9 features to make the most out of Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
Here are nine features that can help you to make the most out of Microsoft Edge.
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Although the original release of Microsoft Edge did not reach the same popularity as other browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, the new version is different, and it offers (arguably) the best web experience for Windows 10 users.
In part is because the new browser is now based on the Chromium engine designed by Google that offers better compatibility, faster loading times, improved security and support, and better tools for developers. Also, it is because, since the default browser forWindows 10became available, Microsoft has been proactively releasing updates to improve and tweak the experience to stand out above the rest with features to surf the net more privately, tools to shop online and save money, optimize performance, cross-device support, and much more.
In this Windows 10 guide, we will highlight and teach you how to use nine features to make the most out of Microsoft Edge.
1. Create multiple profiles on Microsoft Edge
On Microsoft Edge, the ability to set up multiple profiles is designed to help you share the browser with other users without sharing your information or preferences. However, it is also a handy tool that you can use to keep your personal and work stuff separate.
When you add new profiles to the browser, each profile can connect to a different Microsoft account, and they will have their own favorites, history, and other settings. Microsoft Edge even includes a feature to switch between profiles automatically. If you have multiple Microsoft accounts configured in the browser, the browser will prompt you to change to the correct profiles when opening a page or link.
Create new profile
To create multiple profiles on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the new profile will be created and ready to use. You can also update the name and change the main picture to use as visual queues when switching between profiles. If you want to use even more profiles in the browser, you can also use the option available from the toolbar’s profile menu.
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Change profile name
To rename browser profile, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the new name will be reflected on the profile.
Change profile picture
To change the browser profile picture, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the new image will be applied to the browser profile.
Quick access to profile
After you create the profiles to separate your online activities from work or other stuff, you can quickly switch between them in at least three different ways.
Method 1
To switch profiles from the toolbar, use these steps:
Method 2
To change profiles from the settings page, use these steps:
Method 3
To switch profiles from the taskbar, use these steps:
Method 4
To enable automatic profile switching on Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you will understand the different ways you can quickly switch between profiles.
Delete profile
To delete a profile on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
This will permanently delete browsing data like favorites, history, and passwords from this device. However, any data that was previously synced to your profile will remain associated with your Microsoft account.
2. Control your privacy on Microsoft Edge
Tracking prevention is a feature designed to prevent online trackers (such as advertisers, social media, analytics, etc.) from collecting and tracking your online activities and other information to make your browsing experience a little more private and less personalized.
When you enable the feature, you can choose from three levels of privacy (basic, balanced, and strict), view blocked trackers, configured exceptions, and even use a stricter InPrivate session.
Enable tracking prevention
To enable tracking prevention on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Microsoft Edge will try to block online trackers based on your configuration.
Configure tracking prevention
To configure the level of privacy you have on the web, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, you will better understand how to customize the tracking prevention feature on Microsoft Edge.
Disable tracking prevention
To disable tracking prevention on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Although it might be recommended to use the feature, sometimes it may cause problems browsing specific sites, mostly shopping and services websites. Disabling the tracking protection may be the best option for particular situations.
3. Collect stuff from the web on Microsoft Edge
Collections is another useful feature available on Microsoft Edge that allows you to collect any stuff from the web and organize them into lists. For instance, using the feature, you can create shopping lists and compare prices. You can collect ideas from the web to plan a trip or event. Or you can grab images, text, and links for lesson plans or research. It is up to your imagination what you can do with Collections.
Start new collection
To create a collection with Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, the collection will be created. If you have sync enabled, you can pick up where you left off on other devices, even on your phone.
Add Pinterest suggestions
When using Collections, you can also get Pinterest suggestions, but it is a feature that you must enable manually.
To get Pinterest suggestions for Collections, use these steps:
After you complete the steps while using Collections, you may receive related suggestions from Pinterest to add to your list.
Compare prices online and save with coupons
Collections on Microsoft Edge is more than just a feature to collect stuff from the web. It can also help you shop online and save money with the ability to compare and show the lowest price for products you add to a list.
