How to View and Delete Browser History in Microsoft Edge

How to Clear Your Browsing Data

Microsoft Edge offers a process to clear browser data. This process begins after deciding whether to clear data locally or on all synced devices. Locating the correct browser settings area provides access to the clearing process.

Step 1Go to the Clearing Tools

Starting the deletion of Microsoft Edge history requires navigating to the browser settings first. Open Microsoft Edge, click the three dots in the top-right corner to open the 'Settings and more' menu, then select 'Settings'. From there, click on 'Privacy, search, and services' in the left-hand menu to find the required tools.

1. Start Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the "Settings and more" button (the three dots ...) in the top-right corner.
3. Go to "Settings."
4. In the Settings menu, click on "Privacy, search, and services" in the left sidebar.

Step 2Start Clearing Data

Finding the option to clear browsing data happens within the 'Privacy, search, and services' section. Click the 'Clear browsing data' button. Selecting 'Choose what to clear' reveals all available types of history and data for deletion, providing greater control than 'Clear browsing data now.'

Step 3Choose Your Time Range

Time range selection determines how far back Microsoft Edge browsing history deletes. Available options include the last hour, the last 24 hours, the last 7 days, or the last 4 weeks. Selecting 'Last hour' suits a quick cleanup of recent activity, while 'Last 24 hours' helps tidy up from the day before.

• Last hour: Good for a quick cleanup if you were just browsing something you don't want saved.
• Last 24 hours: A good option for general tidying up from the day before.
• Last 7 days: Useful for a weekly reset.
• Last 4 weeks: For a bigger cleanup over the past month.
• All time: This is the big one. If you want to delete all your browsing history and related data since you started using Edge, choose this option.

Practical Tip: Uncertainty calls for starting with a shorter time range like "Last 24 hours" or "Last 7 days." Returning later to clear "All time" remains an option.

Step 4Select What Data to Delete

Deciding what specific items to remove from the browser happens next. Check the boxes next to the data types scheduled for deletion. 'Browsing history' includes the list of visited websites along with dates and times, which satisfies most cleanup goals. 'Download history' exclusively removes the record of downloaded files.

• Browsing history: This is the list of all the websites you have visited, with the dates and times. Most people want to clear this.
• Download history: This only removes the *list* of files you have downloaded from the internet in Edge. It does NOT delete the actual files from your computer.
• Cookies and other site data: Cookies are small files that websites save on your computer. They remember things about you, like your login details or items in a shopping cart. Clearing these will sign you out of most websites.
• Cached images and files: When you visit a website, Edge saves copies of images and other parts of the page on your computer. This makes the site load faster the next time you visit. Clearing the cache means Edge will have to download these elements again. This can sometimes fix problems with how a website looks.
• Passwords: If you saved your website passwords in Edge, checking this box will remove them.
• Autofill form data (includes forms and cards): This includes information you typed into web forms, like your name, address, or credit card details that Edge offered to save.
• Site permissions: These are permissions you gave to websites, like letting them use your camera or send you notifications. You can manage these one by one in another settings area, but clearing them here resets those permissions.
• All data from the previous version of Microsoft Edge: If you recently updated Edge or switched from an older version, this option helps clear out old data from that previous version.
• Media Foundation data: This is more technical. It relates to licenses and keys used for playing media content in Edge. Clearing this usually requires restarting the browser.

Clearing browser history in Microsoft Edge offers several choices. Selecting "Browsing history," "Cookies and other site data," and "Cached images and files" targets them for removal. Retaining saved passwords or auto-filled form data requires leaving those specific categories unchecked before initiating the clear process.

Step 5The Final Click - "Clear now"

Clicking the 'Clear now' button executes the deletion once the time range and specific data categories are set. This action permanently removes the selected Microsoft Edge browsing history. Remembering that clearing browser history in Microsoft Edge is permanent and irreversible ensures careful selection beforehand.

Clearing browser history in Microsoft Edge permanently removes the data. No undo option exists for this action. Accidental deletion of important history requires manual website re-entry or relying on a previous backup.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/view-and-delete-browser-history-in-microsoft-edge

Summary

Managing Microsoft Edge browsing data involves adjusting sync settings and utilizing the 'Clear browsing data' tool to clear history on one or all devices.