Manage and Delete Browsing Data in Microsoft Edge

The Microsoft Edge Chromium-based browser stores a record of the websites you visit, passwords you use to access sites, and other information on your computer's hard drive. Some browsing data is sent to Microsoft's servers and stored in the cloud.

These components offer convenience and an enhanced browsing experience. However, this data can be potentially sensitive to privacy and security, especially when the Edge browser is used on a computer shared by others.

You can manage and remove this data, individually or all at once. Before modifying or deleting anything, it is important to understand each type of data.

How to Clear Browsing Data

To clear browsing data from the Microsoft Edge browser, open it and then:

1. Select the Settings and more menu, represented by three horizontal dots (...) located in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

2. When the drop-down menu appears, select Settings.

3. Select Privacy and Services in the left panel.

4. In the Privacy and Services window, select Choose What to Clear.

5. In the Clear browsing data dialog box, select Browsing History and the other categories of information you want to clear.

   Before choosing which data to remove, review the details of each category. The categories are:

   • Browsing history: Each time you visit a web page, Edge stores its name and URL on your hard drive. This doesn't occur while the InPrivate Browsing mode is active.
   • Download history: In addition to maintaining a local record of the websites you visit, Edge stores information about each file downloaded by the browser. This includes the file name and the URL where the download originated.
   • Cookies and other site data: Cookies are small text files that contain login details, user preferences, and other information. Websites use this data to customize your browsing experience. In addition to cookies, this category encompasses other web storage components, including an HTML 5-enabled application cache and locally stored database data.
   • Cached images and files: Web pages consist of multiple files and source code retrieved from a server as part of the loading process. This process is quicker on your second or third visit to a page. This improvement is made by a browser cache that consists of files and other data previously stored on your hard drive.

6. When you are satisfied with your selections, specify a time frame for the deletions. Options run from Last Hour to All Time with several choices in between. Select Clear Now to delete the chosen data from your device.

Manage Passwords in Edge

To access the Edge passwords interface:

1. Select Settings and more (...) in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

2. Select Settings.

3. Select Profiles in the left panel and choose Passwords in the main panel.

4. The Passwords screen includes settings where you can enable Edge to save passwords or sign in automatically.

   Saved passwords are listed in the Saved passwords section. To delete a set of credentials, hover the mouse pointer over the entry to select it and then delete it. You can also modify the username or password associated with an entry in the Saved passwords section.

   The Never saved section contains sites that you don't want to have your saved password.

Manage Individual Cookies

In addition to deleting all saved cookies, you can specify which types of cookies are accepted by your device and delete individual cookies. To modify this setting, return to Settings and more (...) > Settings.

Select Site Permissions in the left panel and choose Cookies and site data in the main window.

In the Cookies and site data window, you have several options:

• Select whether to allow any sites to save and read cookie data.
• Block or allow third-party cookies.
• View all existing cookies and site data. Erase entries individually here.
• Block specific sites from placing cookies.
• Erase all cookies when you leave a site.
• Safelist cookies from a specific site.

Manage Saved Payment Entries

Edge can save credit card numbers and addresses to save you some typing in future browsing sessions. While this functionality is enabled by default, you can disable it if you don't want payment data stored on your hard drive.

To do so, go to Settings and more (...) > Settings. Then, select Profiles > Payment info.

The option to save form data is enabled by default in the Payment info screen. To disable this, turn off the Save and fill payment info toggle switch.

Additional Site Settings

Additional settings that may apply to your browsing experience are included in the Site Permissions section. Scroll down and select any category to expand it and make any changes to the information it contains.