This article explains how to view and delete browser history and data in Microsoft Edge.
The Microsoft Edge browser is the default browser in Windows 11. However, users can switch to their preferred or favorite browser anytime. Edge is based on Chromium, similar to Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers today.
With the Microsoft Edge browser, you can view and clear your Microsoft Edge browsing history stored on a single device, across all synced devices, and in the cloud. You may choose to clear your browsing history at any time.
When you want to clear your browsing data, you must first decide whether to delete the data only on the device you’re currently using or across all synced devices.
Turn off sync to clear your browsing data on a single device. Otherwise, sign in and sync to your Microsoft account to clear browsing data on all synced devices.
You can also view and delete data saved in the Microsoft Cloud from the privacy dashboard. Howerver, data you delete on the privacy dashboard won’t be deleted from your device.
There are several reasons why you might want to clear your browsing data. One reason is to protect your privacy. Your browsing history may contain sensitive information such as login credentials, personal data, and browsing habits.
Clearing your browsing data helps to ensure that this information does not fall into the wrong hands. Additionally, clearing your browsing data can help to free up space on your device and improve its performance.
Finally, if you are experiencing issues with your browser, clearing your browsing data can sometimes help to resolve these issues.
View and delete browser history in Microsoft Edge
As mentioned above, you can view and clear your browsing data anytime in the Microsoft Edge browser. You can do that on a single device, or all devices synced to your Microsoft account.
Browsing data you can delete in Microsoft Edge
| Types of info | What will be deleted | Where it’s stored |
|---|---|---|
| Browsing history | Where it’s stored | On your device (or, if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
| Download history | The URLs of sites you’ve visited, and the dates and times of each visit. | On your device |
| Cookies and other site data | Information and data that websites store on your device to remember your preferences, such as sign-in info, your location, or media licenses. | On your device |
| Cached images and files | Copies of pages, images, and other media content stored on your device. The browser uses these copies to load content faster the next time you visit those sites. | On your device |
| Passwords | The list of files you’ve downloaded from the web. This only deletes the list, not the actual files that you’ve downloaded. | On your device (or, if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
| Autofill form data (includes forms and cards) | Site passwords that you’ve saved. | On your device (or, if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
| Site permissions | Go to Settings and more > Settings > Cookies and site permissions to see a list for each website, including location, cookies, pop-ups, and media autoplay. | On your device |
| All data from the previous version of Microsoft Edge | All data including history, favorites, passwords, and more from the legacy version of Microsoft Edge. | On your device (or, if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
| Media Foundation data | Includes licenses, certificates, keys, and more. Data is cleared after you restart the Microsoft Edge browser. | On your device (or, if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
Here’s how to clear your browsing data with Microsoft Edge.
First, open the Microsoft Edge browser.
Then click on Setting and more (Alt+F) 3 horizontal dots button on the top right corner and select Settings.
On the Settings page on the left panel, click the Privacy, search, and services button.
On the right, under Clear browsing data, select the “Clear browsing data now” tile. Then click the Choose what to clear button on the tile to show what browsing data to view and clear.
On the Clear browsing data window, choose the Time range for which you want to clear the data. You can choose [Last hour], [Last 24 hours], [Last 7 days], [Last 4 weeks], [All time].
Next, check the box next to the data you wish to clear. Use the scrollbar to scroll down and select more data not shown.
When you are done, click the Clear now button to clear the selected data within the time frame.
Exit the browser setting when you are done.
That should do it!
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Conclusion:
- This article provided a comprehensive guide on viewing and clearing browsing data in the Microsoft Edge browser, offering step-by-step instructions.
- It highlighted the importance of clearing browsing data to maintain privacy, improve device performance, and resolve browser issues.
- The post emphasized the various types of browsing data that can be deleted in Microsoft Edge, including browsing history, cookies, cached images and files, passwords, autofill form data, site permissions, and more.
- By following these instructions, users can effectively manage and delete their browsing data to enhance their browsing experience and protect their privacy.
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