If you use Microsoft Edge every day for browsing, work, or study, it's quite likely you're only taking advantage of a small part of everything it can do for you. This browser has gone from being the "replacement for the old Internet Explorer" to becoming a very complete tool, with hidden features, advanced settings and Edge tricks that make a big difference in everyday life.
Below you will find a very complete guide with the less obvious features of Microsoft EdgeFrom reading mode and immersive reader to the secret "flags" menu, including collections, keyboard shortcuts, privacy, synchronization, Chrome extensions, and mobile integration, the idea is that you finish this article feeling like you've mastered Edge and can customize it to your liking.
Reading mode and immersive reader: goodbye distractions
One of Edge's most underrated gems is its ability to turn almost any article into a clean and easy-to-read pagewithout ads, menus, or distracting elements. This feature appears as Reading View or Immersive Reader, depending on the version.
When you open an article, a book-shaped icon appears in the address bar. Clicking it loads the content in a simplified format where you'll only see the text. relevant text and images from the articleThis is similar to an RSS reader or the reading views of other apps. The rest of the page temporarily disappears.
Within the immersive reader you also have additional very useful options: you can adjust font sizeThe spacing and background color (light, dark, or intermediate tones) can be adjusted for more comfortable reading, both day and night. Focusing tools can also be activated to highlight one or more lines and center the view.
One particularly practical extra is the option for Edge Read the contents of the page aloudFrom the top bar of the immersive reader, you can choose the voice, the language (if multiple options are available), and the reading speed. It's perfect for resting your eyes or listening to an article while doing something else.
Ask Cortana and contextual search
Edge not only integrates with your configured browser, it can also rely on the Cortana assistant in Windows To give you more information about what you're reading. Although Cortana has lost prominence in recent years, basic integration still exists in many installations.
It works simply: you select any word or phrase on a website with your mouse, right-click, and choose the option to search or ask about that termEdge opens a side panel with results, definitions, images, or related links, without you having to leave the main tab.
This contextual search is especially useful for consult technical concepts, proper names, products or places without losing track of what you were reading. There's no need to copy, open another tab, paste the text and search; you do it all in a couple of clicks and with split view.
Write, underline, and annotate on pages and PDFs
A key differentiating feature of Edge compared to other browsers is its integration with annotation tools, partly inherited from OneNote. This allows you draw, underline, strikethrough, and take notes directly on what you see on the screenboth on web pages and in PDF documents.
At the top of the browser, you'll find a button with a pencil icon or "make notes." Clicking it puts Edge into a mode where you can use your mouse, a stylus, or even your finger on a touchscreen to annotate. highlight important sections, draw circles or arrows, or write commentsThen you can save the result or share it.
With PDFs, Edge behaves like an advanced reader: in addition to viewing the document, you can Highlight text with different colors, write by hand, add comments, and delete annotations when you no longer need them. This eliminates the need to install external PDF readers for most common uses.
If you select text within a PDF and right-click, Edge also lets you Copy that fragment, search for it in your search engine, print it, or highlight only that partFor studying, reviewing contracts, or correcting documents, these small functions make a huge difference.
Share pages and send content between devices
Edge includes a share button similar to those on mobile phones, designed so you can quickly send a page to other applications or devicesThis feature becomes especially powerful when you also have the Microsoft ecosystem installed on your mobile device.
In Windows, the share icon opens a panel where you can choose which application to send the page to: email, messaging apps, installed applications, or connected servicesIt's much more convenient than copying the URL and switching windows each time.
In addition, Edge integrates with the Windows "Your Phone" feature and Microsoft mobile apps, allowing you to send a page from the PC to Android mobile and vice versa. From your computer, when you open the sharing menu, you can choose the option associated with the linked Android device.
Conversely, if you use Microsoft Edge on your mobile device, or apps like Microsoft Launcher or Continue on PC, it's possible instantly send the page you're viewing on your phone to your computer's browserIdeal for starting to read something on the train and continuing on the big screen without having to search for the link again.
Home button, favorites, and import from other browsers
Out of the box, Microsoft Edge doesn't always display the classic home buttonThis might seem strange if you're coming from other browsers. You can easily activate it from the advanced settings and choose exactly which page you want to open when you press it.
Another strength is its management of favorite pages. Edge is capable of import bookmarks from other browsers (especially those based on Chromium and Internet Explorer). Just go to the main menu, navigate to the favorites section, and look for the option to import from other compatible browsers.
