How to Turn On Microsoft Edge Enhanced Security Mode

Microsoft Edge’s Enhanced Security Mode (also called Super Duper Secure Mode) adds an extra layer of protection against memory-based vulnerabilities and drive-by attacks by disabling the Just-In-Time (JIT) JavaScript compiler and enabling additional OS-level security mitigations. It is especially useful when browsing unfamiliar or potentially risky websites. You can turn it on in a few clicks from the browser’s settings, and no restart is required.

What You’ll Need

• A PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11, or a Mac with macOS 10.15 or later.
• Microsoft Edge installed and updated to a recent version (version 103 or newer). To check, go to edge://settings/help — Edge will auto-update if an update is pending.
• Administrator rights on the device if you want to change the policy for all users (optional, only for managed devices).

Step-by-Step

1. Open Microsoft Edge on your computer.
2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) in the top-right corner of the browser window.
3. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. This opens a new tab with the settings interface.
4. In the left sidebar, click Privacy, search, and services.
5. Scroll down to the section labeled Security. It is located near the bottom of the page, below the “Clear browsing data” section.
6. Find the toggle labeled Enhance your security on the web. If it is off, the toggle will be gray and positioned to the left.
7. Click the toggle to turn it on. The toggle will turn blue and slide to the right.
8. After enabling it, you will see two radio-button options appear:
• Balanced — Recommended. Adds security protections for less-visited sites while keeping most sites fast.
• Strict — Applies the enhanced protections to every site you visit. Some sites may not display correctly or may run slower.
9. Choose Balanced if you want a good mix of safety and compatibility, or Strict if you prioritize maximum protection and are willing to accept occasional site breakage.
10. Once selected, the setting is saved automatically. You do not need to restart Edge; the change takes effect immediately for new pages you open.
11. To verify it is active, visit a page you have not opened before — you may notice a small shield icon in the address bar indicating the enhanced protection is applied.

Common Mistakes

• Turning it on but not selecting a mode — If you just flip the toggle and leave the radio buttons untouched, the default is “Balanced,” which is fine. However, some users think they have enabled “Strict” when they haven’t. Double-check which radio button is selected.
• Expecting it to block all ads or trackers — Enhanced Security Mode is not an ad blocker or a tracker blocker. It focuses on memory safety and exploit prevention. For trackers, you still need the built-in “Strict” tracking prevention or an extension.
• Assuming it works on every site equally — In “Balanced” mode, sites you visit frequently are often excluded from the extra checks to preserve speed. If you want protection on a site you visit daily, you may need to switch to “Strict” or add the site to the “Always use enhanced security” list (available in the same settings section).
• Forgetting to update Edge — Older versions of Edge may not have this feature or may have a different toggle location. Always ensure the browser is current.

Tips

• Use Balanced as your default. It gives strong protection without breaking most websites. Switch to Strict temporarily when visiting a suspicious link or downloading files from an untrusted source.
• If a site fails to load or behaves oddly after enabling the mode, click the shield icon in the address bar and choose “Reload without enhanced security” for that one visit. This does not disable the feature globally.
• You can add specific sites to an “always use enhanced security” list. In the same Security section, click “Always use enhanced security for specific sites” and add the URLs you want to be protected on regardless of the Balanced/Strict choice.
• Keep your extensions minimal. Some older extensions may conflict with the security mitigations, causing pages to break. If a page misbehaves, try disabling extensions temporarily.
• This feature works alongside Windows Defender and SmartScreen — you do not need to turn those off. They complement each other.

Troubleshooting

• The toggle is grayed out or missing — This usually means your Edge version is outdated. Go to edge://settings/help and let it update. If you are on a company-managed device, your IT policy may have disabled the setting. Contact your administrator.
• After enabling, many sites fail to load — Switch from “Strict” to “Balanced.” If the problem persists, check if a specific extension is interfering. Open edge://extensions, disable all extensions, then reload the failing page. If it works, re-enable extensions one by one to find the culprit.
• I turned it on but see no shield icon — The shield icon only appears on sites where the enhanced security is actively applied. In Balanced mode, frequently visited sites may not show it. Visit a random new site to see the icon.
• Pages load slowly — Strict mode can slow down JavaScript-heavy sites. Switch to Balanced. Also, clear your cache and cookies from edge://settings/clearBrowserData — a stale cache can cause weird behavior after a security change.
• I want to turn it off but the toggle won’t move — Close all Edge windows and reopen the browser. If it still won’t toggle, restart your computer. If it remains stuck, check if a group policy is enforcing the setting (type edge://policy in the address bar to see active policies).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Enhanced Security Mode slow down my browsing?

In “Balanced” mode, the impact is minimal because only less-visited sites get the extra checks. In “Strict” mode, you may notice slower load times on JavaScript-heavy pages, but the security benefit is higher.

Will it break my banking or shopping websites?

Most major banking and shopping sites work fine because they are frequently visited and are typically excluded from the extra checks in Balanced mode. If a specific site breaks, you can add it to the “always use enhanced security” list or reload it without enhanced security for that session.

Is this the same as a VPN or incognito mode?

No. Enhanced Security Mode does not hide your IP address or clear your history. It only adds exploit mitigations. Incognito mode is about not saving local data, and a VPN is about encrypting your connection. These are separate features.

Does it protect me from phishing or fake websites?

Not directly. Phishing protection comes from SmartScreen and the built-in Microsoft Defender. Enhanced Security Mode focuses on preventing code execution if you do land on a malicious page. Use both features together.

Can I enable it on mobile versions of Edge?

As of now, Enhanced Security Mode is available on desktop versions of Edge (Windows and Mac). It is not available on Android or iOS versions of the browser.

Will it interfere with web apps like Google Docs or Office 365?

Generally no, especially in Balanced mode. If you use Strict mode and notice issues with typing or loading in web apps, switch to Balanced or add the specific app’s URL to the exceptions list.

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