How to Personalize Microsoft Edge: Easy Guide

Personalizing Microsoft Edge lets you make the browser feel like your own — from the look and layout to how it behaves when you open it. This guide walks through the key customization options in the current version of Microsoft Edge, including themes, start page, new tab page, toolbar, and settings. You’ll need a Windows or Mac computer with Microsoft Edge installed and an internet connection for downloading themes or extensions.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Edge installed (current version)
A Microsoft account (optional, but needed to sync settings across devices)
Internet connection for themes, extensions, and syncing

Step-by-Step

Open Edge settings. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner of the browser window, then select Settings from the dropdown. Alternatively, type edge://settings into the address bar and press Enter.
Change the browser theme. In Settings, go to Appearance on the left sidebar. Under the Overall appearance dropdown, you can choose Light, Dark, or System default. For a more personal look, scroll down to Theme and click Get more themes. This opens the Chrome Web Store (Edge supports Chrome themes). Pick one, click Add to Chrome, and confirm. The theme applies instantly.
Customize the new tab page. Open a new tab (Ctrl+T on Windows, Cmd+T on Mac). Click the gear icon in the top-right corner of the new tab page. Here you can choose between Focus, Inspirational, Informational, or Custom layouts. For a custom layout, you can set your own background image (upload a photo or choose from the gallery), toggle the quick links (shortcuts to your favorite sites), and decide whether to show the greeting, date, and search bar.
Adjust the toolbar and show/hide buttons. In Settings → Appearance, scroll to the Customize toolbar section. Use the toggles to show or hide the favorites bar, the collections button, the sidebar, and the home button. You can also enable Show title bar (Windows only) to see the page title next to the tab strip. To reorder toolbar buttons, right-click any toolbar icon and choose Move to overflow menu or drag it directly.
Set your startup page. Go to Settings → On startup. Choose one of three options: Open the new tab page, Continue where you left off, or Open a specific page or pages. If you pick the last one, click Add a new page, enter a URL (like a news site or your email), and save. You can add multiple pages.
Set your default search engine. In Settings → Privacy, search, and services, scroll down to Address bar and search. Click Manage search engines. You can set a default from the list (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.) or add a custom one by clicking Add and entering the URL with {searchTerms} in place of the query.
Install extensions. Go to Settings → Extensions (or type edge://extensions). Click Get extensions for Microsoft Edge to open the Edge Add-ons store. Browse or search for extensions like ad blockers, password managers, or productivity tools. Click Get on any extension, then confirm. The extension icon appears in the toolbar; you can pin or hide it by right-clicking the icon.
Use profiles for separate identities. Click the profile icon (your initial or picture) next to the three-dot menu. Select Add profile and follow the prompts. Each profile has its own theme, favorites, history, and extensions. You can switch profiles anytime by clicking the profile icon and choosing another one.
Sync your settings. If you’re logged into Edge with a Microsoft account, go to Settings → Profiles → Sync. Toggle on the items you want to sync: favorites, passwords, history, open tabs, settings, and extensions. This ensures your personalization follows you to other devices.
Change font and page zoom. In Settings → Appearance, under Fonts, you can set a default font size and style. Under Page zoom, set a default zoom level (e.g., 110%) so all pages open slightly larger. These are useful for readability and accessibility.

Common Mistakes

Clicking “Add to Chrome� on themes/extensions. This is normal — Edge is Chromium-based and supports Chrome Web Store items. It won’t install Chrome; it just adds the item to Edge.
Expecting the new tab layout to apply to all profiles. Each profile has its own new tab page settings. If you change it in one profile, it won’t affect another.
Forgetting to save startup pages. After adding a URL in On startup, you must click the Add button. If you just type and press Enter, it may not save.
Over-customizing the toolbar and hiding essential buttons. If you hide the extensions button, you can still find extensions in the overflow menu (three-dot menu), but it’s less convenient. Keep the ones you use daily visible.

Tips

Use keyboard shortcuts to speed up navigation. Ctrl+Shift+T reopens a closed tab; Ctrl+Shift+N opens an InPrivate window; Ctrl+D bookmarks the current page.
Create a favorites bar folder for daily sites. Right-click the favorites bar, choose Add folder, and drag your most-used sites into it. This keeps the bar clean.
Try the vertical tabs feature. In the top-left corner, click the vertical tabs icon (two stacked rectangles). This moves tabs to a sidebar, which is helpful if you have many tabs open.
Use “Collections� for research. Click the Collections icon in the toolbar to save links, images, and notes. You can drag items into a collection and export them to Word or Excel later.
Set a custom background image for the new tab. Use a photo you took — it makes the browser feel more personal than a stock image.

Troubleshooting

Theme isn’t applying. Close all Edge windows and reopen. If it still doesn’t work, go to Settings → Appearance and manually select the theme from the dropdown. Some themes require a restart.
New tab page changes aren’t saving. Make sure you’re not in InPrivate mode (customizations don’t persist there). Also, check that you’re editing the correct profile — switch profiles if needed.
Extensions won’t install. Ensure you’re using the Edge Add-ons store first. If you’re on a managed device (school/work), the administrator may block extension installs. Try a different extension or contact your IT admin.
Startup pages keep resetting. A policy or security software may be overriding your settings. Check Settings → On startup again. If it resets after restart, run a scan for malware or check group policies (Windows) — but this is rare for home users.
Sync isn’t working. Go to Settings → Profiles → Sync and click Turn on sync. Ensure you’re signed in. If sync is stuck, sign out and sign back in, then restart Edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Chrome themes in Edge?
Yes. Edge is built on Chromium, so themes from the Chrome Web Store work. Click “Add to Chrome� and they’ll install in Edge.

Will personalizing Edge slow it down?
Generally no. Themes and layout changes have minimal impact. However, installing many extensions can slow down startup and page loading. Keep only the ones you need.

How do I reset Edge to default settings?
Go to Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their default values. This keeps your favorites and history but removes themes, startup pages, and most customizations.

Can I sync my customizations across devices?
Yes, if you’re signed in with a Microsoft account. Enable sync for Settings, Themes, and Extensions in Settings → Profiles → Sync.

Why does my new tab page show a different layout on another device?
New tab page layout is synced only if you have “Settings� enabled in sync. If not, each device uses its own layout. Turn on Settings sync to unify them.

Does changing the theme affect the new tab background?
No. The theme changes the browser’s toolbar, tabs, and menus. The new tab background is set separately via the gear icon on the new tab page.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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