If you frequently migrate your site or have been accumulating bookmarks for years, you likely have a lot of duplicate entries. Edge includes a feature to help with this. specific function to detect and remove duplicate favorites With just one click, within the favorites manager. Saves a lot of time cleaning up.
From that same panel you can organize your favorites into folders, decide which favorites bar is displayed and which items are not, and in general organize all your bookmarks so that they don't become chaotic over the course of the months.
Dark mode, themes and visual appearance of the browser
Like almost all modern applications, Edge also features a dark mode that changes the appearance of the entire interfaceIt does not affect the design of web pages (unless they have their own dark mode), but it does modify menus, tabs, bars and browser backgrounds.
In the settings menu, under the Appearance section, you can choose whether you want Edge to use clear theme, dark theme, or follow the system themeIf you have night mode enabled in Windows, you can make the browser automatically switch to night mode.
In addition to the theme, Edge lets you adjust details such as which buttons appear in the toolbarIf you want to always show the favorites bar, the home icon, the "Collections" button, or the share button, you can choose to have a cleaner or more complete interface, depending on your preferences.
In the same appearance section you will also find a fonts section, where it is possible to Change the font type and size used to display the pageswhich can greatly improve readability if you spend hours reading on screen.
New tab page and collections to help you get organized
Edge's new tab page is considerably more polished than those of other browsers, and it supports a high level of customization without complicating thingsEvery time you open a new tab, you'll see a search bar, quick access to frequently visited sites, a background image, and, if you want, news and recommended content.
In the upper right corner of that page, there's a gear icon that lets you choose from different predefined styles (more minimalist or more elaborate) or enter a custom mode. Here you can Activate or deactivate the news feed, daily background image, and quick linksas well as choosing the language of the content.
Each shortcut on the new tab page can easily edit, reorder, or deleteYou can also add your own links using the plus icon. It's a simple way to keep your favorite websites handy without cluttering your bookmarks bar.
In addition, Edge includes a unique tool called CollectionsIt's a kind of sidebar where you can save links, images, and notes about a specific topic. Perfect for planning a trip, gathering information for a project, or preparing a purchase by comparing different products.
Collections can be reorganized by dragging their elements, adding text notes, and sending their content directly to Word, Excel, or other Microsoft servicesor open all saved pages at once. They become a "second level" of organization, more powerful than simple bookmarks.
Extensions, developer mode, and scripts
One of Edge's biggest leaps forwards by being based on Chromium was becoming compatible with the huge number of Google Chrome extensionsThis means that, in addition to Microsoft's own store, you can install almost any extension from the Chrome Web Store.
To do this, simply go to the Extensions section in the main menu and activate the option to “Allow extensions from other stores”From that moment on, when you visit the Chrome Web Store you will be able to add extensions to Edge as if you were using the Google browser.
Edge also has a developer mode for extensions, which allows Upload custom scripts or plugins under developmentBy activating it from the same extensions screen, the browser lets you add unpackaged extensions from a local folder, which is very useful for testing or using advanced tools.
To go even further, Microsoft Edge includes a hidden advanced settings menu known as about: flagsBy typing that address into the address bar, you access a panel divided into two main sections: Developer settings and Experimental features.
In the developer section you can, for example, Add options like “View source” and “Inspect element” to the context menuThis is essential if you work with web development or want to review the internal content of a page without opening external tools.
Within the experimental functions you will see a huge list of features that They are not yet fully mature or they may changeSome are disabled by default, but you can try them at your own risk. These include features related to touchscreens, such as "Enable touch function events" or "Enable MSPointer interfaces," and performance settings like "Enable TCP Fast Open" to speed up page loading.
Privacy, diagnosis and data control
Microsoft Edge includes a very comprehensive section dedicated to the privacy, data collection, and tracker blockingThe general philosophy is to minimize what is collected and give the user some control over it, although we must be realistic: some telemetry is still mandatory for the product to function.
On one hand, Edge compiles diagnostic data needed to keep your browser safe and up to dateAdditionally, you can choose whether to send optional diagnostic data (such as the use of new features, less critical errors, etc.) to help improve the product. This option can be enabled or disabled in Settings > Privacy, Search & Services.
The browser also saves your browsing history on the deviceDepending on your settings, this data may be sent to Microsoft for analysis and service improvement. You can choose to allow this optional data sharing, or disable it, from the same privacy settings.
Regarding the search experience, Edge can send what you type in the address bar to your default search engine to display real-time search and website suggestions. This feature is managed from the address bar and connected search experiences section.
