Microsoft Edge Privacy Settings Explained: Protecting Your Data

Understanding Online Tracking

Online tracking uses small data files called trackers or cookies to follow your activity across different websites on the internet. Companies use these files to remember items in your shopping cart, save your login details, and build a profile of your interests to show you targeted advertisements while you browse.

• To remember you: Like keeping items in your online shopping cart or remembering your login details.
• To show you ads: They track what you look at to show you ads they think you’ll be interested in.
• To analyze website use: Websites use this data to see which pages are popular and how people use their site.

Edge allows you to limit tracking. Choose how much tracking Edge allows, with three settings available: Basic, Balanced, and Strict. The Strict setting blocks 80% of known trackers.

How to Access Microsoft Edge Privacy Settings

Accessing Microsoft Edge privacy settings takes just a few clicks through the main browser menu. Open Microsoft Edge, click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner, choose Settings from the drop-down menu, and click Privacy, search, and services on the left side of the screen.

1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
2. Click the three dots (Settings and more) in the top-right corner of the browser window.
3. Select Settings from the menu that appears.
4. In the Settings ⚙️ menu, click on Privacy, search, and services on the left side.

This opens the main area where you can manage all your privacy preferences.

Tracking Prevention: Your First Line of Defense

Tracking prevention is your main tool in Microsoft Edge to block unwanted online trackers and protect your personal data. The feature offers three distinct protection levels named Basic, Balanced, and Strict, each controlling how aggressively the browser blocks trackers from sites you visit or third parties.

• Basic: This is the least strict level. It blocks trackers that are known to be harmful or that are from websites you haven't visited. It's a good starting point if you don't want to change how websites load or work too much.
• Balanced: This is the default setting for most people. It blocks more trackers than 'Basic' but is designed so most websites still work correctly. It blocks trackers from websites you haven't visited and also blocks some trackers from websites you have visited, depending on what they are tracking. This offers a good balance between protection and website function.
• Strict: This is the most protective setting. It blocks most trackers, even from websites you have visited. While this offers the strongest privacy, it might cause some websites to not work correctly or load properly. You might need to turn off 'Strict' for certain sites if they don't work as expected.

How to Adjust Tracking Prevention:

1. Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
2. Under the Tracking prevention section, click the circle next to the level you prefer (Basic, Balanced, or Strict).

Adjusting tracking prevention in Microsoft Edge lets you choose how strictly the browser blocks online trackers. Open the browser Settings, select Privacy, search, and services, and click the radio button next to your preferred level of Basic, Balanced, or Strict protection to change your security settings.

Managing Cookies and Site Data

Managing cookies and site data in Microsoft Edge helps you control the small files websites store on your computer to remember your logins and preferences. You can specifically configure the browser to block third-party cookies set by external websites, stopping companies from tracking your browsing habits across different pages.

• Block third-party cookies: These are cookies set by websites other than the one you are currently visiting. Blocking them is a good step to prevent tracking across different websites.
• Clear cookies and site data when you close Microsoft Edge: You can set Edge to automatically delete cookies and other site data every time you close the browser. This means you'll be logged out of most sites when you reopen Edge, but it offers a high level of privacy.

How to Manage Cookies and Site Data:

1. Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
2. Scroll down to the Cookies and site permissions section.
3. Click on Cookies and site data.

Managing cookies and site data in Microsoft Edge requires navigating to the main security menu. Open Settings, select Privacy, search, and services, scroll down to the Cookies and site permissions area, and click Cookies and site data to change your blocking rules and view stored files.

• Turn on Block third-party cookies.
• Turn on Clear cookies and site data when you close Microsoft Edge. You can also click Clear to remove them right away.

You can manage specific websites' data. In Microsoft Edge's privacy settings, under "Cookies and site data," select "See all cookies and site data" to view, search, and delete cookies from individual websites. You can also add specific websites to a list to always clear their data or never clear their data.

Search and Address Bar Settings

Search and address bar settings in Microsoft Edge control what information your browser shares as you type queries into the top bar. Edge sends characters you type to your default search engine like Bing to provide faster suggestions, which you can turn off to keep your typed searches private.

• Send suggestions for search engine: When this is on, Edge sends characters you type in the address bar to your default search engine to get suggestions. You can turn this off if you prefer not to send this information.
• Address bar and search: This section lets you manage how Edge handles search queries and suggestions. You can choose your preferred search engine and control whether Edge sends information about your searches.

How to Adjust Address Bar and Search Settings:

1. Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
2. Scroll down to the Address bar and search section.

Adjusting address bar and search settings prevents Microsoft Edge from sending your typed characters to search engines. Navigate to Settings, select Privacy, search, and services, and scroll down to the Address bar and search section to change your autocomplete and suggestion preferences.

