Thenew Microsoft Edge helps you browse, search, shop online, and more. Like all modern browsers,MicrosoftEdge lets you collect and store specific data on your device, like cookies, and lets you send information tous, like browsing history, to make the experience as rich, fast, and personal as possible.
Whenever we collect data, we want to make sureit’sthe right choice for you. Some people worry about their web browsing history being collected.That’swhy we tell you what data is stored on your device or collected byus. We give you choices to control what data gets collected. For more information about privacy inMicrosoftEdge, we recommend reviewingourPrivacy Statement.
What data is collected or stored, and why
Microsoftuses diagnostic data to improve our products and services. We use this data to better understand how our products are performing and where improvements need to be made.
MicrosoftEdge collects a set of required diagnostic data to keepMicrosoftEdge secure, up to date and performing as expected.Microsoftbelieves in and practices information collection minimization. We strive to gather only the info we need, and to store it only for as long asit’sneeded to provide a service or for analysis.In addition, youcan control whether optional diagnostic data associated with your device is shared withMicrosoftto solve product issues and help improveMicrosoftproducts and services.
As you use features and services inMicrosoftEdge, diagnostic data about how you use those featuresissent toMicrosoft.MicrosoftEdge saves your browsing history—information aboutwebsites you visit—on your device. Depending on your settings, this browsing history is sent toMicrosoft, which helps us find and fix problems and improve our products and services for all users.You can managethecollectionof optional diagnostic datain the browser by selectingSettings andmore>Settings>Privacy, search, and servicesand turning on or offHelp improveMicrosoftproducts by sending optional diagnostic data about how you use the browser, websites you visit, and crash reports.This includes data from testing new experiences. To finish making changes to this setting, restartMicrosoftEdge.
Turningthis settingon allows thisoptional diagnosticdata to be shared withMicrosoftfrom other applications usingMicrosoftEdge, such as a video streaming app that hosts theMicrosoftEdge web platform to stream the video. TheMicrosoftEdge web platformwill send info about how you use the web platform and sites you visit in the application toMicrosoft.This data collection is determined by youroptionaldiagnostic data setting in Privacy, search, and services settingsinMicrosoftEdge.
On Windows 10, these settings are determined by your Windows diagnostic setting. To change your diagnostic data setting, selectStart>Settings>Privacy>Diagnostics & feedback.
As of March 6th 2024, Microsoft Edge diagnostic data is collected separately from Windows diagnostic data on Windows 10 (version 22H2 and newer) and Windows 11 (version 23H2 and newer) devices in the European Economic Area. For these Windows versions, and on all other platforms, you can change your settings inMicrosoftEdge by selectingSettings andmore>Settings>Privacy, search, and services. In some cases, your diagnostic data settings might be managed by your organization.
Whenyou’researching for something,MicrosoftEdge can give suggestions about what you’re searching for. To turn on this feature, selectSettings andmore >Settings>Privacy, search, and services>Address bar and search, and turn onShow me search and site suggestions using my typed characters.As you start to type, the info you enter in the address bar is sent to your default search provider to give you immediate search and website suggestions.
When you useInPrivatebrowsing or guest mode,MicrosoftEdge collects some info about how you use the browser depending on your Windows diagnostic data setting orMicrosoftEdge privacy settings, but automatic suggestions are turned off and info about websites you visit is not collected.MicrosoftEdge will delete your browsing history, cookies, and site data, as well as passwords, addresses, and form data when you close allInPrivate windows. You can start a newInPrivatesession by selectingSettings andmoreona computer orTabson a mobile device.
MicrosoftEdge also has features to help you and your content stay safe online. Windows Defender SmartScreen automatically blocks websites and content downloads that are reported to be malicious. Windows Defender SmartScreen checks the address of the webpageyou'revisiting against a list of webpage addresses stored on your device thatMicrosoftbelieves to be legitimate. Addresses that aren't on your device’s list and the addresses of files you're downloading will be sent toMicrosoftand checked against a frequently updated list of webpages and downloads that have been reported toMicrosoftas unsafe or suspicious.
To speed up tedious tasks like filling out forms and entering passwords,MicrosoftEdge can save info to help. If you choose to use those features,MicrosoftEdge stores the info on your device. Ifyou’veturned on sync for form fill like addresses or passwords, this info will be sent to theMicrosoftcloud and stored with yourMicrosoftaccount to be synced across all your signed-in versions ofMicrosoftEdge. You canmanagethis data fromSettings andmore>Settings >Profiles.
To protect some video and music content from being copied, some streaming websites storeDigital Rights Management(DRM) data on your device, including a unique identifier (ID) and media licenses. When you go to one of these websites, it retrieves the DRM info to make sure you have permission to use the content.
MicrosoftEdge also stores cookies, small files that are put on your device as you browse the web. Many websites use cookies to store info about your preferences and settings, like saving the items in your shopping cart so youdon'thave to add them each time you visit. Some websites also use cookies to collect info about your online activity to show you interest-based advertising.MicrosoftEdge gives you options to clear cookies and block websites from saving cookies in the future.
MicrosoftEdge will send Do Not Track requests to websites when theSend Do Not Track requestssetting is turned on. Websites may still track your activities even when a Do Not Track request is sent, however.
How to clear data collected or stored by Microsoft Edge
To clear browsing info stored on your device, like saved passwords or cookies:
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In Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services .
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Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
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Under Time range, choose a time range.
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Select the check box next to each data type you’d like to clear, and then select Clear now.
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If you’d like, you can select Choose what to clear every time you close the browser and choose which data types should be cleared.
Learn more about what gets deleted for each browser history item.
To clear browsing history collected by Microsoft:
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To see your browsing history associated with your account, sign in to your account at account.microsoft.com. In addition, you also have the option of clearing your browsing data that Microsoft has collected using the Microsoft privacy dashboard.
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To delete your browsing history and other diagnostic data associated with your Windows 10 device, select Start > Settings > Privacy > Diagnostics & feedback , and then select Delete under Delete diagnostic data.
To clear individual passwords stored by Microsoft Edge on your device:
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In Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more > Settings > Profiles , and then select Passwords.
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Under Saved passwords, select More actions next to a website name, and then select Delete to clear the password saved for that site.
How to manage your privacy settings in Microsoft Edge
To change your level of tracking prevention, clear your browsing data, help improve Microsoft Edge, and more, select Settings and more> Settings > Privacy, search, and services .
To choose if websites can ask for permission to use your location, camera, microphone, and more, select Settings and more> Settings > Site permissions.
To choose what types of data are synced across your devices, or to turn off syncing entirely, select Settings and more> Settings > Profiles > Sync .
To learn more about privacy in Microsoft Edge, read the Microsoft Edge privacy whitepaper.
