This article explains how to turn on or off autocomplete or suggestions in the address bar in the Microsoft Edge browser.
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.
Edge has an autocomplete feature that anticipates your typing and suggests a word or phrase based on your browser history, favorites, and recent search queries. To autocomplete a suggestion, press the Enter key, and the word or phrase is automatically entered in the address bar.
If you do not want your browser to suggest words and phrases based on your history or other activities, you can turn it off. Likewise, turn it on if you want your browser to offer terms and phrases based on your history or other activities.
Turn on or off autocomplete suggestions in the address bar in Edge
As mentioned above, Edge will attempt to autocomplete words and phrases based on your browsing history and other data.
Here’s how to turn it on or off.
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 Privacy, search, and privacy.
At the bottom of the middle section, under Services, click the Address bar and search tile to expand it.
Next, click the toggle switches next to the following settings to the On position to enable autocompletion in Edge.
- Show me search and site suggestions using my typed characters
- Show me suggestions from history, favorites and other data on this device using my typed characters
To disable autocomplete in Edge, toggle the switches back to the Off position.
When disabled, Edge will no longer store or autosuggest words and phrases as you type. Close Edge to save your changes, and you’re done.
Your changes should apply immediately.
Enable or disable AutoSuggest via Registry Editor in Edge
Another way to enable or disable AutoComplete or AutoSuggest in the Microsoft Edge browser is to use the Windows Registry Editor.
The SearchSuggestEnabled controls the policy for the Show me search and site suggestions using my typed characters setting in Microsoft Edge.
The LocalProvidersEnabled policy controls the Show me suggestions from history, favorites and other data on this device using my typed characters setting in Microsoft Edge.
To do that, open the Windows Registry, and navigate to the folder key below.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge
If you don’t see the Edge folder key, right-click on the Microsoft parent key, then create the subkey (Edge) folder.
Right-click on the Edge folder key’s right pane and select New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type a new item named SearchSuggestEnabled. Also, create another DWORD (32-bit) and name it LocalProvidersEnabled.
Double-click each of the items you created (SearchSuggestEnabledand LocalProvidersEnabled ) and make sure the Base option is Decimal, and then update the Value data:
- To disable AutoComplete in the address bar, type 0.
- To enable AutoComplete in the address bar, type 1 or delete both items created above.
That should do it. Restart your computer to apply the changes.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
- This article provided detailed steps to enable or disable autocomplete in the address bar in the Microsoft Edge browser.
- Users were guided through the process using browser settings and the Windows Registry Editor.
- If any errors were found or additional insights were desired, readers were encouraged to use the comments section to contribute.
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