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

Finding the tools to delete edge history requires opening the main settings menu inside Microsoft Edge. You open the menu by clicking the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window, clicking Settings, and then choosing Privacy, search, and services from the left-hand menu.

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

Triggering the tool to delete edge history requires clicking the Clear browsing data button in your privacy settings. Selecting Choose what to clear gives you exact control over which types of data vanish, rather than letting the browser guess what you want to remove.

An option for "Clear browsing data now" may appear as well. That option clears basic data immediately. Clicking "Choose what to clear" grants broader control, which these steps utilize.

Step 3Choose Your Time Range

Selecting a time range lets you delete edge history from just the last hour, the last 24 hours, the last 7 days, the last 4 weeks, or all time. Picking a specific timeframe helps you wipe out recent visits without losing your older browsing records that you might still need later.

• 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

Checking the boxes next to specific items lets you delete edge history, downloaded files, saved passwords, and cookies all at once. Browsing history covers the list of websites you visited along with the exact dates and times, while download history only clears the record of files you saved.

• 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 permanently finishes your attempt to delete edge history from your computer. This action is irreversible, meaning once you click that final button, your selected browsing records and website data are gone for good and cannot be recovered.

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.