How to use Edge’s tools to protect your privacy while browsing

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

One of the things that many people look for in a browser is how it protects their privacy against all the various trackers that are hidden in many of the sites out there. Microsoft Edge, the Chromium-based browser that is built into current versions of Windows, has its share of protections as well. Edge has tools to block both first-party cookies and third-party tracking cookies, which are used to keep track of your browsing activity.

Here are instructions on how to change your settings, see what trackers are, and remove cookies. Edge deals with fingerprints, another method of tracking that identifies users by collecting details about their system configuration.

Deal with trackers

Edge uses one of three levels of protection to block trackers. It lowers tracking prevention by taking into account sites you visit frequently and the fact that an organization may own several sites. You can switch to Strict, which blocks most third-party trackers, if you switch to Basic.

To change the level of protection.

• Click on the three dots in the top-right corner of your browser window and go to Settings. Select Privacy, search, and services from the left-hand menu.
• Make sure Tracking prevention is switched on, and then select which level you want.

Adjust your tracking settings

Edge gives you three easy-to-choose tracking modes, but you can also explore deeper to see which trackers are blocked and make exceptions for specific sites.

• On the Privacy, search and services page, look for the Blocked trackers link just beneath the three tracking prevention modes. Click on that to see all of the trackers Edge has blocked.
• Beneath the Blocked trackers link is the Exceptions link, where you can specify any sites where you want tracking prevention turned off.

Clicking on the lock symbol on the left side of the top address field will show you how effective your tracking prevention is. The drop-down box allows you to view associated cookies and site permission, allow or disabling pop-ups, modify the tracking permission for that site, and see what trackers have been blocked.

Clean up your cookies

Each time you close Edge, it can remove several types of data, including browsing history, passwords, and cookies.

• Go back to Settings > Privacy, search, and services and scroll down to Clear browsing data.
• Click the arrow next to Choose what to clear every time you close the browser.
• Toggle on any of the data categories you’d like to be cleared each time you exit Edge. If you select Cookies and other site data, you can also choose any sites whose cookies you want to retain by clicking on the Add button.

You can clear your data at any time.

• On the Privacy, search, and services page, look for Clear browsing data now, and click on the button labeled Choose what to clear. This will open up a smaller window with several options.
• Select the type of data you want to delete.
• You can also select a time range within which to delete that data: the last hour; the last 24 hours; the last seven days; the last four weeks; or all time.
• There is also a link to clear your data if you’ve been using legacy websites in Internet Explorer mode. You are also warned that clearing your data will clear it across all synced devices. (But you can sign out of your Microsoft account to clear it only on that specific computer.)
• Ready? Click Clear now.

There are other privacy features on the Privacy, search, and services page. The usefulness of such a request can be questionable.

There are a number of features that you can turn on or off if you scroll down to the Security section. If you turn on Microsoft Defender SmartScreen, it will block downloads of potentially dangerous apps. There is a feature that will prevent you from accidentally going to a problematic site.

Fingerprinting and ad blocking

Tracking prevention modes will help protect against personalization that leads to fingerprints.

Edge doesn't block ads, but you can download extensions. Many extensions from the Microsoft Store will work with the latest version of Edge because the browser is based on Chromium.

The article was originally published on February 13th, 2020, and has been updated to reflect changes in the OS and Edge app.