benefit from enhanced protection.

To open an InPrivate window:

1. Click the three-dot menu in Edge.
2. Select New InPrivate window.

Microsoft Edge's InPrivate mode offers enhanced privacy for user browsing. Opening an InPrivate window displays a blue InPrivate indicator. Browsing activity within this InPrivate window avoids saving to the user's history. This mode blocks more trackers, and cookies delete automatically upon closing the InPrivate window. InPrivate mode provides maximum privacy, useful for sensitive searches or ensuring browsing remains untracked.

Troubleshooting Websites That Break with Tracking Prevention

Occasionally, tracking prevention can interfere with website functionality, causing issues like a website not loading correctly, a feature not working, or an error message appearing. Here’s how to address these problems.

First, determine if tracking prevention is indeed the cause:

1. Go to the website that isn’t working.
2. Click the lock icon in the address bar.
3. Look at what it says about tracking prevention.

Tracking prevention status on a website indicates whether the tracking prevention feature is active for that specific site. If the status shows "Tracking prevention is on for this site," this active tracking prevention feature might cause the observed problem.

If tracking prevention appears to be causing issues, you have several options:

Option 1Turn Off Tracking Prevention for That Site

Tracking prevention on a specific website turns off by clicking the lock icon and toggling the setting. This action allows the website to function correctly.

Option 2Lower Your Tracking Prevention Level

Microsoft Edge tracking prevention can be adjusted to improve website compatibility. Users can change protection from Strict to Balanced, or from Balanced to Basic. Lowering tracking prevention improves how websites work but offers slightly less privacy protection.

Option 3Clear Browsing Data and Cache

Clearing your browser’s cache can sometimes resolve issues. Old cached data can conflict with tracking prevention settings, leading to problems. To clear your cache:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Del on your keyboard.
2. Select the time range. Choose All time to clear everything.
3. Check the boxes for Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear now.
5. Reload the website.

Option 4Try a Different Browser Profile

Microsoft Edge allows users to create multiple browser profiles. Each profile holds unique settings, such as tracking prevention levels. A user can set up one profile with Basic tracking prevention for problematic websites, while keeping their main profile on Strict tracking prevention for maximum privacy.

Tracking Prevention vs. Other Privacy Tools in Edge

Microsoft Edge's tracking prevention uses built-in features to protect user privacy. This privacy protection is one of several tools available within Edge, version 119 or later, that safeguard your online experience.

Do Not Track (DNT)

The "Do Not Track" privacy feature sends a request to websites asking them to stop tracking user activity. However, many websites disregard the "Do Not Track" request, making it less effective than tracking prevention. Microsoft Edge version 105 provides stronger tracking prevention choices that offer better privacy protection than "Do Not Track".

Windows Defender SmartScreen

Microsoft Edge's SmartScreen security feature protects users from dangerous websites. SmartScreen blocks sites known for malware or phishing scams. This security function is separate from tracking prevention, which focuses on user privacy.

Collections and Saving to Reading List

These are privacy features that operate locally on your device. Your collections are stored only on your computer and are not sent to servers, so they don’t involve tracking. However, diligent management of your data is crucial for maintaining privacy.

Common Misconceptions About Tracking Prevention

Many people hold misconceptions about how tracking prevention functions. Let’s address some common misunderstandings.

Misconception 1: Tracking Prevention Blocks All Ads

Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge blocks websites from following your online activity. Websites will stop collecting your browsing history to show you personalized ads. You will still see advertisements, but these ads will be generic, not based on what you have recently searched or viewed.

Misconception 2: Tracking Prevention Makes You Anonymous

Tracking prevention stops websites from using outside companies to follow your online activity. However, tracking prevention does not hide your internet visits from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Your ISP can still see all the websites you visit. An employer also monitors your browsing on their network. Tracking prevention increases your privacy but does not make you totally anonymous online.

Misconception 3: Turning Off Tracking Prevention Makes Sites Faster

Blocking online trackers speeds up web browsing. Trackers are small code pieces that collect information about your online activity. Removing these trackers reduces the website data needed to load pages, making web pages load faster. Therefore, disabling tracking prevention may result in slower browsing speeds for you.

Misconception 4: You Need Tracking Prevention if You Have Nothing to Hide

Tracking prevention tools in Microsoft Edge protect user control over personal data. This user control, which involves deciding how your personal data is used, is a basic right for everyone.

How Tracking Prevention Affects Website Functionality

It’s important to understand how tracking prevention might affect certain website functionalities, as some features rely on technologies that tracking prevention is designed to block.

Social Media Buttons

Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge may stop social media sharing buttons, such as those for Facebook or Twitter, from working correctly or appearing on websites. This change impacts only the sharing feature; the main content of the website still functions normally.

Comment Sections

Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge can block website comment systems. If tracking prevention is set to Strict, comment systems like Disqus may not load. This causes a blank space on a webpage where comments should appear. Adding a website exception for the specific page resolves this problem.

Video Players

Some video players incorporate tracking technology. If you encounter a video that won’t play, tracking prevention might be the cause. Try adding an exception for that website, and the video should play once trackers are permitted.

Login Systems

Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge might block third-party login tools. Adding a website to the exception list in Microsoft Edge version 98 often fixes login problems. This action tells Edge to allow the login tools for that specific site.

E-Commerce Features

Tracking technologies in features like shopping carts, wishlists, and product recommendations can be affected by strict tracking prevention settings. For example, if strict tracking prevention is on, product recommendations might not be personalized, but users can still complete purchases.

Summary

Tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge is a key feature for protecting your online privacy. You can choose from three levels: Basic, Balanced, and Strict, with Balanced serving as the default for a good balance between privacy and website compatibility. If a website encounters issues, you can create a specific exception for it. You can also review the trackers that Edge has blocked to better understand its function. While powerful, tracking prevention doesn’t guarantee complete anonymity and might affect certain website features. For an additional layer of privacy, consider using InPrivate browsing.