Edge Browser Tips & Tricks: 25+ Hidden Features

Microsoft Edge is a full-featured Chromium browser with a surprising number of built-in tools, and this article covers the most useful tips and tricks to speed up your browsing, protect your privacy, and get more done—from hidden flags to vertical tabs and the built-in math solver. Whether you’re new to Edge or have used it for years, these practical settings and shortcuts are worth knowing.

Why Edge Is Worth a Second Look

Edge has come a long way since its early days. Built on the same Chromium engine as Google Chrome, it supports all your favorite Chrome extensions but adds Microsoft-specific features like Collections, Sleeping Tabs, and a built-in PDF reader that’s genuinely good. It’s also the default browser on Windows, so millions of people have it whether they asked for it or not. The good news is that with a few adjustments, Edge can be faster and more private than you might expect.

Essential Settings to Change First

Before diving into hidden tricks, adjust these basic settings to make Edge work better for you:

• Turn off startup boost and background extensions if you want a cleaner start—go to Settings > System and performance and toggle off Startup boost and Continue running background extensions.
• Enable Sleeping Tabs to free up memory—set tabs to sleep after 5 minutes or less in the same settings page.
• Choose your new tab page—set it to Focused or Inspiring instead of the default with news feeds.
• Block trackers—go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services and set tracking prevention to Strict for more privacy (you may need to whitelist a few sites).

These four changes alone can make Edge feel snappier and less cluttered.

Hidden Features You Should Use

Edge is packed with tools that are easy to miss. Here are some of the most useful:

• Vertical tabs: Click the icon in the top-left corner (or press Ctrl+Shift+,) to move your tab strip to the side. This is a game-changer if you keep many tabs open.
• Edge Drop: Send files and notes between your phone and PC. Find it in the sidebar (the puzzle-piece icon) or via Settings > Profiles > Drop.
• Built-in math solver: In the address bar, type a math problem like sqrt(144) + 5 and press Enter—Edge shows the answer instantly without a calculator.
• PDF editor: Open any PDF in Edge and you can highlight, draw, and add text without installing anything.
• Collections: Save links, images, and text snippets into a collection—great for research or shopping. Access it from the sidebar or Ctrl+Shift+Y.
• Web capture: Press Ctrl+Shift+S to take a screenshot of a region, a full page, or a scrolling capture.

Keyboard Shortcuts That Save Time

Learning a few shortcuts can dramatically speed up your browsing. Here are the most valuable ones for Edge:

• Ctrl+T – New tab
• Ctrl+Shift+T – Reopen the last closed tab (press repeatedly to restore multiple)
• Ctrl+Tab / Ctrl+Shift+Tab – Switch between tabs
• Ctrl+1 through Ctrl+9 – Jump to a specific tab
• Ctrl+Shift+B – Toggle the favorites bar
• Ctrl+Shift+N – Open an InPrivate window (also works in Chrome)
• Alt+Left / Alt+Right – Back / Forward
• F12 – Open developer tools (useful for web developers)

You can also customize shortcuts for extensions via Settings > Extensions > Keyboard shortcuts.

Privacy and Security Tricks

Edge has several privacy features that go beyond the basics:

• InPrivate mode doesn’t save your history, cookies, or form data, but your ISP or employer can still see your activity. It’s not a VPN.
• Tracking prevention (as mentioned) blocks trackers from third-party sites. Strict mode may break some sites, so use Balanced if that happens.
• Password monitor: Edge can check if your saved passwords have been leaked. Go to Settings > Profiles &em; Passwords and enable Show alerts when passwords are found in an online leak.
• Block autoplay videos: In Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Media autoplay, set it to Block to stop videos from playing automatically.
• Use a secure DNS: In Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Security, you can choose a custom DNS provider like Cloudflare or NextDNS for extra privacy.

Remember that no browser can make you completely anonymous. For sensitive work, consider a VPN or Tor.

Common Problems and Fixes

Even the best browsers have hiccups. Here are fixes for the most common Edge issues:

• Edge uses too much memory: Enable Sleeping Tabs and set it to 5 minutes. Also, disable unnecessary extensions. If it’s still heavy, try the Efficiency mode in System and performance.
• Edge is slow: Clear your cache (press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, choose Cached images and files), and check for updates via Settings > About Microsoft Edge.
• Edge won’t open: Try resetting Edge via Settings > Reset settings (this keeps your favorites and passwords). If that fails, close all Edge processes in Task Manager and restart.
• Extensions not working: Check if they’re compatible with the latest version. Try disabling and re-enabling them, or reinstall from the Chrome Web Store.
• Edge keeps crashing: Disable hardware acceleration in Settings > System and performance—this often fixes GPU-related crashes.

If you’re still stuck, the official Edge support page has troubleshooting guides.

Edge vs. Chrome vs. Firefox: Which Is Better?

Edge and Chrome are both Chromium, so they share most features and extensions. Edge has a few extras like vertical tabs, sleeping tabs, and a better PDF reader. Firefox is more privacy-focused by default and uses less RAM in some tests, but it has fewer extensions. If you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem (Windows, Office, etc.), Edge integrates better—for example, you can send pages to your phone via Continue on PC. If you value privacy above all, Firefox with strict tracking protection is a strong choice. But for most users, Edge is a solid, fast browser that’s pre-installed and free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Edge actually faster than Chrome?

In many benchmarks, Edge and Chrome are nearly identical because they use the same engine. However, Edge’s Sleeping Tabs and efficiency mode can make it feel faster on lower-end devices by reducing memory usage. Real-world speed differences are minimal for most users.

How do I stop Edge from opening Bing every time?

Change your default search engine in Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search. You can also change the new tab page to a blank page or your favorites. If Edge keeps redirecting, check for a hijacked homepage or a malicious extension.

Does Edge have a built-in VPN?

Edge does not have a built-in VPN. There is a feature called Microsoft Edge Secure Network that uses Cloudflare, but it’s only available on certain devices and has a monthly data limit. It’s not a full VPN.

Can I use Chrome extensions in Edge?

Yes, you can install extensions from the Chrome Web Store. Go to Settings > Extensions, turn on Allow extensions from other stores, then visit the Chrome Web Store and install as usual.

How do I clear my browsing data in Edge?

Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to open the Clear browsing data panel. Choose what to clear (history, cookies, cache, etc.) and select a time range. You can also set Edge to clear data automatically on exit in Settings > Privacy, search, and services.

Why does Edge keep asking me to set it as default?

Windows may reset your default browser after updates. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps in Windows and choose Microsoft Edge. If you prefer another browser, you can change it there, but Edge may prompt you occasionally.

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