How to Backup and Restore Microsoft Edge

Why Back Up Microsoft Edge?

Backing up Microsoft Edge settings is important because your browser stores all your bookmarks, saved settings, and extensions. If your computer breaks or you get a new one, you won’t lose your personalized browsing setup, saving you time and preventing data loss.

Cloud Sync vs. Manual Backup

Microsoft Edge offers a cloud sync feature that connects your browser to your Microsoft account, keeping your data updated across devices. However, a manual backup provides an offline copy of your settings, which is useful for creating a physical snapshot of your browser data.

What Gets Backed Up?

Your manual backup includes:

• All browser settings
• Favorites and bookmarks
• User profiles
• Installed extensions

Passwords are not included in the local backup folder. Passwords are encrypted and tied to your account. You must export passwords separately or use the sync feature to move them.

Step-by-Step: How to Back Up Microsoft Edge

Step 1Close Microsoft Edge Completely

Close Microsoft Edge and all of Microsoft Edge's tabs. If Microsoft Edge is running, files will lock, and the backup will fail. Once Microsoft Edge is closed, the files become accessible for copying.

Step 2Find Your Edge Folder

Open 📁 File Explorer. Paste this path into the address bar:

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Edge\User Data

Step 3Copy Your Edge Folder

Right-click the User Data folder and select Copy. Paste it onto a USB drive or cloud storage. This folder holds your browser’s core data, which is based on Chromium (an open-source browser project).

Step 4Export Your Registry Settings

You can backup Microsoft Edge settings by exporting your registry. Open the Registry Editor (a tool for making changes to the Windows registry) as an administrator and find the Microsoft Edge folder. Right-click this folder and choose ‘Export’ to save your browser setup as a .reg file.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Edge

Exporting the Microsoft Edge folder saves a copy of your unique browser setup. To do this, right-click the Edge folder and select Export. Then, save the exported file with a .reg extension. This process saves a backup of your specific browser settings, bookmarks, and history.

How to Restore Microsoft Edge

Step 1Restore the User Data Folder

On your new PC, close Edge. Navigate to the same path as in Step 2. Paste your backed-up User Data folder here. Choose to overwrite existing files if asked.

Step 2Restore Registry Settings

Double-clicking your saved .reg file applies your old Microsoft Edge settings to the new browser installation. This action imports the registry entries contained within the .reg file, restoring your previous preferences, such as homepage settings or saved passwords, to the current Microsoft Edge version.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues when backing up or restoring Microsoft Edge, remember passwords are often stored in Windows Credential Manager, not just the browser folder. Ensure Edge is completely closed via 📊 Task Manager before copying files to avoid errors. Also, confirm that the folder structure is the same between Windows 10 and 11.

Summary

Backing up Microsoft Edge settings by copying the User Data folder and exporting registry keys creates a complete snapshot of your browser. This process ensures a smooth transition to a new computer, allowing you to restore your files so your browser looks and works exactly as it did before.