To compare prices with Collections, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you will be able to see the website that can potentially save you money when purchasing a specific product.
4. Save money when shopping online on Microsoft Edge
Alongside Collections, Microsoft Edge can also help you save money when you shop online with relevant coupons and discount codes.
The shopping feature works automatically (when usingBing as the default search engine), and if enabled, you will receive an alert when an offer is available.
To save money when shopping with Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, you can add the item to the card, and during the checkout process, you should be able to paste the code to save some money.
5. Take screenshots on Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge also includes a fully-featured screen capture tool that allows taking screenshots of pages without the need for third-party applications. The feature offers an option to capture part of the screen, or you can take a screenshot of the entire page without the need for scrolling, which can come in handy in many situations. For example, when you want to save a recipe, receipt, or any kind of information you want to keep for future reference or to share with other people.
To take screenshots on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you can save the web capture as image file, which you can then share or attach to a presentation.
6. Create strong passwords on Microsoft Edge
On Windows 10, the default web browser also includes a password generator that can suggest strong passwords when setting up an online account for an online service or when you have to update an account. If you choose to use the sugestion, the browser will save and sync the information across your devices.
Enable password generator
To enable the password generator on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the next time you create an account for an online service, Microsoft Edge will suggest a strong password to keep it safe.
Disable password generator
To disable the password generator, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, the default browser on Windows 10 will no longer suggest passwords.
7. Read websites without clutter on Microsoft Edge
When reading an interesting article, sometimes it is difficult to focus on the story because of all the visual elements, advertisements, and links around the content. Immersive reader is a feature that removes the clutter with one click, allowing you to focus on the content.
In addition, the feature includes tools to help you improve the reading experience, including line focus, picture dictionary, grammar tools, text preferences, and read aloud.
Enable immersive reader
To enable immersive reader, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, you can start reading online content without distractions.
Customize immersive reader view
To customize immersive reader, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, you will have a better experience reading online content.
8. Optimize memory usage on Microsoft Edge
On Microsoft Edge, each site you open on a tab requires some system resources (for example, memory, processor, etc.). The more tabs you open, the more system resources will be needed, which can negatively affect the experience. Sleeping tabs is a feature designed to overcome this problem by putting inactive taps to sleep to reclaim resources to improve performance and preserve battery life. The next time you open the tab, the page will wake up automatically.
Enable sleeping tabs
To enable sleeping tabs on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, tabs you do not interact with after two hours (default) will enter into the sleep mode to free up resources.
Change settings sleeping tabs
To determine when tabs should sleep or what sites should not use the feature, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, inactive tabs will enter the sleeping mode or be excluded according to your configuration.
Disable sleeping tabs
To disable sleeping tabs on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, Microsoft Edge will no longer send inactive tabs to sleep.
9. Sync history and open tabs on Microsoft Edge
The ability to sync your browsing history and open tabs make it easier to return to a website or pick up where you left off on another device. The only caveat is that these items won’t sync unless you turn these options manually.
Enable history and open tabs sync
To sync history and open tabs on Microsoft Edge, use these steps:
Once you complete the steps, your browsing history and open tabs will sync to the cloud and across devices, allowing you to pick up where you left off or quickly open a previously visited site from another device.
Disable history and open tabs sync
To prevent Edge from syncing history and open tabs, use these steps:
After you complete the steps, Microsoft Edge will no longer try to sync tabs or browsing history.
Microsoft is always testing and shipping new features and improvements for Microsoft Edge. Since there are tons of great features built into the browser, we are only listing some of our favorites available for everyone in the stable channel. We are not listing extension support because this guide’s scope only covers features available in the browser.
Are you using Microsoft Edge on your computer? What’s your favorite feature?Let us know in the comments below.
Mauro Huculak has been a Windows How-To Expert contributor for WindowsCentral.com for nearly a decade and has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides. He also has an IT background and has achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, and CompTIA. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years.
