How to Turn Enhanced Security on or off with Microsoft Edge

Choose Your Protection Level: Balanced vs. Strict

Enhanced Security in Microsoft Edge offers adjustable strength levels. Two distinct modes provide improved online protection when Enhanced Security is active.

Balanced Mode (Recommended)

Balanced mode for microsoft edge enhanced security is the best choice for everyday browsing because it adds extra protection on unfamiliar sites while keeping your favorite pages working normally. Microsoft Edge uses this as the default setting to give you a reliable mix of strong safety and smooth usability without getting in your way.

Enhanced security mode in Microsoft Edge offers better protection for new websites while most pages continue working normally. A small shield or "Secure" sign appears near the address bar when this mode actively protects a specific site.

Strict Mode

Strict mode for microsoft edge enhanced security applies extra safety protections to every single website you visit across the internet. This gives you maximum defense against online threats, but it may cause some complex web pages or specific site features to stop working correctly until you add them to an exception list.

Strict mode provides the strongest online defense, though it may prevent certain websites from working correctly. Expect broken page elements or missing functions on complex sites because advanced security settings interfere with normal website operations.

Strict mode is not recommended for typical web browsing. Advanced security settings require frequent configuration adjustments or specific website exceptions, creating unnecessary inconvenience. For users preferring a hands-off approach, Microsoft Edge's Balanced mode offers a less intrusive security option.

How to Turn Enhanced Security On or Off

Microsoft edge enhanced security can be turned on or off directly inside your browser settings menu whenever you want to change your protection level. You just need to open the main settings page, find the privacy and security section, and flip the toggle switch to enable or disable extra protections for your browsing sessions.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (...) in the top-right corner. This is the "Settings and more" menu.
3. Choose "Settings" from the list.
4. On the left side, click "Privacy, search, and services."
5. Scroll down to the "Security" section.
6. Find "Enhance your security on the web." Make sure the switch next to it is "On."
7. Below that, you can choose your mode. Click the dropdown menu and pick "Balanced" or "Strict."

Enhanced Security allows adding specific websites to an exception list. Important websites function correctly while Enhanced Security remains active for the majority of internet browsing.

Making Exceptions: When a Site Needs Special Treatment

Microsoft Edge's Enhanced Security feature permits creating exception lists. Specific websites receive permanent extra protection or complete exemption from Enhanced Security, providing fine-tuned control over browsing safety.

Microsoft Edge accepts instructions to *always* use enhanced security for a specific site, or to *never* use it for that site.

How to Add a Site to an Exception List:

1. Follow steps 1-5 from the section above to get to the "Security" settings page.
2. Make sure "Enhance your security on the web" is "On."
3. Below where you choose the mode, click on "Site preferences for enhanced security."
4. You will see two lists: "Never use enhanced security for these sites" and "Always use enhanced security for these sites."
5. To add a site to a list, click the "Add site" button next to the list you want.
6. Type the full website address (URL) in the box. For example: https://www.example.com
7. Click "Add."

Microsoft edge enhanced security allows you to bypass extra protections for specific trusted web pages by adding them to a personal exception list. You can easily set websites to be ignored by security controls so they load properly without turning off the main protection feature for the rest of the web.

Editing or Removing Sites from Exception Lists:

Microsoft edge enhanced security exception lists can be updated or cleared at any time if your website preferences change. You just need to head back into your browser security settings, locate your saved exception lists, and delete or modify the web addresses you previously added.

1. Go back to the "Site preferences for enhanced security" page in Edge's settings.
2. Find the website you want to manage in either the "Never use" or "Always use" list.
3. Next to the website's address, click the "More actions" icon (it usually looks like three dots).
4. You will see options to "Edit" the address or "Remove" the site from the list.

Microsoft Edge's enhanced security feature allows turning off protection for specific websites. Clicking the "Added security" icon in the address bar disables security for a particular site, adding the website's address to an exclusion list as a quick fix for immediate website issues present in Microsoft Edge version 98.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/enhance-your-security-on-the-web-with-microsoft-edge

Summary

Microsoft Edge's Enhanced Security feature provides better online protection through settings like Balanced mode for most sites and Strict mode for maximum defense, alongside exception management options.