When you browse in guest or InPrivate mode, the browser still respects some diagnostic settings, but It does not store a history of visited sites, cookies, or form data. When you close all private windows, auto-suggestions are also disabled in this mode to reduce your browsing footprint.
Another interesting feature is the integration of the history with the Windows indexerEdge can share information about visited pages (categories such as "most visited" or "recently visited") with the local system so that other parts of Windows, such as the Start menu or taskbar, can suggest websites. This feature can be turned off in Profiles > Share browsing data with other features, and doing so will also delete any previously shared data.
To protect you in real time, Edge incorporates Windows Defender SmartScreen, the Edge Scareware Blocker, which is responsible for Check web addresses and downloads against a list of suspicious or dangerous sitesWhen you visit a page or download a file, the URL is compared locally against a list of legitimate sites; if it's not there, it's sent to Microsoft to be checked against databases of malicious content.
Cookies, “Do Not Track” and permission management
Like any modern browser, Edge uses and manages cookies: small files that websites use to... to remember your preferences, login, shopping cart, or to show you personalized advertisingFrom the privacy panel you can decide what type of cookies you accept, block third-party cookies, or limit which ones are stored.
The browser also offers the option to send “Do Not Track” requests to websites. This setting is enabled in Settings > Privacy, search, and services, within the corresponding section. It's important to understand that this is just a request: many websites simply ignore it and continue recording activity.
Apart from cookies, you can manage them from the site's permissions section. which websites have access to system elements such as location, camera, microphone, notifications, autoplay media, or automatic downloads. For each permission, you can allow, block, or ask for confirmation each time.
Edge also lets you control the use of add-ons such as Adobe Flash Player (when available or on older installations)by enabling or disabling it from Advanced Settings. Although Flash is virtually obsolete, this type of control extends to other potentially problematic content.
In terms of browsing privacy, Edge has a Tracking Prevention feature with three levels: basic, balanced, and strict. If you choose the highest level, the browser It will block a large portion of third-party trackers. that try to track your online activity, which can cause certain sites to behave differently or show fewer personalized ads.
Change search engine and other key settings
By default, Edge is configured to use Bing as a search engineIf you prefer to use a different search engine, you can change it without too much trouble, although the option is a bit hidden in the menus.
The process involves visiting the homepage of the search engine you want to use at least once, so that Edge automatically detect your engineThen, from Settings > Privacy, search and services, go to the Address bar section and choose the engine you want to use from the "Search engine used in address bar" dropdown menu.
If only Bing appears in that list, usually that's enough. Reload the settings page after visiting the alternative search engine so that it is detected and becomes selectable. Once changed, all searches from the address bar will use that service.
Edge also offers the possibility of selectively or bulk deleting exploration data stored on the deviceThis includes history, cookies, cache, saved tabs, download history, forms, passwords, permissions, and more. This can be done from Settings > Privacy, Search & Services > Clear browsing data.
Within that menu, you can choose the time range (last hour, last day, week, all) and what types of data you want to delete. You can even activate an option to certain data is automatically deleted each time you close the browserwhich adds a convenient layer of privacy without you having to remember to do it manually.
Synchronization, profiles, and Microsoft Rewards
Edge integrates with your Microsoft account to offer you a fairly complete synchronization between devicesFrom the Profiles section you can activate which data you want to sync: favorites, passwords, history, extensions, settings, collections, etc.
Some of these synchronization functions They have been deployed in phasesTherefore, you may see features that are not yet available in certain versions or corporate environments. However, the general idea is that if you sign in with your Microsoft account on multiple devices, Edge will behave almost identically across all of them.
Regarding task simplification, the browser can save passwords, postal addresses, payment details and other form information to autofill them for future use. If you enable synchronization of this data, it will be stored encrypted in the Microsoft cloud associated with your account.
Microsoft also has a loyalty program called Microsoft RewardsWith this program, you earn points for tasks like searching with Bing or using certain company services. By browsing with Edge and performing Bing searches, you accumulate small amounts of points that you can later redeem for gift cards, donations, or entries into prize draws.
The number of points per search is not high, but they do appear from time to time. daily challenges or special promotions which allows you to accumulate quite a few at once. If you already use Edge daily, it could be an interesting addition without changing your habits.
Keyboard shortcuts, tabs, and advanced window management
One of the areas where the accumulated experience is most noticeable is in the keyboard shortcuts and tab managementEdge inherits virtually all the classic shortcuts from Chromium browsers and adds some of its own features.
