Customize Microsoft Edge MSN Homepage

This guide shows you how to personalize the MSN homepage that appears when you open a new tab in Microsoft Edge. You can change the layout, select which news topics appear, choose a background theme, and manage other settings. No special tools are needed—everything is done through Edge’s built-in settings and the MSN page itself.

What You’ll Need

• A computer running Microsoft Edge (current version, updated regularly).
• A stable internet connection to load the MSN feed.
• Your Microsoft account (optional, but recommended to sync settings across devices).

Step-by-Step

1. Open a new tab: Launch Microsoft Edge and click the + icon at the top of the window, or press Ctrl+T (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+T (Mac). This displays the default new tab page, which is the MSN homepage.
2. Access the settings gear: Look at the top-right corner of the new tab page. You’ll see a gear icon (⚙️). Click it to open the Page settings panel.
3. Change the layout: In the Page settings panel, you’ll see options for Layout. Choose from:
   – Inspirational: Shows a large photo background with a search bar and quick links.
   – Informational: Displays a smaller image with news and weather feed on the right.
   – Focused: A clean, minimal page with just a search bar and quick links.
   Select your preferred layout by clicking it.
4. Customize the background: Still in the Page settings panel, scroll to the Background section. You can choose:
   – Daily background: Updates automatically with a new image each day.
   – Upload a photo: Click the Upload button and select an image from your computer.
   – Solid color: Pick a single color for a simple look.
   Make your selection; the change applies instantly.
5. Manage quick links: On the new tab page, you’ll see a row of shortcuts (e.g., Outlook, Facebook, YouTube). To customize these:
   – Hover over a shortcut and click the pencil icon to edit the URL or name.
   – Click the + icon to add a new shortcut.
   – Hover and click the trash icon to remove a shortcut.
6. Adjust the news feed: If your layout includes a news feed (Informational or Inspirational), you can personalize it:
   – Scroll down the page to see the feed.
   – Click the X on any article card to hide that story.
   – Click the three-dot menu (⋯) on a card and select Show fewer stories like this or Report a concern.
   – To choose topics, click the Interests icon (a smiley face or a star) at the top of the feed. A panel opens where you can select categories like Sports, Technology, Entertainment, etc. Your choices update the feed.
7. Set the homepage (optional): If you want the MSN page to be your browser’s homepage (the page that opens when you click the home icon), do this:
   – Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right of Edge, then select Settings.
   – In the left sidebar, choose Start, home, and new tabs.
   – Under Home button, toggle on Show home button if it’s off.
   – Select Enter URL and type https://www.msn.com (or the exact URL of your personalized page).
   – For the New tab page, you can choose Open the New Tab page (which is the MSN page) or a custom URL.
8. Sync settings (optional): If you’re signed in with a Microsoft account, your customizations (layout, background, quick links) will sync across devices. To enable sync, go to Settings → Profiles → Sync and ensure Settings is toggled on.

Common Mistakes

• Changing the wrong setting: The gear icon on the new tab page is for page layout. The browser settings (three-dot menu) are for homepage behavior. Confusing the two is common.
• Expecting instant feed changes: After selecting interests, the news feed may not update immediately. Give it a few minutes or refresh the page.
• Overlooking the “Focused” layout: If you don’t see a news feed, you might have chosen the Focused layout. Switch to Informational or Inspirational to see the feed.
• Not saving quick link changes: When editing a quick link, you must press Enter after typing the new URL or name, or the change won’t save.

Tips

• Use a high-resolution image for your background to avoid blurriness. A 1920×1080 or larger image works best.
• Curate your feed gradually: The more you hide or mark “show fewer” on stories, the better the feed becomes. It learns from your actions.
• Keyboard shortcut: Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete to clear browsing data if the page seems stuck with old settings.
• Reset to default: If you mess up, go to Page settings and click Reset to default at the bottom to restore the original layout.

Troubleshooting

If your changes don’t appear or the page doesn’t load:

• Refresh the page: Press F5 or click the refresh icon. Sometimes the page needs a reload to apply changes.
• Clear cache: Go to Settings → Privacy, search, and services → Clear browsing data. Choose Cached images and files and click Clear now. Then restart Edge.
• Check extensions: Some ad-blockers or privacy extensions can interfere with the MSN feed. Temporarily disable them to see if that’s the issue.
• Update Edge: Go to Settings → About Microsoft Edge to check for updates. An outdated version may have bugs.
• Reset the new tab page: In Settings → Start, home, and new tabs, set the new tab page to Open the New Tab page again. If you had a custom URL, remove it.
• If the page is blank: Disable your VPN or proxy, as MSN may not load correctly through certain networks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I completely remove the news feed?

Yes. Choose the Focused layout in Page settings. It shows only a search bar and quick links, no news.

Why does my background change back to the daily image?

If you selected “Daily background” and then uploaded a photo, the setting might not have saved. Make sure you click the photo you uploaded, not just the upload button. Also, check that you’re not using a temporary profile.

How do I get my customizations to appear on my phone’s Edge?

Sign in with the same Microsoft account on both devices and enable sync in Edge settings. Then your layout and background will transfer, but quick links may not sync perfectly.

Why do some news articles still show after I hide them?

The feed is dynamic; hiding a story only removes that specific instance. Similar stories may appear. Use the “Show fewer stories like this” option to refine the topic.

Can I set a different page for the home button and the new tab?

Yes. In Settings → Start, home, and new tabs, you can set the home button to any URL, and separately choose what opens on new tabs.

Is there a way to restore the original MSN layout after I’ve changed it?

Yes. Open Page settings and click Reset to default at the bottom. This restores the default layout and background.

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