How to Debloat and Clean Up Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge comes packed with numerous features intended to enhance browsing, but many of these can contribute to clutter and may impact privacy and performance. By tweaking certain settings and disabling unnecessary components, you can optimize Edge for a cleaner, faster experience.

Disable Edge's data collection services

Edge collects data to personalize your experience, but this can raise privacy concerns and potentially slow down the browser. Disabling these data collection services can improve performance and safeguard your privacy.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge and click on the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner to access the menu.

Step 2: From the drop-down menu, select Settings.

Step 3: In the left sidebar, click on Privacy, search, and services.

Step 4: Scroll down to the Optional diagnostic data section.

Step 5: Toggle off the switch next to Help improve Microsoft Edge by sending optional diagnostic data about how you use the browser, websites you visit, and crash reports.

Step 6: Also, turn off the options under Personalization & Advertising such as Improve your web experience by allowing Microsoft to use your browsing activity including history, favorites, usage, and other browsing data to personalize ads, search, news, and other Microsoft services.

Step 7: Continue scrolling to the Services section and disable any services you don't use by toggling them off. This can include options like Suggest similar sites when a website can't be found and Show suggestions to follow creators in Microsoft Edge.

The Edge sidebar provides quick access to various tools and apps, but it can be distracting or unnecessary for some users. You can customize or disable the sidebar to streamline your browsing experience.

Step 1: Click on the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner of Edge to open the menu.

Step 2: Select Settings from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: In the left-hand menu, click on Sidebar.

Step 4: To disable the sidebar entirely, toggle off the switch next to Always show sidebar.

Step 5: Additionally, turn off Personalize my top sites in customize Sidebar and Allow sidebar apps to show notifications by toggling their switches off.

Step 6: If you prefer to keep the sidebar but remove certain apps, re-enable the sidebar by toggling Always show sidebar back on.

Step 7: Scroll down to App specific settings, and click on the app you wish to disable, such as Copilot.

Step 8: In the app settings, toggle off options like Show Copilot and Show shopping notifications to disable the app from the sidebar.

Turn off Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft Rewards encourages users to browse with Edge and Bing by offering points redeemable in the Microsoft Store. If you don't utilize this feature, disabling it can reduce distractions.

Step 1: Open Edge Settings and ensure you're in the Profiles section.

Step 2: On the right side, click on Microsoft Rewards.

Step 3: Toggle off the option Earn rewards in Microsoft Edge to disable this feature.

Turn off Microsoft Shopping in Edge

Edge includes Microsoft Shopping features to help compare products and prices. If you find these unnecessary, you can disable them to streamline your browser.

Step 1: In Edge Settings, click on Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar.

Step 2: Scroll down to the Services section.

Step 3: Toggle off the option Save time and money with Shopping in Microsoft Edge to disable shopping features.

Clean up the home page

Edge's home page can display personalized ads, background images, and quick links that some users find cluttered. You can customize the home page to reduce distractions.

Step 1: On the Edge home page, click the gear icon to access Page settings.

Step 2: Under Quick links, set the option to Off to remove promoted links.

Step 3: In the Content section, select Content off to disable news feeds and other content.

Step 4: Scroll down and toggle off Show weather. You may also disable the background image if desired.

The tabs action menu provides options for managing tabs, but if you don't need this feature, disabling it can simplify the toolbar.

Step 1: Open Edge Settings and click on Appearance in the left sidebar.

Step 2: Scroll to the Customize toolbar section.

Step 3: Toggle off the switch next to Show tab actions menu to remove it from the toolbar.

Edge's toolbar includes various shortcut buttons that you may not use. Disabling unused toolbar features can declutter your interface.

Step 1: In the Edge Settings, navigate to the Appearance section.

Step 2: Under Customize toolbar, find the Select which buttons to show on the toolbar section.

Step 3: Toggle off buttons for features you don't use, such as the History button or others, by clicking their respective switches.

Change the language settings

Adjusting language settings can disable features like text prediction and grammar assistance, which some users may find unnecessary.

Step 1: In Edge Settings, select Languages from the left-hand menu.

Step 2: Scroll down to the Writing assistance section.

Step 3: Toggle off Use text prediction and Enable grammar and spellcheck assistance to disable these features.

By customizing these settings, you can declutter Microsoft Edge for a more efficient and streamlined browsing experience. Remember, you can always re-enable any features you find helpful in the future.