For starters, you can quickly switch between the first nine open tabs You can use the keyboard shortcut Control + number (1 through 9) on Windows, or Command + number on macOS. Additionally, Control + Tab moves you to the next tab, and Control + Shift + Tab returns you to the previous one.
If you close a tab by mistake, you can recover it (Learn more about how to recover tabs in Edge) with Control + Shift + T Or you can use the "Reopen closed tab" option by right-clicking on a tab. Edge will reopen the tabs you closed most recently, in order.
Another very practical feature is the ability to close all tabs to the right of aBy right-clicking on a specific tab and choosing "Close tabs on the right", the browser gets rid of all subsequent tabs, keeping only those on the left.
Just below that option is another one called “Close other tabs”, which It only keeps the tab you right-clicked on. And it closes absolutely everything else. Ideal when your browsing session has gotten out of hand and you want to keep only what you're actually using.
Edge also allows select multiple tabs at once Hold down the Control key (or Command on Mac) and click on each one. Once selected, you can drag them together to rearrange them or move them to a new window with a single gesture.
For pages you always want to have open, Edge offers the option to pin tabsWhen you pin a tab, it takes up a small space at the top of the bar, with no visible title, and remains open as long as you have that Edge window active, even if you close and reopen the browser using session restore.
And if you still need more, you can Pin sites to the Windows taskbar as if they were separate applications. From the More tools > Pin to taskbar menu, you can create a shortcut with any name you want, and Windows will display it as an additional icon in the taskbar.
Tab groups, resource consumption, and PWA
Edge has support for group tabs by color and nameThis allows you to organize large numbers of tabs into thematic blocks (work, leisure, projects, etc.). In versions where the feature is still marked as experimental, it can be enabled from the flags menu using the Tab Groups option.
Once enabled, you can right-click on a tab and choose “Add to new group”. A set will be created, identified by a dot or colored label, which you can then add to. Give it a name and choose a color.Then you can add other tabs to the same group or create additional groups.
When your browser starts to slow down, it's helpful to know which tabs or processes are consuming the most resources. Edge includes a internal task manager which opens with Shift + Escape. In that window you will see the memory usageCPU and network usage for each tab, extension, or process, and you can terminate any of them manually.
Another very interesting advanced feature is the ability to Install websites as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)From the Apps menu > Install this site as an app, Edge creates a standalone window without bars or tabs, only with basic window and navigation controls.
These PWAs behave like standalone programs: they have their own icon, can be pinned to the Start menu or taskbar, and open without the rest of the browser interface. This is perfect for services you use frequently, such as webmail applications, productivity tools, or online games.
In the multimedia field, Edge has support for technologies of digital rights management (DRM) used by many streaming platforms, and features such as picture-in-picture modeThese websites store multimedia identifiers and licenses on your device to verify that you have permission to play the content, and the browser automatically manages this information to ensure a seamless experience.
Smart copying, text-to-speech, and other useful features
Among the small details that make the difference, the following stands out: smart copyWhen you select content on a page with a certain format (tables, charts, special elements) and copy it, Edge tries to preserve the original structure when pasting it into applications like Word or emails, reducing problems with the windows 11 clipboard.
This prevents errors when pasting information from the web The entire content becomes misplaced, columns are lost, or text and images are mixed up.It's not foolproof, but in many cases it maintains the shape quite well, saving cleaning time.
The option of read any page aloud It's not only available within the immersive reader, but can also be activated from the browser's main menu on many websites. Edge scans the text identified as main content and reads it aloud in a natural voice, which is useful for people with visual impairments or those who prefer to listen to certain articles.
Regarding extensions, in addition to being able to install those from the Chrome Web Store, Edge allows assign keyboard shortcuts to specific functions of your extensionsFrom the Extensions screen, in the shortcuts section, you can define key combinations to activate or deactivate tools without touching the mouse.
For those who want even more control over the browser, the advanced settings and privacy panel include a multitude of Fine locking options, automatic deletion, permissions management, Windows integration, and diagnosticswhich allow Edge to be adapted to virtually any need, from the average user to enterprise environments.
With this arsenal of visible and hidden options, Microsoft Edge goes from being "the browser that comes with Windows" to a truly complete platform for browsing, working, studying, and protecting your data; mastering these features allows you not only to be faster and more comfortable, but also to have greater control over what you share, how you see it, and how you sync it across all your devices.
