How to Enable Preload Pages in Edge for Faster Browsing

Turn Preload Pages On or Off in Edge (For Your Account)

The preload pages setting in Microsoft Edge allows you to easily turn the feature on or off from the browser's settings menu. This setting affects only your personal use of the browser and helps speed up how quickly web pages load for you. You do not need special permission to make this change within your own Edge account.

1. Open Microsoft Edge. Click the Edge icon on your taskbar 🖥️ or find it in your Start menu ⊞.
2. Go to Settings ⚙️. Look for three small dots stacked vertically (...) in the top-right corner of the Edge window. Click them, then choose “Settings” from the list that appears.
3. Find Performance settings. In the Settings ⚙️ tab, look at the menu on the left side. Click on “System and performance.” Then, on the right side, click on “Performance.”
4. Locate the Preload pages setting. Under a section called “General settings,” you should see an option named “Preload pages for faster browsing and searching.”
5. Choose your setting.

   • To turn the feature ON (which is usually best for speed), make sure the switch next to “Preload pages for faster browsing and searching” is moved to the ON position. This is typically the default setting.
   • To turn the feature OFF, move the switch to the OFF position.
6. Close the Settings ⚙️ tab. Your changes are saved. You can now close the Settings ⚙️ tab.
   

Enable or Disable Preload Pages for All Users (Using the Registry Editor)

To enable or disable preload pages for everyone who uses your computer, or if the setting is locked in Edge, you’ll need to use the Windows Registry Editor. This method requires administrator access because you’re making a system-wide change. Be careful when editing the registry, as mistakes can cause issues.

What the Registry Change Does

The location is: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Edge

We will change a value called NetworkPredictionOptions.

This value can be a DWORD (a type of data) and uses different numbers to control how it works:

• 0 (Hexadecimal) means "Always Enable Preload pages."
• 2 (Hexadecimal) means "Disable Preload pages."

If the `EnablePreloadPage` DWORD value in the Windows Registry does not exist or is set differently (e.g., deleted), Microsoft Edge will use its default settings. You can control these browser defaults through the browser's options menu, as explained in the first section of this article.

Steps: Using the Registry Editor

Follow these exact steps to use the Registry Editor and change the preload pages setting for all users, which requires administrator rights. First, close all Microsoft Edge windows to ensure the changes apply correctly. Then, open the Registry Editor by pressing the Windows key + R, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.

1. Close Microsoft Edge. Make sure all Edge windows are closed before you start. This helps make sure the changes work correctly.

2. Open the Registry Editor.

   • Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard. This opens a small "Run" box.
   • Type regedit into the box and press Enter, or click "OK."
3. Allow changes. If a box appears asking if you want to let the app make changes to your device, click "Yes."
4. Go to the right location. In the Registry Editor window, look at the list of folders on the left. You need to click through the folders (keys) to find the specific place for Edge's settings. Click each folder to open it:
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Policies \ Microsoft \ Edge

5. Select the "Edge" key. Click on the Edge folder you found or created in the left side of the window. This will show its settings on the right side.

6. Create or change the NetworkPredictionOptions value. Now look at the right side of the window. You need to find or create a value named NetworkPredictionOptions.

   • If NetworkPredictionOptions already exists: Double-click on it to change its current setting.
   • If NetworkPredictionOptions does NOT exist: Right-click on an empty space in the right-hand area. Choose "New," then choose "DWORD (32-bit) Value." Name this new value exactly NetworkPredictionOptions.

7. Set the value data. A small window will pop up asking for the "Value data." Enter the number for the setting you want:

   • To ALWAYS ENABLE Preload Pages: Type 0 (zero) into the "Value data" box. Make sure "Base" is set to "Hexadecimal." Click "OK."
     Warning: This setting will block you from changing preload pages in Edge's settings. You won't be able to change it from within the browser anymore.
   • To DISABLE Preload Pages: Type 1 into the "Value data" box. Make sure "Base" is set to "Hexadecimal." Click "OK."
     Warning: This setting will also block you from changing preload pages in Edge's settings, making that option grayed out in the browser.
   • To set it back to DEFAULT (so you can control it from Edge settings): You have two choices. You can either delete the NetworkPredictionOptions value (right-click on it in the right pane and select "Delete") or you can set its Value data to 1. Setting it to 1 enables network prediction but allows the browser settings to control it. Deleting it is often the easiest way if you want to use the browser's own settings.
8. Close the Registry Editor. You can now close the Registry Editor window.
   
9. Restart Microsoft Edge. If Edge was open, close it completely and then open it again. The changes you made in the registry will now be active.
   

Summary

The preload pages feature in Microsoft Edge helps your web pages load faster. You can easily control this setting for your own account directly within Edge's settings menu. For system-wide changes or when the option is locked, the Windows Registry Editor can be used, but it requires administrator privileges and careful handling.