Settings to Make Microsoft Edge Faster and Safer

Speed Up Browsing with Efficiency Mode

If Microsoft Edge feels sluggish, it’s probably because it’s using too many system resources. Efficiency Mode improves performance, reduces memory usage, and increases laptop battery life. This capability is highly beneficial while using various apps or streaming multimedia.

How to Enable It:

• Go to Settings > System and Performance
• Switch Efficiency Mode ON

Edge prioritizes active tabs, reduces background operations, and provides a more fluid browsing experience ideal for work or pleasure.

Customize the Toolbar for Efficiency

A cluttered toolbar slows you down by forcing you to go through unneeded icons. Microsoft Edge allows you to personalize it so that only the necessary information is visible. If you frequently share links, including a Share button. Do you like a minimalist setup? Remove any excess to have a cleaner appearance.

How to Do It:

• Go to Settings > Appearance
• Scroll to select which buttons to show on the toolbar

Add or remove buttons based on your workflow.

Enable Vertical Tabs for Better Multitasking

If you often flip between tabs, the basic horizontal layout can seem congested. Vertical Tabs arrange your tabs neatly down the side, making them easier to browse and manage, especially on widescreens. It also eliminates the annoying tab overflow problem, in which icons shrink beyond recognition.

How to Enable It:

• Navigate to Settings > Appearance > Customize Toolbar
• Toggle Show vertical tabs

Once activated, your tab list becomes more ordered, which improves workflow and multitasking performance.

Take Quick Screenshots Without Extensions

Forget bulky extensions. Edge includes a built-in screenshot tool that lets you capture what you need immediately. This tool works well for saving recipes, snippets of research, and full-page articles.

How to Use It:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + S to open the screenshot tool
• Drag to capture a specific area or select Full-page for a scrolling screenshot

This is a lifesaver for students, researchers, and anyone requiring rapid site information screenshots.

Clean Up Your New Tab Page

Edge’s New Tab Page is overloaded by default, with newsfeeds, advertisements, and needless widgets crowding your screen. Cleaning things up produces a distraction-free atmosphere, leaving your browser feeling refreshed and efficient.

How to Customize It:

Open a new tab and select the gear icon in the upper right corner.

Choose Custom and disable:

• Quick links
• Background
• Office sidebar
• Newsfeed

This simple configuration keeps your browser looking clean and professional.

Stop Microsoft from Tracking You

Edge captures much information by default, including browsing history, searches, and how you interact with websites. While this data helps Microsoft enhance services, it also jeopardizes your privacy.

How to Limit Tracking:

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services
• Scroll to Optional diagnostic data and turn off all options
• Disable unnecessary services under Privacy settings

By adjusting these settings, you can limit Microsoft’s data collection and regain control of your online privacy.

Review Website Permissions for Security

Many websites want access to your location, camera, notifications, and even USB devices, often without justifying. Tightening these permissions prevents websites from collecting superfluous information or displaying annoying pop-ups.

How to Review Permissions:

Go to Settings > Cookies & Site Permissions

Restrict access to:

• Location
• Motion sensors
• Notifications
• USB devices

This simple tweak improves security and reduces distractions when online.

Sync Data with Chrome for a Seamless Experience

Switching between browsers can be inconvenient if your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history are not synced. Luckily, Edge makes it simple to import data from Chrome, resulting in a smooth transition.

How to Sync:

• Go to Settings > Import Browser Data
• Select Import data from Google Chrome
• Select what to sync (bookmarks, history, and saved passwords)

Everything is automatically updated across both browsers, making switching between them straightforward.

Sync Edge with Your Phone

Do you want to access your bookmarks, passwords, and open tabs from any device? Edge syncs between desktop and mobile make a more seamless surfing experience. Everything remains connected, whether reading an article on your phone or completing a task on your laptop.

How to Sync:

Sign in to Edge on both desktop and mobile.

• Go to Settings > Profiles > Sync
• Enable Sync settings

Your data now follows you wherever you go, allowing you to stay productive even on the move.

Hide the Favorites Bar for a Cleaner Look

A Favorites Bar can be beneficial, but it takes up screen space and can appear cluttered. If you want a cleaner surfing experience, hide it but preserve quick access to your favorites.

How to Hide It:

• Go to Settings > Appearance > Show Favorite Bar
• Select Never or Only in new tabs.

This change maximizes screen real estate while keeping your critical bookmarks easily accessible.

Enable Split-Screen Mode for Multitasking

Switching between many tabs while working can be inefficient. Edge’s Split-Screen Mode allows you to open two sites in a single window, making it easier to conduct research, take notes, and compare.

How to Enable It:

Navigate to Settings > Appearance > Split screen

Click the Split Screen icon in the toolbar

You can now watch a tutorial on one side while taking notes on the other without resizing your windows.

Block Unwanted Ads & Pop-ups

Pop-ups and invasive adverts slow down your browsing experience and clutter your screen. Edge’s built-in ad-blocking capabilities help you have a smooth and distraction-free experience.

How to Block Them:

• Navigate to Settings > Cookies and Site Permissions > Pop-ups and Redirects
• Turn on the Block Pop-ups feature
• In the Privacy settings, enable Tracking Prevention.

You should expect faster load times and fewer unpleasant interruptions with these settings.

Stop Edge from Saving Passwords (Use a Password Manager Instead)

Browser-based password managers are less secure than specialist applications. To protect your credentials, turn off Edge’s built-in password manager and use a more secure alternative.

How to Turn It Off:

• Navigate to Settings > Profiles > Passwords
• Turn off the offer to save passwords

Consider utilizing Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass for added security.

Disable Automatic Payment Method Storage

For security reasons, you should not keep your credit card information in Edge. Disabling payment method storage protects your financial information if your browser is compromised.

How to Do It:

• Open Microsoft Wallet from the Edge sidebar
• Disable Save and Fill Payment Info
• Turn off Allow sites to check if you have payment methods saved

This lowers the danger of unauthorized transactions.

Turn Off Personalized Ads and Tracking

Microsoft uses your browsing history to personalize adverts, but you may opt out for greater privacy.

How to disable it:

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Personalization and Advertising
• Turn off Allow Microsoft to use browsing activity for ads

This prevents advertising from following your browsing patterns throughout the web.

If you’re looking for more ways to boost your device’s performance, check out simple tips to speed up your Android phone.

Enable Microsoft Defender SmartScreen for Extra Protection

SmartScreen protects you from fraudulent websites, malware downloads, and other online risks. It is a must-have security feature.

How to switch it on:

• Navigate to Settings > Privacy, Search & Services > Security
• Enable the Microsoft Defender SmartScreen

This additional layer of defense keeps you secure from dangerous stuff online.

If you want to enhance your web browsing experience, check out tips for mastering the TCL Roku TV internet browser.

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