Note: This article is for the new Microsoft Edge . Get help for the legacy version of Microsoft Edge.
- Taking over where Internet Explorer (IE) left off, Microsoft Edge is the browser created for Windows 10. Following more than 20 years or so of IE being part of Windows operating systems, this new browser is way more efficient and delightfully compact. Microsoft Edge comes designed for Web services and built to Web standards.
- Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 5, 2021. Editor’s note: This article was updated on March 24, 2021 to reflect new update timelines for specific versions of Windows 10. In August 2020, we announced that support for the Microsoft Edge Legacy desktop application.
Back in December 2018, Microsoft announced that it was replacing its Edge browser with a new Chromium-powered one, with the new browser being affectionately referred to by some as Chredge.
With your permission, the new Microsoft Edge can remember information for you, making it easier to return to a favorite site or fill in forms. Microsoft Edge stores your browsing data, such as your passwords, info you've entered in forms, sites you've visited, and other information. Other browsing modes such as InPrivate browsing and Guest mode function differently and store less data than normal browsing.
Your browsing data is stored on your device. If you've turned on sync, those data types can also be stored in the Microsoft cloud to be synced across your signed in versions of Microsoft Edge.
You can see and clear your browsing history by selecting Settings and more > History > Manage history. You may choose to clear your browsing history at any time.
Clear browsing data stored on your computer
Old Edge Browser For Testing
To clear browsing data on your computer, make sure sync is turned off. Items that are synced will be cleared across all synced devices.
Here's how to clear your browsing data in Microsoft Edge:
Select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services .
Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
Choose a time range from the Time range drop-down menu.
Choose the types of data you want to clear (see the table below for descriptions). For example, you may want to remove browsing history and cookies but keep passwords and form fill data.
Select Clear now.
Cached
Clear browsing data stored in the cloud (if you’ve turned on sync or personalization)
How To Install Old Microsoft Edge
To manage and delete data saved in the Microsoft cloud, see the privacy dashboard. On the privacy dashboard you can view or delete your data. Data that you delete on the privacy dashboard won’t be deleted from your device.
To learn more about how to stop sharing your data with Microsoft, see Microsoft Edge browsing data and privacy.
Browsing data you can delete in the browser
Types of info | What gets deleted | Where it's stored |
|---|---|---|
Browsing history | The URLs of sites you've visited, and the dates and times of each visit. | On your device (or if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
Download history | The list of files you've downloaded from the web. This only deletes the list, not the actual files that you've downloaded. | On your device |
Cookies and other site data | Info that sites store on your device to remember your preferences, such as sign-in info or your location and media licenses. | On your device |
Cached images and files | Copies of pages, images, and other media content stored on your device. The browser uses these copies to load content faster the next time you visit those sites. | On your device |
Passwords | Site passwords that you've saved. | On your device (or if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
Autofill form data (includes forms and cards) | Info that you've entered into forms, such as your email, credit card, or a shipping address. | On your device (or if sync is turned on, across your synced devices) |
Site permissions | Go to Settings and more > Settings > Site permissions to see a list for each website, including location, cookies, pop-ups, and media autoplay. | On your device |
Hosted app data | Info web apps store on your device. This includes data from the Microsoft Store. To see the apps saved to Microsoft Edge, go to Settings and more > Apps > Manage apps. | On your device |
Clear Internet Explorer browsing data using Microsoft Edge
Using Microsoft Edge, you can clear all browsing data from Internet Explorer. Clearing Internet Explorer browsing data won’t affect your browsing data in another browser.
Note: This is only available if your organization has turned on Internet Explorer mode.
In Microsoft Edge, select Settings and more > Settings > Privacy, search, and services .
Under Clear browsing data for Internet Explorer, select Choose what to clear.
Choose the types of data you want to clear.
Select Delete.
Related topics