• Choose your Search engine used in the address bar from the dropdown menu.
• Turn off Show me suggestions and site info from Microsoft Edge using what I type in the address bar if you don't want Edge to send typed characters for suggestions.

You can also manage search-related data.

Clearing Your Browsing Data

Clearing your browsing data in Microsoft Edge protects your privacy by permanently deleting stored information like your browsing history, cookies, cached images, and download logs. Deleting these files ensures that anyone else using your computer cannot see the websites you have visited or the files you have downloaded.

• Browsing history: A list of websites you've visited.
• Cookies and other site data: Information websites store on your device.
• Cached images and files: Copies of website content stored to make pages load faster.
• Download history: A list of files you've downloaded.
• Passwords: If you let Edge save your passwords.
• Autofill form data: Information like your name, address, and credit card details.

How to Clear Browsing Data:

1. Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
2. Scroll down to the Clear browsing data section.
3. Click on Choose what to clear.
4. Select a Time range (e.g., Last hour, Last 24 hours, All time).
5. Check the boxes next to the types of data you want to delete.
6. Click Clear now.

Clearing your browsing data in Microsoft Edge takes just a few steps through the privacy menu. Open Settings, choose Privacy, search, and services, scroll to the Clear browsing data section, click Choose what to clear, select your desired time range, and click the Clear now button.

InPrivate Browsing: For Temporary Privacy

InPrivate browsing in Microsoft Edge provides temporary privacy by refusing to save your browsing history, cookies, or form data once you close the window. This mode acts like a clean slate on your local device, though it does not hide your web traffic from your internet service provider or the websites you visit.

Your internet provider, employer (if using a work computer), and the websites you visit can still see your activity. InPrivate browsing mainly prevents your local computer from storing browsing data.

How to Start an InPrivate Window:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click the three dots (Settings and more) in the top-right corner.
3. Select New InPrivate window.

A new window will open with an InPrivate icon (often a blue circle with a mask) in the top-left corner, showing you are in private browsing mode.

Permissions for Websites

Website permissions in Microsoft Edge control which online services can access sensitive hardware features on your device like your camera, microphone, or physical location. The site permissions menu lets you review and override these access requests manually to ensure that only trusted pages can use your device features.

• Site permissions: This section lets you manage what websites can do. You can review and change permissions for location, camera, microphone, notifications, and more.

How to Manage Site Permissions:

1. Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
2. Scroll down to the Cookies and site permissions section.
3. Click on Site permissions.

Managing site permissions in Microsoft Edge allows you to block or allow access to features like your webcam and location. Open Edge Settings, select Privacy, search, and services, scroll to the Cookies and site permissions area, and click Site permissions to review and change individual website access rights.

Advanced Privacy Controls: Beyond the Basics

Microsoft Edge includes some less obvious settings that can further improve your privacy. These are often missed but can make a difference.

SmartScreen: Protecting You from Threats

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen is a built-in security feature that protects you from dangerous websites, phishing scams, and malicious file downloads. The system checks the sites and files you try to open against a constantly updated cloud list of online threats to block harmful content before it loads.

• Reputation-based protection: This is the main SmartScreen setting. It includes checks for phishing (trying to steal your information), malware (harmful software), unwanted applications, and suspicious websites.

How to Manage SmartScreen:

1. Go to Settings › Privacy, search, and services.
2. Scroll down to the Security section.
3. Under Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, you can turn it on or off.
4. Click on Reputation-based protection for more detailed control over what types of threats are checked.

Personalized Advertising and Data Sending

Personalized advertising and data-sending settings in Microsoft Edge control what diagnostic information and usage habits your browser shares with Microsoft. You can change these options to turn off optional diagnostic logs, crash reports, and tailored advertising experiences that rely on your personal browsing history.

• Optional diagnostic data: This is data about how you use Edge, reports when Edge crashes, and how websites perform. You can choose to send only the essential data or more detailed optional data.
• Tailored experiences: This setting allows Microsoft to use your diagnostic data and browsing history to provide personalized suggestions and ads. Turning this off can limit personalized advertising.

How to Manage Diagnostic Data and Advertising:

Syncing Your Data Across Devices

While this is convenient, it means your data is stored on Microsoft's servers. You can choose what gets synced.

How to Manage Sync Settings:

1. Go to Settings › Profiles on the left side.
2. Click on Sync.

Managing sync settings in Microsoft Edge lets you control what personal information, like passwords and favorites, travels across your connected devices. Open Settings, click Profiles on the left side, select Sync, and turn specific items on or off to choose exactly what data shares between your computers and phones.

Summary

Microsoft Edge offers many tools to control your online privacy, including tracking prevention, cookie management, and site permissions. Regularly clearing browsing data, using InPrivate browsing, and adjusting settings for diagnostic data, advertising, and syncing helps you further customize your privacy experience.