Clear Blocked Trackers List in Microsoft Edge

This guide shows you how to clear the list of blocked trackers that Microsoft Edge stores when its tracking prevention feature is active. Clearing this list removes the record of sites whose trackers were blocked, which can be useful if you suspect the list is outdated or if you want a fresh start. You don’t need any special tools—just your Edge browser and a few minutes.

What You’ll Need

• Microsoft Edge installed on Windows, macOS, or Linux (the steps are the same across platforms).
• An active internet connection (though the steps work offline as well).
• Administrator rights on your computer if Edge is installed system-wide (usually not required for this task).

Step-by-Step

1. Open Microsoft Edge. Launch the browser by double-clicking its icon on your desktop, taskbar, or Start menu.
2. Access the Settings menu. Click the three-dot (⋯) menu icon in the top-right corner of the browser window. From the dropdown, select Settings.
3. Navigate to Privacy, search, and services. In the left sidebar, click on Privacy, search, and services. If your window is narrow, you may need to click the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) at the top-left to expand the sidebar.
4. Locate the Tracking prevention section. Scroll down until you see the Tracking prevention heading. Under it, you’ll find a link labeled Blocked trackers. Click it.
5. Review the list of blocked trackers. A new page (or a pop-up, depending on your Edge version) will appear, showing a list of all trackers that Edge has blocked. Each entry typically shows the tracker’s domain and the number of times it was blocked.
6. Clear the list. Look for a button or link that says Clear or Clear all. It’s usually at the top or bottom of the list. Click it. A confirmation prompt may appear—confirm that you want to clear the list.
7. Verify the list is empty. After clearing, the list should be empty or show a message like “No trackers blocked yet.” If you want to double-check, you can close and reopen the page—the list should remain empty.
8. Optional: Reset tracking prevention settings. If you want to go further, you can also reset the entire tracking prevention feature by going back to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, and under Tracking prevention, choose Basic or Balanced again, or toggle it off and on. This does not clear the list but can reset the behavior.

Common Mistakes

• Clicking the wrong link: Some users click on “Cookies and site data” instead of “Blocked trackers.” Make sure you’re under the Tracking prevention section.
• Expecting the list to clear automatically: The list does not auto-clear; you must manually click the clear button.
• Confusing “Blocked trackers” with “Blocked sites” or “Exceptions”: The blocked trackers list is separate from any site-specific blocking you may have configured.
• Not scrolling down: The “Blocked trackers” link is below the fold on the settings page; you must scroll down to see it.

Tips

• Use the search box: On the blocked trackers page, there is often a search box to find a specific tracker. Use it to verify if a particular tracker is present before clearing.
• Understand the levels: Edge offers three tracking prevention levels: Basic, Balanced (default), and Strict. The list only populates when you have Balanced or Strict enabled. If you switch to Basic, the list will not grow.
• Clearing the list does not affect your browsing: It only removes the record of blocked trackers; it does not unblock them or change how Edge handles tracking in the future.
• Consider clearing other privacy data: While you’re in settings, you might also want to clear browsing history, cookies, and cached images to maintain overall privacy.

Troubleshooting

• No “Blocked trackers” link visible: This happens if Tracking prevention is set to Basic or if you’re using an older version of Edge. Update Edge to the latest version via Settings > About Microsoft Edge, and ensure Tracking prevention is set to Balanced or Strict.
• The clear button does nothing: Try restarting Edge and repeating the steps. If the issue persists, close all Edge windows and reopen the browser. Occasionally, a browser extension might interfere; try disabling extensions temporarily.
• The list repopulates immediately: This is normal if you continue browsing after clearing. The list will start filling again as Edge blocks new trackers. If you want to keep it empty, switch Tracking prevention to Basic (which blocks fewer trackers) or turn it off entirely.
• Can’t find the settings page: If the left sidebar is not visible, click the three-line menu icon at the top-left of the settings page to expand it. Alternatively, type edge://settings/privacy in the address bar and press Enter to jump directly to the privacy settings.
• Clearing the list does not stop trackers: Remember, clearing the list only removes the record; it does not disable tracking prevention. To stop trackers from being blocked (or to block more), adjust the Tracking prevention level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will clearing the blocked trackers list improve my browser’s performance?

No, the list is just a log. Clearing it has no effect on speed or resource usage. Performance is more affected by the actual tracking prevention feature, which runs in the background.

Does clearing the list also delete cookies or site data?

No, the blocked trackers list is separate from cookies and site data. Clearing it does not affect your logged-in sessions or stored passwords.

How often should I clear the blocked trackers list?

There’s no need to clear it regularly. It’s mostly useful for troubleshooting or if you want to see a fresh list of trackers that Edge blocks from now on. Some users clear it monthly for peace of mind.

Can I clear the list for a specific site only?

No, Edge does not offer per-site clearing of the blocked trackers list. You can only clear the entire list at once.

Will clearing the list affect my tracking prevention settings?

No, your chosen level (Basic, Balanced, Strict) remains unchanged. Only the recorded list of blocked trackers is cleared.

Does this work on Edge for Android or iOS?

No, the blocked trackers list is only available in the desktop version of Edge. Mobile versions do not expose this list in their settings.

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